The traditional end-of-season dinner was hosted by the new fanclub for the first time this year and it can safely be described as a roaring success.
Of course BatiFans had to be present as well. Here’s the story and pics from the weekend.

We landed on the Madrid airport Friday evening and arrived in Talavera around 9 PM. Coming in from cold Germany and England, the temperatures in Spain still felt pleasantly warm to us. After checking in our hotel we went out to have dinner and a quick stroll through the city. We took a look at the new Fanclub venue “La Sixtina”, but the place was absolutely packed. As was apparently every other bar or restaurant in the city! So we tried the old Peña bar “Las Tinajones” instead and found an empty table waiting just for us. After having some delicious tortilla and ham, the bar owners saw and recognized us and came over to greet us overjoyed. Soon our table was full with more Mahou beers, more drinks and those delicious wrapped Spanish cookies and it went on to be an unintended long night.

Sleeping in on Saturday we went to the shop of Alvaro’s dad Javier only around midday to give Bati the present we created with the help of our forum members. It is a poster with pictures of Batifans from all around the word spelling out a Birthday and Christmas message for Bati. When Alvaro arrived he was surprised and delighted that we brought him yet another gift (“Every time you come here, you bring me presents!”) and he absolutely loved the poster, as did his dad. They were surprised by the length of it (5 meters) and Bati joked that he could put it around his room three times. Everyone loved the idea and the display of all the fans Bati has around the world. Thanks again to everyone who participated, it really looks amazing and it’s such a great way to show him our support.

We had a quick lunch in the new Fanclub bar “La Sixtina” and then went back to the hotel to rest a bit before what would become another long night.
The dinner was set to commence at around 9.30PM. Bati and his family made a quiet entrance and the delicious food quickly found its way on our tables. It was an enjoyable meal and after the main dish there was a surprise waiting for Alvaro. Several men and women, us included, went outside to prepare for a very special ceremony. To the music of “Conquest of Paradise” from Vangelis, the guys then entered the room with torches and stood in a row, lighting up the dark, before the women walked down the line one by one with a rose for Alvaro. His girlfriend gave him the last rose before his mom handed him a roll of paper with some touching words from the Fanclub. It was a very emotional ceremony and caused a few tears to fall here and there. Cesar, the fanclub’s president, read the words for everyone to hear and afterwards Alvaro took the microphone to thank everyone for all the support in the good and the bad times and how much he appreciates it.

After the dessert and drawing the winners of some prizes (flags, boots, gloves, helmet) the evening continued in the disco, located in the basement of the same building. With all the fanclub members it was a great atmosphere and a lot of fun.
Around 3AM the place was about to close, so we went to another club in Talavera city to dance the night away. The place was PACKED and it was impossible to move without constantly bumping into someone, but we were with friends and we had fun.

We made our way back to the hotel some time around 6AM and tried to sleep for a few hours before having to check out from the hotel at noon. Another trip to Las Tinajones for lunch and then it was already time to head back to the Madrid airport and say Goodbye to Spain once again.

It’s hard to put in words everything you see, feel and experience in basically only one day in Talavera. All we can say is that it is an amazing and unique experience every time and that we are very grateful to be able to do this. We have to thank everyone who’s taken us into their midst just like friends, like family, and made us feel so welcome once again.
And of course many thanks to Alvaro, for everything.

Those who have met him on or off the track before know that he is no star, he’s a very down-to-earth and genuinely nice person. And this shows again when you visit Talavera. He told us that he really appreciates all the support a lot and how much it means to him when we make our long way down there. And he wanted us to know how important it is for him that we see that he is just a normal guy like us, he is only a member of the fanclub like we are. We all are on the same level and we are not there “for him”, but instead “with him”. And this is very true when you visit Talavera.
We think this is an important message for all his fans and it makes us support him even more, because he doesn’t put himself above us, but instead takes us along for the ride with him. Thank you so much for everything, Alvaro. Siempre contigo.

Share this news with others....

•