Blogs from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Africa - page 26

A 5 hour drive found us back in Johannesburg, and back at the Purple Palms Hostel for 4 nights. It was nice to go back to a place where people knew us. This time we got to sleep in the cool cabin in the back yard. Good thing the electric heater worked well, though it was not as cold as it was when we were here the previous week. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The night we arrived, USA played Ghana in the Round of 16. Italy, one of the 3 main teams I was rooting for, was already knocked out of the tournament. So, I was left with only USA and Brasil. We did not go to the game in Rustenberg, but instead decided to watch it at the Fan Fest in Sandton. They ... read more

We’re not going home, we’re not going, we’re not going, we’re not going home. What a day. Today was unreal. We started the day with a walk along the beach front and just happened to bump into Ray Clements who insisted on having his photo taken with Roger. We passed the Team hotel again and had our photo taken with their coach in the background. That’s as close to the Team that we got. Ha Ha. After that drinking all the way. We cannot believe how good the weather has been. We settled for a nice bar on the waterfront. It is unbelievable the amount of effort supporters’ put into their dressing up for the England matches. We have seen the Capello boys, Knights of St George, one even was sat astride a panto horse and ... read more

Well, Bafana is out of the tournament. they played well and tied with Mexico AND beat France. Most skeptics said they would fail horribly.. I am proud of them. I am also very proud of the support I have seen here amongst South Africans of all walks of life. The positive vibe here is electric. I am excited for the US and how they have been playing. We shall have to wait and see how the rest of the World Cup unfolds. I still have yet to get to any games sadly, although a few opportunities have presented themselves- I will not go if Elisha cannot go and that is how it has been due to work schedules. I still have photos to upload, just waiting a bit to get more photos and do a large ... read more

It is like being in a shopping mall when you are sitting in the stadium watching a game at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. You don’t know what the time is. It happened two games now, there are two small big screens but you can’t see anything. I am forced to squint to get an idea of how long to go. This time I didn’t want time to be over as Australia were all over the charmed tournament team Gharnia Forutus. If you were to ask me the question before I left Australia; “If in the first two games your two best players ever to be produced in your country will be sent off would you go?” I’d have to think about it very hard. The second game was in Rustenburg a city (?) in the ... read more

Well tonight is our last night in Johannesburg at the Ball and Kicka Soccar Fan Village. Laura and I got a much smaller more private room tonight sharing with just one other couple instead of the usual 16 in two rooms. So this will be nice. In a bit we are heading to Melville, a nice area of Joburg to watch the last football match of the day. So the last few days have been some of the most fun while here in Johannesburg so I'll get right to it. APARTEID MUSEUM: Really I think people would have to just go for themselves but it really lies out a the history of South Africa from the arrival of the Boers (Dutch) to the arrival of the British and both of their interactions with the local people ... read more