Valencia was amazing being Kiwi and what better way to start than this photo of the closing Ceremony... the parachutist came down from above the cup.. for little ol NZ!! Only the back of the team as we werent privileged enough to be at the front.. but still bloody damn close nevertheless.
I feel the Valencia set up was better than ours in NZ. The water taxis or aquabus as its called are all free. The go regularly from the North Base to the South Base and another one from the West Base to the East Base. They are about 30 feet long and carry about 20 people - nothing sophisticated but a quick and easy way of getting around in 30 degree heat.
The first day, we plonked ourselves down in front of a huge screen, too late to get a comfy sofa (which seemed to be filled up with Italians and you can always tell the Italian women from their outfits.. very upmarket!). We proceeded to watch the start of the race only to discover it changed from English prior to the race into Spanish. Hopeless. We moved on to a bar where we enjoyed a respite from the searing heat but alas the commentary on yet another big screen was in Spanish. I might add though.. even though the commentary was in Spanish it was the first time since I left NZ I had enjoyed a Chardonnay. Yes, their reds are great.. but if you fancy a Chardonnay or Sav be prepared to be disppointed!!
On the Wednesday we were slightly more organised and found the ´KiwiCamp´as it had been dubbed and still with the comfy sofas and bar the huge screen was in English AND it was inside out of the heat. A great place to be for the final race. We ventured out for a short time to the China Bar 4 stories up with a great view of the village and an English commentary. At the end of the race the huge contingent on NZers trapsed up the East side and plonked themselves along the edge of the pier to welcome the boys in. We were positioned right in front of the Louis Vuittion presentation stadium and right under the parachutists who brought the Cup down. Awesome is all I can say. We were a bit concerned they might land on us.. but no they were right on que landing in the middle of the stage! Hundreds of NZ flags (mainly of the Silver Fern variety I might add) and a great atmosphere where everyone spoke English of the NZ variety.. a novelty for us after 6 weeks listening to French, Portugese and Spanish. The ceremony didn't finsih till around 7.30 and the sun was still strong with temperatures still up in the mid 30's a day to remember for the rest of our lives.
Coraleen getting in one of the Aquabus'
Above right .. our boat being escorted in for the Louis Vuitton Ceremony.
And bottom right.. another of the same.. being so patriotic our camers got a bit of a thrashing that day!!
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