El Futbol!

Yesterday afternoon as I was heading to the pool to listen to music and read, my friend Caity stopped me and said, ‘we’re going to a soccer game, get your money, get your stuff, put on some shoes.’ I’m pretty sure I was wearing hiking socks and tevas at the time, not exactly prepared to go out. I nearly ducked out, I was so exhausted after getting up at five to go on our Poas Volcano field trip. But I rallied and made it out the door and to the taxi that took us to the bus station in downtown Atenas.

About 45 minutes later we arrived in Alajuela, Costa Rica’s second city and home to probably its best professional soccer team. After we walked to the stadium we bought tickets for $4 a piece and then we split up to get food and beer. Four of us went to get empanadas at a fast food place and then met back at the stadium to go into the game. La Liga scored in the eighth minute and we were up 2-0 at halftime. After the half, the other team scored two goals to make it 2-2 but La Liga scored again almost immediately. The energy in the stadium was great with all the La Liga fans yelling obscenities at the players that scored on us. One section of the stands didn’t stop singing, waving flags, and beating drums the whole game. We sat in the ‘Popular’ section (aka the cheap seats) but we were right near the field and right near the half line. I was sure the fans were going to get out of control a bunch of times during the game but police in riot helmets kept them mostly in check. People were running up and down the aisles, jumping up on the chain link fence around the field and shaking it, and spitting at the players on the other team. It was a crazy experience and a great time- 'we' ended up winning 3-2.

While we were waiting for the bus back to Atenas a fight broke out in the line but before we even knew what was happening, two CR police sped up on motorcycles and pulled the two men apart. They cuffed one man who had attacked a security guard and when a police van showed up, they tossed him in the back. The whole time, the man was yelling in Spanish “so you think you’re big men?” As the police van pulled out of the parking lot, our bus pulled in and they nearly hit each other head on. Both slammed on their breaks which must have tossed the hand-cuffed man in the back around a bit. Narrow miss. After the bus ride and a quick cab home we finally made it back to the center to end our nearly twenty-hour day.