Bravo to Barcelona

Chile captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is reportedly on the verge of a move to Barcelona, having agreed personal terms with the Catalan club, for a fee of around US$12.2 million.

Bravo has turned down the opportunity to join Spain’s elite clubs on two occasions in the past — in 2010 he declined Real Madrid’s offer of becoming a backup to Iker Casillas, and similarly in 2012 rejected the chance to become Barcelona’s second choice goalkeeper behind Víctor Valdés.

However, with both first-choice Valdés and backup José Manual Pinto leaving the club this summer, the Chilean could reach the pinnacle of European football by making the number one jersey at Barcelona his own. Standing in his way is the club’s recent signing, 22-year-old German Marc-André Ter Stegen.

The Chilean goalkeeper’s experience could count in his favour — he has amassed 78 caps for the national team and has the chance to display his ability at the World Cup this summer, unlike his German competitor, who missed out on a place in the Germany squad for the tournament.

Former Chile goalkeeper Nelson Tapia believes that Bravo will soon surpass the record number of international caps for Chile, a title held by Leonel Sánchez with 85, and offered glowing praise for the current national number one.

Chile’s ‘charming man’ finally wins English hearts, alongside trophies

In his first season in English soccer, Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini won the love of wary fans, the loyalty of a squad of millionaires and two domestic trophies, including that which matters most. Perhaps his toughest battle of all, however, was winning the respect of reporters in a country in which both playing and talking about soccer is a serious business.

England’s insatiable footballing press creates myths of men as quickly as it turns them to monsters. But for the moment at least, Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini is finally the darling of Premier League tacticians, despite being largely overlooked throughout the season by pundits for his more outspoken and media-savvy rivals.

Pellegrini had the luxury of the most expensive squad in England and the fourth richest in the world, one which had won the domestic title just two seasons previous. He also inherited the pressure to deliver trophies at all costs and a dressing room reportedly plagued by ego and infighting. This had led to the ousting of his predecessor Roberto Mancini, despite the fact that the Italian had taken an expensive but underachieving club from mid-table obscurity to an FA Cup crown, Champions League football and its first top division title in 44 years.

On Sunday, Pellegrini delivered on those hefty expectations, and he did so with a group of stars which he had not only unified to play as a team, but according to his distinctive brand of football.

A perfect postcard of the alps

Switzerland isn`t a bargain destination, so it comes as no surprise that Zermatt is one of the most exclusive places to ski in Europe, alongside Saint Moritz, Kolster and Gstaad. Exceeding altitudes of 13,000 feet, Zermatt`s 38 peak include the Matterhorn or Mont Cervin (14,692 feet), with an impressive pyramid-like shape that has made it one of the best-known mountains on the continent.
With the goal of cleaner air, the community has banned the use of fossil fuels. For this reason, transportation comes courtesy of electric vehicles and a rail service that reaches as far as the town of Tasch, where visitors access the slopes.
Zermatt has three interconnected ski centers, one of which is linked to the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia. If you don´t ski, you can take underground trains that even visit the glaciers; there are 14 in total, with highlights including Gorner Glacier (Gornergletscher in German) and the  Plateau Rosa, a glacier that can be skied in the summer. Another standout summer activity is mountain climbing.
In fact, Zermatt is the end of the famed Haute Route, an international route that starts at Mont Blanc, in Chamonix, France.
For an interesting meal with more dining options, head across the Italian border to Breuil-Cervinia. Enjoy the famous pizzas and friendly service at Falcone or sample the excellent pasta at la Grotta.
At night, the papperla Pub is the place to be in Zermatt, with bands perfoming live on the terrace. And for more live music, visit in April - this year, April 8-12 - when the town hosts Zermatt Unplugged, a music festival that offers a great way to see another side of the Alps.

A city in itself

Unlike other alpine ski areas. Innsbruck, Austria, is am actual city. As a sporting destination, it features nine major ski centers in the surrounding area, with nearly 190 miles of interconnected runs (Olympia Ski World Innsbruck). Innsbruck deftly combines winter sports with culture, history, urban life and nature.
This is a city full of tradition, surrounded by small villages, lakes that freeze over in the winter, castle and palaces with majestic mountains as the backdrop. It`s otherworldly architecture mixes classic Gothic and Baroque with avant-garde style of the 21st century.
The city`s modern transportation system includes cable cars that can take you from downtown Innsbruck to peaks of more than 6,560 feet in just 20 minutes, which helps make your stay much more enjoyable. Visitors also take sleigh rides and snowshoe excursions through its forests. For bigger thrills, try the bobsled, a four-person sled that careens downhill at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour.
Families with small childen often use the daycare center that welcome little ones as young as three months and the snow garden for kids age four and older. Families also love the Alpenzoo, which includes some interesting regional fauna, with more than 2,000 animals and 150 different species. 
Life away from the slopes offers something for everyone, like the attractively designed Casino Innsbruck in the city`s downtown area. Opened in 1992, the casino is popular with visitors from Italy, Switzerland and France, who come to try their luck and enjoy opera, dance and music perfomances.
If you`re looking to unwind, the city offers a number of bars and nightclubs, many of which appeal to the city`s large student population. Check out Cafè-Bar Moustache, with its fun atmosphere and live music, and the beer hall and brewery Theresienbräu, which also serves good food. Don`t forget to try a Hugo- a traditional Tyrolese cocktail created in the area - and raise your glass to Innsbruck!

Japanese cuisine

Finely presented and delicious, the food of Japan is all about subtle and varied flavors. It can be broadly categorized into three groups.
The ancient aristocracy used the tea ceremony to develop kaiseriryori, a series of sophisticated dishes organized by cooking method, from an appetizer to sashimi, a simmered dish, a grilled dish, a fried dish, a steam-cooked dish and a dish marinated in vinegar. After this elaborate meal comes rice, miso soup, pickles and finally sweets.
Buddhist monks created shojin-ryori, boiled vegetarian stews that are sometimes served with tofu. For everyday meals, people prepare obanzai-ryori, a series of small and diverse dishes. They´re often enjoyed at kawayuka, a summer pastime where people sit at tables on platforms above the river to beat the heat.
In the wintertime, people have lunch or dinner inside where it´s warm (and always relatively early, as in the United State), sitting zashiki style (removing your shoes to sit on the floor or a cushion around a low table) or in traditional Western style, in booths or in a common dining room. You can eat with chopsticks and a spoon (yes, you´re supposed to slurp the soup and bring the dish to your mouth) or with Western uttensils. The best restaurants are found in the neighborhoods of Gion, Pontocho and near the city`s central railway station, with classic and modern takes on the traditional, both minimalist and grandiose.
Whatever your taste, Kyoto captures the imagination and conquers the soul. Discovering its mystery is a unique experience for everyone.