LA SELE! - The Game

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[youtube=bFFm04VVffA][youtube=8e-vgQSqNtA]

Ok, so on the way to town today for more orientation stuffs, we passed a McDonalds. Here, they have a burger called the “McNifico”; in Spanish, ‘magnifico’ means magnificent. Yes. That’s the the McNificent burger for only $900 colones. Get it while it lasts.

First experience of a Costa Rican storm today, but more on this later sometime.

The real event of the day - the Costa Rican National Team vs Suriname. Where the hell is Surinam you ask? In South America between French Guinea and something else. Northeastern area. Yea, I didn’t know either - someone else had told me Africa. Why can't you locate Suriname? Well, because there aren’t enough maps in the world and people can’t read maps…um South Africa, Iraq, we should help them. If I lost you, you have to see this:

I got a couple friends and went to the bank at 4pm (game at 8pm). We waited in line for 2 hours to get tickets and had to get the incredibly nice Tico accountant and his son to buy tickets for us too because we didn’t have enough people (stupid 4 tix per person limit). The hours leading up to the game were an enthralling and captivating experience in San Jose. Think of like…. a D1 (not SU, but UW or Oregon) football game, but with national pride on the line, and instead of drunk college students, its multitudes of Ticos roaming the streets of the entire city decked in the red jerseys of “La Sele.” The sound of cars honking drowned the streets, with echoes of vendors trying to sell you jerseys and hats and flags and whatever else had red and blue on it.

The game, oh the game. From the second La Sele came out onto the field it was craziness. Those fans watch every second of the game; there’s no “I have to go to the bathroom” or “I’m hungry” - are you kidding? The game is happening. Not an experience for the faint of heart or of the sensitive nature. Thing is, they aren’t like English hooligans; the fans aren’t interested in creating a ruckus, but just truly being a part of the game. Chants of “oleeeeee, ole, ole ole, TICOOOOOOO, Tiiiiiiiiicooooo” rang through the chilly nighttime air. One fan had a response for everything. On an close, but accurate offside call he told the player, “La proxima vez, meta la pancha” or, basically, ‘Suck in your gut next time fat ass!’ La Sele put in seven, yea, seven goals on Surinam; it got ugly towards the end, I almost felt bad for Surinam. This latin sea of red had for sure gotten the best of them.

On a side note, they don’t sell alcohol at sporting events because it woule be ridiculously absurd, but the food is INCREDIBLY CHEAP. Get a personal pizza for $3 or empanadas for $1 each, any drink for $1. I never want to buy food at Safeco Field again.

To cap the night off, a big group of us (ISA kids) found a bar called ‘La Iguana.’ We went inside because we heard Journey music. Turns out, in addition to cheap Imperial beer, there were 80’s/90’s rock videos playing on all the screens. Don’t Stop Believing was good, but if you’ve never seen the video for Van Halen’s “Jump,” you need to. I included it in this blog. It's chock full of the token 80’s stare semi seductively/creepily straight into the camera. There was Queen, Guns n’ Roses, etc. There’s nothing like drinking a cheap latino beer in a cantina called the Iguana in Costa Rica while listening to Journey. Don’t ever freaking stop believing. Pura Vida.

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Photos

Van Halen
You have to watch this video. Please. It's good for your health.

La Sele
Why is there a goal on the beach?...

GOOOOALLLLL.
7-0. Ridiculous.

Comments

[Waudstock]

I love this
I wish I could monkey dance with you in the club; dude, this is the type of stuff I expected to see from your blog...keep up the good work. Also, it sounds like it's not very fun down there and I'm not jealous.