Boca Mania!

Hi friends and family! This week has been a flurry of excitement for our trip to the Boca Juniors game. For those of you who have no clue what Boca Juniors is (like me three weeks ago), it is the winningest team in the Liga Profesional de Fútbol (pro soccer league) in Argentina. The team is based in the La Boca neighborhood in Buenos Aires at the Bombonera ("chocolate box") stadium, which holds over 55,000 people and is painted blue and yellow.

Ryan had been trying like crazy to get tickets, and finally found some for the game last night. So, we got ourselves kitted out on Tuesday, and Baker and Lu wore their jerseys every day for the rest of the week. Look at us acting like real soccer fans! Go team sports!

Baker made a countdown-to-gameday calendar, which he laid next to his jersey every night. He also ran around the apartment doing this goalie pose, because he has now decided his dream is be a Boca Juniors goalie. Shoot for the stars, kid!

We were advised to (1) arrive early to the game to navigate the entry system as foreigners and (2) not talk too much so we didn't bring attention to ourselves. (Hello, anxiety.) We made it through without issue and climbed up to our seats. This was the kids' first professional sporting event (not kidding), so they were excited and had a lot of questions. Thankfully we were there an hour early and could answer every one of them!

The whole event was surprising. Boca fans have a variety of songs/chants they do in unison depending on what is happening in the game. It is pretty awesome to hear an entire stadium (minus 5 clueless Americans) cheer as one. Bombonera Stadium is known for shaking when the fans start jumping, and indeed it's true! We watched (me, in horror) as massive lights behind the grandstands swayed above the crowds. Most surprisingly, I actually enjoyed watching soccer!

Boca fans are rowdy, but they are nothing compared to the raucous Seahawks fans circa 2011 (the last time I attended a professional sporting event). This is likely because (1) since an incident five years ago, fans for the opposing team are not allowed in Bombonera Stadium; and (2) no alcohol is allowed either. All in all, it was a great experience.

What I learned this week is that the kids may want to do things that are completely off my radar. It never crossed my mind to take them to see the plethora of professional sports in Seattle, because I have no interest in going myself. I'm wondering what else I've missed and how I can open myself up to all their potential interests. Any advice for me?

We also did other stuff in Buenos Aires this week. We saw a space show in the domed theater at the Galileo Galilee Planetarium.

It was narrated in Spanish ("Milky Way" translates to "Vía Láctea," which I love), but it was still really fun and engaging! I also took the girls to get haircuts, and as you can see, Lu has happily returned to her pixie cut and Ginny got 4 inches lopped off. We also hiked around the Ecological Reserve on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, which was so beautiful! It's like the city's own Discovery Park.

And we found this amazing street art that could not have been more perfect for Lu and her BFF Tigey.

We are in our last few days in Buenos Aires before we head to São Paulo, Brazil. We are excited for some warmer spring temperatures and a new city to explore.

Happy fall to everyone at home! We miss you!!

All my love,

Madeline