Just-in Africa Day 7 - 17 June 2010

Today marks the day of the first World Cup Soccer Game (my first ever soccer game) that Justin and I would be attending.  Argentina versus Korea Republic.

We set off to the game in Soweto, comforted by the fact that "Its so easy" and the only traffic we encountered was getting into the parking at the stadium.  We then set off on our 3km trek to the stadium.  Enroute we encountered hoards of street sellers, selling everything from boer wors rolls (ground beef in a casing to resemble a sausage on a hot dog roll), vuvuzela's, ear plugs, soccer paraphernalia, this experience would be incomplete if you didn't have the buzz of Soccer City (the Calabash)  drawing us closer to it.

The stadium is impressive, unfortunately I cant show you photos because Justin took the good pictures on his camera which disappeared on his last night in South Africa.

The stadium holds conservatively 80 000 people.  Its amazing to have been able to see this in the wake of the pre world cup press stating South African stadiums would never be ready in time.  We pulled it off, and did a really good job at it too.

Justin is smiling at this photo you've picked up there are very few photos that capture this expression, as he "doesn't want to fake smile" I assume the reaction here is "silly girl taking photos of me coming through a turn star!"

We wound our way up stairs and walkways to the last tier and sat in the front row of seats.  With a great view of the Korean fans below, who were clapping their hands together twice and then pushing the forward from their chest twice.  It was interesting.

We could also see Maradona the Argentina, coach, a golden moment was when the soccer ball bounced into the 'coaches box' (yes you can see I know the jargon, as I'm an avid soccer lover) and Maradona with no effort kicked the ball out with a slight side tap of his foot!  It was brilliant.  Otherwise the game proceed the way most football games do with guys running between the goals and the ball being passed around.  ;)

As I pointed out the previous day the weather had changed for the worst it was freezing cold.  Comments I've received on this photo include "Justine are you going to the North Pole?"  My response goes along the lines of "Yes actually it was freaking cold."

Bennie, gloves, sweater, long sleeved shirt short sleeved shirt, long johns, socks, sheep lined boots and a jacket - it gets cold in Africa!

Justin and I were prepared for the hum of the vuvuzela, coming equipped with ear plugs!  The vuvuzela is  obnoxious in...
1) confined spaces
2) on TV
3) when 1 lone idiot is blowing it randomly

When your in a stadium and 50 000 people are blowing on their vuvuzela its really not that bad, its like being near a bee hive.

The game finished with a good score of 4-1 to Argentina.  And then Justin and I slogged through the crowds of people bottle necking at various exit points (bad stadium design there) and took the 3km walk back to the car.  During this leg of the trip there was an 8 year old boy next to me blowing his vuvuzela (the whole time), if I tell you what I wanted to do with his vuvuzela I might go to prison, but you can imagine for yourself if you were in the same situation.  The merchandise on sale had changed from the aforementioned items to fruit and water - very innovative of the hawkers.

 

After the game Justin and I went to the Carlton Center, located in the Joburg CBD.  What once used to be a 5 start hotel, where people like the Queen would stay, is now 'in moth balls'.  The tallest building in Jozi at 50 floors, this 'sky scrapper' offers the best panoramic view of Johannesburg and its outlying area and an amazing sunset.

Underneath the Carlton Center is a Mall, we walked through here on our way out and took the oppetrunity for Justin to pose for another picture.

and strike the same pose.

The sheer exhaustion that over came us after a cold day in the open air and long trips from the East of Jozi to the South, to Central Jozi and then back to the East rand, rendered us having a quite and slow dinner at a Portuguese restaurant (having Caldo Verde Soup, made from potato and chorizo sausage - its good) where my cousins work, followed by home and bed, the next day we would be driving to Durban.

Justin's version of events
http://nogimmickneeded.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-africa-day-8-world-cup-game-1.html