Day 18 – Saturday 26th June [USA v Ghana]

Woke this morning & the chest cold is not getting any better. Sash is still in bed so I had the wild idea of going for a run around “the lake”. Dear oh dear it’s no Albert Park lake & after 25 minutes I pull the pin. I also did not take into consideration the high altitude. Joburg is about 5,000 feet above sea level & I must say it is affecting both Sash & I at nights – especially with shortness of breath.
Both Sash & I are getting home-sick. I know it might sound weird when you are in the mecca of the sporting world, but both of us cannot help feeling like we wish we back within familiar surroundings with familiar loved ones. It is actually weird because it has only been 3 weeks, yet it feels like 3 months at times.
Well enough of the sombre stuff, time to step it up again. Today is round of 16 knock-out stage. Sixteen countries have said goodbye to the world cup & are going home, while the other sixteen battle it out for the holiest of trophies. Today’s combatants include Uruguay v South Korea followed by the late game USA v Ghana.
We have not really explored out of the way places in Joburg so we are playing it safe & go back to Sandton. We watch the first game at the same restaurant we ate yesterday – Number 8, except we only drink – no food. Game is ok at best & Uruguay do what they need to win – 2-1. The Koreans are spirited though & do their country proud again & with such grace, they really are well-natured.
Sash & I take some more time apart [Sash goes shopping, Kyri gets lost............] before convening at the Marco Polo Gaming Bar – bit like a mini tabaret/sports bar. We park ourselves in front of the big screen & ready ourselves for the USA v Ghana game. There are a small collection of US supporters around but they are seriously outnumbered by everyone else – as the last African team in the cup, the Ghanaians have all of South Africa’s support & they play accordingly. It is so symbolic of African people generally, the Ghanaians play with adventure & spirit, without fear. They ultimately win a classic match 2-1 & there is thunderous cheer throughout the venue & the Africans are partying tonight. Special mention to the designers of the toilets – you will never miss any action because you have to take a leak – & also to the Chileans, they are everywhere & in huge voice. They play Brazil in a couple of day so must be lapping up the party before a possible let-down.
After copious amounts of beer, Sash has found another way to culture me & has introduced me to Vodka & Red Bull..............hmm........yummy & by the third I am bouncing of the walls. Dude I can’t go to sleep now I am flying. We still feel up to a bit of partying so we take a chance & decide to venture out to a pub I saw on the internet – The Londoner – in the suburb of Yoewville. I figure an English Pub, we are cooking. Well thanks to the GPS it is not long before we are there, however all is not what we had expected. The streets are dark & dingy & only local black South African people can be seen. We find the Londoner & there is music pounding from the place, however we are not brave enough to venture in as it appears to be a hangout for black South Africans. Whilst they appear to be having a good time, Sash & I cannot get passed how it would look for two white folk to suddenly infiltrate their possy – who knows we amy have had a great time or......................we ultimately chose to hightail it back to Sandton & take refuge at Caffe Maude & suck back a couple of beers while listening to some quite acceptable music being pumped out by DJ Pierre [he is wearing a beret, so I cannot think of anything else].
It is our first late night in a while & we get back home at about 2.30am. Enough for it is time for bed. Oh by the way thanks for waiting for me Sash as I needed to find a toilet in the complex at 2.00am & almost got lost again – he has my back.