The ride into Cape Town yesterday for opening match festivities was euphoric. South Africa made its excitement known with constant vuvuzela blasts, bright gold and green jerseys, flags painted on cheeks and entire faces, and multi-colored afro wigs. People were dancing in intersections during red lights. My minibus driver had his vuvuzela out the window for almost the entire drive into the city, tooting at neighboring cars and people on the sidewalks. Almost every car on the road had either a South Africa flag whipping in the wind or side-view mirrors wrapped in a South African flag cover (the mirror part wasn't covered; it was like a beanie for the mirror).
I walked around the Fan Fest area with a coworker for a bit before meeting up with her some of her friends and settling in at a bar/restaurant to drink some beer, eat some food, and cheer for BAFANA BAFANA! It was an exciting match and the crowd at the bar with whom I watched was a lot of fun. While the final score of 1-1 wasn't awful, it would have been nice to start with a South African upset of the better-ranked Mexico. Next time...
It was a lot of fun and definitely something I would not do at home in Boston. I usually stay away from major sporting events, especially in Boston considering the fans' history of flipping over cars regardless of whether the team won or lost. I'm really glad I went and am trying to figure out the plan for watching the US-England game tonight. I don't think this will last the entirety of the World Cup, if for nothing else it's expensive to ride in and out of the city and buy beers and food wherever I'm watching the match. But it's at least fun for the opening weekend.
Below are some photos from yesterday riding into the city and while watching the match. I also took some video and am going to try and put together a short clip of the footage and photos.
VIVA BAFANA BAFANA! VIVAAAAAAAAA!
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