RHIAN SOCCER JOURNALS           

BERLIN BEDS                 21st June 2011

Monday was a recovery day for the Canada squad. There was plenty of quiet time and a chance to relax. Of course, many of the team  soon went out to find the closest Starbucks. No massive surprise there.

The hotel where we are staying is in a quiet area of the city and the hotel and staff are fantastic. The internet works and so far, Germany is awesome! There is some advertising for the Tournament and some indications that the event begins here, in Berlin. All the stadium seats may have been sold for the opening game, but many people still don't know the event is happening.

I awoke this morning to the realization that I had enjoyed another great night's seep. The hotel beds here are like giant pillows and I remember luxuriating in mine last night before dozing off.

But even better news than my great night's sleep was the fact that the sun is finally out in Berlin. This is the first sunny day we have seen. I drew back the blinds this morning and sunshine poured in. The warmth of the sun contributed to the rest of my mellow feelings.

I booted up my Mac and started off with e-mail. Thank you to all those who have taken the time to wish me and the team success in the tournament. I doubt most people realize how much fan support and letters mean to us. Because we train and play outside of Canada so much, it is easy to become isolated and forget that people back home are watching our progress and that they do care about our successes.

On the Canada squad we know how lucky we are to have become professional athletes and when we hear from our fans, their support only cements what we all feel about this Women's World Cup: What an honor it is to represent Canada in the world's largest women's soccer tournament.

All of the team seem very relaxed and good humored at the moment. Our hotel is a real home away from home and we are being well looked after. We have begun to learn the names of our security officers. I think we confuse them slightly, the fact that we are so often in the hallways or in one another's rooms.