Can you have 2 without 3?

"No hay dos sin tres" was the phrase that pays these past few weeks, translating to "there isn't two without three".

Although I don't find this mathematically correct, and perhaps it lacks validity in many other ways (for example, I think you can have 2 cookies without having a third, or maybe a couple does not want to become a love triangle...)  this was all we heard since the beginning of the EURO CUP. There was even a song about it by Spain's favorite curlycue cantante David Bisbal. 

Anyway, what does this nonsense mean? Well it started 4 years ago when Spain won the last Euro Cup. The Euro Cup is played every four years. Then, like the olympics, every 4 years the World Cup is played. The World Cup and Euro Cup alternate every two years. (and honestly, I'm not sure what the country does when there isn't a championship game in the summer...)

Anyway, Spain won the Euro Cup in 2008, the World Cup in 2010, and top contenders for the Euro Cup of 2012. Winning this years Euro Cup would make them the first country ever in history to win these 3 major titles consecutively. 

Well wouldn't ya know, at a time when a country really could use a pick-me-up after an embarrassing bank bailout... Spain pulled it together and won it, making World football/soccer history and positive headlines! 

Way to go, fellas!

My second favorite part about the win and about the anticipation, was the atmosphere and energy here in Spain. There were flags swinging in the breeze from apartment terraces, car windows, taxi cabs, store fronts, government buildings, etc. It seems some people had their faces permanently painted with red and yellow stripes. I even saw some cars with temporary yellow wrapping paper on their red cars to resemble the flag! More so, Im pretty sure most people never took off their jerseys, in fear of washing off the luck and being the cause of a possible loss

Photo by: Claudio Alvarez (El País)
Celebrations in Cibeles moments after Spain's Win

My most favorite part about the win, was going out onto my terrace after a goal, and after the final whistle was blown. Excitement could be heard throughout the city: fireworks, vuvuzelas, noise makers, cheering. We do not live in a very central part of the city, but you could hear the excitement and thrill from kilometers away. It was actually magical and made me very happy and proud to be here for this part of joyful Spanish history.