I spent 10 days in Barcelona two weeks ago at the World Police and Fire Games which took place there and which I participated in, the Catalonian people are wonderful and I apologize for calling them spanish on occasions, it's like calling scottish people english, or canadians, americans, or New Zealanders aussies. or even austrians germans
a wonderful city, cultural, friendly and beautiful, my family loved it and we willl come back again.
The WPFG is a biannual event (it takes place every two years and is open to all law enforcement officers and firefighters throughout the world.) I think of one particular story where the assistant chief of the NYFD had brought along a glass framed picture of all his esteemed colleagues lost on the Sept 11 tragedy, it had survived intact all the way from New york to Barcelona without mishap, unfortunately half way through the games, in the exhibition an athlete had pushed his local dep't card with a prayer on it too hard into the frame and the glass had shattered, (there were more than 3000 messages already attached to the frame and surrounding memorial area.
my colleagues and i organized a whip round and the frame was repaired, later that day. i will be flying to New york on Sep 11 from the UK to New york to pay my respects not only to the NYPD, the NYFD but also to the people of New york and elsewhere who lost their lifes in this tragedy. I will take with me messages from the many friends i met in Barcelona. I lost a good friend from New york whom I played against and drank with in the Volleyball tournament in Indianapolis in 2001. May he and his colleagues and those innocents who lost their lives rest in peace.
the highlight of my family's time in barcelona was the magic Fountain, set up especially to play a set peice of music for the closing event of the games. Absolutely wonderful. the Catatonian people are wonderful and we hope to see both you and Barcelona again. vist Barc folks it's one of the best european cities and I have travelled extensively throughout the world, highlights were Picasso's museum, Salvador dalis museum in Figueres, around 180km from Barc and Monserrat Monasterry., just outside the city.
Here is the link for anyone who wants to see the official photos.
http://www.bcn03news.org/wpfg/maingal.asp?llen=eng

I look forward to the next games in Quebec , Canada in 2005