An afternoon in Nuremberg, Germany

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June 22, 2006

We left Berlin early, and were able to get on a train that arrived into Nuremberg with plenty of time before the match--U.S. vs. Ghana. The train was packed with Americans, ready to cheer on the team in its match against Ghana. The scene in the station was mad, and we could hardly walk. Americans screaming and cheering on even before anything was ready to began. It was a great atmosphere. The fans from Ghana were humble and their cheers were easily drowned by the other side's.
After waiting in line to put our bags away, we grabbed the metro and headed to the stadium. The train was packed, and luckily I was able to grab a seat. Getting off the station, about a fifteen minute walk from Fan Fast, we weren't able to get tickets, a beer garden was set up with several beer posts and a stage with live music.
Pitchers of beer were flowing, and with mostly an American crowd at hand, the place was wild. We ran into the reporter from Charlotte, and were able to get a drink with him. We drank away, until a few minutes before the game started. We gulped down many of those big mugs, and it quenched or thirst. Finally realizing the time, we ran towards Fan Fest, and getting free condoms from a safe sex presentation on the way, we arrived just after kick-off.
The game was fun in the first half. The Americans tied it up in the 28 minute, but let a goal in injury time right before the first half ended. Questionable, but they still lost. The few fans from Ghana were elated, and were nice in their celebration. We saw others with their heads down, and talked with a group of guys from Houston, which we would see in Munich at our hostel. Drunk from the beer garden and a few more beers at Fan Fest, we were sad and made a walk towards the train station. It was a hike, so after thirty minutes of walking, we got on the metro to get back to the station. Here we ran into the guys from Cleveland, in similar state as we were, drunk and sad from the game. A very solemn atmosphere now, we hopped on the train to Munich. After a nap on the train, we were ready to hit Munich when we arrived. We didn't see much of Nuremberg--for that matter none of it. We had made this schedule the week before, and had decided that the city would be packed with visitors for the game, and rode down to Munich instead. A gray day in Nuremberg, the atmosphere before the game was magnificent, but at the end of the day that all changed.

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Photos

Nuremberg
At the beer garden near Fan Fest

Nuremberg
Me, Tron, Little Boi at the beer garden

Nuremberg
The scene at the beer garden

Nuremberg
Feeling quite well

Nuremberg
Little Boi enjoying the beer

Nuremberg
Little Boi really enjoying the beer

Nuremberg
Little Boi and Tron

Nuremberg
Little Boi and me

Nuremberg
Fan Fest

Nuremberg
Every reporter that was present took a picture of her. She just lined them up, and they all shot away--tourists included, as you can see from me taking a picture as well.