A trip to UVA

Hello Tuesday!

I hope you all have had a good weekend in every way.

Here in my neck of the world it was a very good one.

The most fun part of the entire weekend was a trip to UVA (University of Virginia) in Charlottesville. Charlottesville is located about two hours southwest of the DC area. UVA is one of the most prestigious public universities in the US.

It is also where our friends, Lotta and Magnus, daughter Iris goes to school. Iris is a senior at this university so she’ll graduate in May of this year.

Iris is also a dancer.

She’s captain of the dance team at UVA.

The dance team performs at the school’s sporting events. During the football season the team dances at all home games. The same goes for the basketball season. The basketball season is now. And I can tell you one thing, College basket ball is HUGE in the US. As is college football, as most of you probably know. These sports are insanely popular.

SO, this weekend we ventured down to Charlottesville where we had such an AWESOME day. I have been to college basketball games before. Mainly at Peter’s old university, George Mason, here in Fairfax, VA.

It is a fun experience. I am not a sport’s person whatsoever, you all know that, but going to a sporting event in the US is NEXT level. The ambiance, the show, the band, the dancers, the cheerleaders, the crowd … It is something else. It is simply, entertainment.

 

Lotta and Magnus before the game.

We enjoyed delish burgers, yummy!

Well, this game exceeded everything I have experienced before come college sports.

UVA met University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (another super prestigious school) and a top team in college basketball.

The game was sold out and the 15.000 seat arena was packed.   The fans and supporters where out and about in droves. There was also a lot of supporters for UNC there. These two universities are located about 4 hours from one another.

 

UVA's own beer.

Our seats were located in the "nose bleed section", meaning we were seated pretty much up on the highest tier. However, that wasn't bad.

People, the crowd went nuts!

It was like being lifted by the sound of the crowd. I got teary eyed so many times.

Me? teary eyed at a sporting event? WELL, it IS the show, the crowd, the ambiance, the sportsmanship,  everything boils down to just fricking pure excitement. Sometimes it was so loud that I thought I would lose my hearing. BUT, it was exactly what I wanted at that moment, haha.

 

Orange is the color of the game here at UVA.  The big marching band is located on the left side of the picture.

The National Anthem.

SO fun, the dance team is up front and the cheerleaders in the middle.

The most fun, of course, was to see Iris and the team perform.

I loved it. And, it was also so fun to see the cheerleaders.

I used to think that cheerleading was among the worst things when it comes to Americana, eye candy for a man’s sport.

I have changed my mind, I changed my mind a long time ago about this. Now I admire them, cheer leading is such an intense and very dangerous sport in itself. And yes, there are competitions in cheerleading as well on a national level.  Go Cheer!!

This I loved! Iris is the sixth girl from the left.

Iris on the screen!

But, the danceteam impressed me.

I am a big dance and ballet fan, so therefore it is very interesting for me to watch them.  

I would have loved to see so much more of them. Like, an entire show. When they were out performing on the court it was just gold for me.  I wanted more, more, more ...

 

There is just so much to look at, all the time!

Down on the court after the game waiting for Iris.  And sadly, UVA lost to NCU.

So yes, a fantastic experience for us being at this event.

I’d gladly go again, but this will be it for UVA and me since Iris is done with school. And also, the basketball season is soon coming to an end. March Madness marks the end of it.

 

Iris and her folks!  We have known Iris before she was even born.

And here we are with the young, lovely lady.

Despite the cold rain we had such a damn great time.

Thanks to Lotta and Magnus for taking us, driving us there and home,  and to Iris for dancing and showing off her apartment and her adorable room.

With this I wish you all a very good Tuesday.