Barcelona:a wonderful city!!!
 

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

Great pictures. Did you participate with the Police or the Firefighters? I ask because my son is a volunteer firefighter and loves to read about things. I showed him your message and pictures and he really appreciated them. He says he knew about the National games (in the US) but had not heard of these. Enjoy NYC when you come.

Kathleen

I hope you enjoyed in Spain, come back soon (to a bon jovi concert, if it´s possible) :D

Hi kathleen
 

i participated as a member of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Police Force-which is a semi military policeforce that protects Ministry of Defence Property throughtout the UK, We also guard USA airforce bases in the UK, and nuclear facilities and naval facilities which are owned by the government, therefore the major difference between us and civilian plice is that we are armed on duty, but do not have the powers of the civilian police and few or no involvement with civilians-mind you -those mad anti nuclear protestors that invaded Greenham Common was probably the last time the MOD police were in the public eye.
the only interesting work in Scotland is at Faslane when Nuclear Subs and support vessels are moving in or out-you get the nutty anti-nuclear crowd-eg rainbow warrior mob running a peace camp outside the base.

Only another three years to go and i retire to the civiilian sector. Maybe set up my own security business as a security consultant- I do have 5 years of army service plus 15 years service as an MOD officer behind me already. I want to go back and live in Edinburgh, at somepoint.
I hope your son gets in touch with his firemaster and tries to go to Quebec, it;s great meeting folk from around the world.

Thanks for the reply - I'll show him your response. And I'll tell him to talk to his Chief and see about internationl competitions. My son is a network engineer by day (and a firefighter by night after 9/11). He is also a big Bon Jovi fan so he lurks here but does not post.

Kathleen

when i was in salou my bro n a couple of mates went to barcelona for the day and said the architecture was beautiful but there was alot of beggars on the streets.

didn't know u worked at faslane shuggy. bet u wish you could stick tommy the commie in the back of a van and give him a beating,

Jesus, did you go near the nou camp at night?!??!

all those whores! + all of them naked except for a thong !!

crazy!