What a massive day today. It all began with a trip into the City Centre in the morning to pick up our Match tickets for the tournament - 7 games & now it feels so real - first live game will be tonight.
After getting our tickets we go to a pizzerria to celebrate with pizza & beer [its only 11am - wow]. We stuffed our faces & got to meet & chat with Bobby [our waiter] - get this a Serbian serving us italian food in a sth african restaurant - how is that for world cup diversity.
Bobby had a bit of a sobering story to tell about Johannesburg which concerned us a little - we need to be aware of our movements.
Before heading home to get changed we stop at our local pub [Mitchells Brewery - we are VIPs now] for a stout & meet Chris [Liverpool man] & some young sth african portuguese boys [Roamone - or something] - good looking bloke - made me look like a relic. We chewed the fat for a while - check out the pics.
Anyway we went back to hotel to get changed & head out for the day - its winter here & even though its warm & gorgeous during the day it gets bloody cold at night - so gotta rug up early as we are out all day.
When we get back to the Waterfront to watch the first game [Sth Africa v Mexico] the place is packed & there is nowhere to watch the game,until............ we spot a private function being held by the Australian Business Council - well we take a shot & before you know it we are having free beer free food & watching the game on big screens with some great aussies [including Frank Arok & Stan Lazaridis - for those of you soccer fans you will know they are ex Socceroos] - what an afternoon.
We keep drinking with a couple of kiwis long after the game is finished [great first game & Sth Africa have done their country proud - played beautiful football] & get quite tanked - no problem though we arent driving [thanks for the company Sean / Ciaran - Kiwis].
Suddenly realise its 7.30 pm [game finished almost 2 hours ago] - shit we have to get to a game [Uruguay v France] - the walk to the stadium is electric - noise, colour & a real sense of anticipation - we are so rapt to be here.
Getting into the stadium is an eye opener from the metal detectors to the awesome viewof the stadium.
Whilst the game did not reach lofty heights [nil all draw] the atmosphere was just amazing - so much song & party & the mexican wave was surreal - thought it would never stop & the roar when it reached you - you just cant help but get involved.
Good thing we did not keep drinking because getting to the toilets is an epic journey [not sure they got the design completely right with stadium toilets].
All in all a great start to our first day of football - so much so we finished from the game & slowly made our way home - too tired to hit the town tonight - will save it for tomorrow.
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