HUGE SOCCER WORLD CUP CELEBRATIONS!!!

GREETINGS FROM  A PULSATING SOUTH AFRICA!!!
MAXMOM here...

(Above: Scenes from Cape Town yesterday)

Hello there dear friends!
What a day it was yesterday!

The spirit and jubilation in our country echoes the happenings in 1995 during the Rugby World Cup! At that time our country went mad in its celebrations of unity. 
The only difference this time is that it is a thousand times more dramatic!
WOW! 
If you have seen the movie, "INVICTUS", you might understand the collective feeling that has gripped our nation!
It is simply INCREDIBLE!!!

---xXx---

Today I would like to take the opportunity of thanking my blogging friends for coming along this ride with me. 
 Over the next month we, as bloggers are celebrating...

UNITY IN DIVERSITY!!!

As the various countries participate in this amazing global spectacle,
THE SOCCER WORLD CUP,
blogging friends have volunteered to put up special posts for various countries which are playing in this tournament. 
(Sometimes these countries aren't necessarily their own either) 
It is all in a spirit of 'getting to know one another a little better! 
 Each day you can check the side bar on this blog for the friends who have put up special posts.
So, please don't forget to go to the sidebar the minute you have finished reading this blogpost! Our collective effort in celebrating our unity is not to be missed!!!

---xXx---

Yesterday afternoon our city went mad!
I think we did our country proud with the incredible opening ceremony which took place at
SOCCER CITY in JOHANNESBURG

Here are some more pictures (taken off TV coverage)
The "Calabash" stadium...

My favourite...the dung beetle...

An inside view..

The dung beetle rolls his soccer ball...

The unified Baobab tree...

The steaming "calabash".

A 'calabash' is an African drinking pot...symbolic of hospitality, unity and goodwill.

The Soweto Spiritual singers around the Baobab...

Our "Madiba"...Mr Nelson Mandela ...with 'Africa' and then the 'world' displayed on the pitch...

This is how 'countries' were constructed.

The large footprints were to symbolise that the 'footprint' of humanity which started in Africa and then spread across the world...we are all linked!

At our own venue...

We saw a number of amazing hats...

We also had our own faces painted:...

Proud South Africans!!!... The "Boss" and I...

The game itself was fabulous!!!

What a spirit!

One couldn't hope for a better result to the first game in our country!!..

YES....IT WAS A DRAW (1-1)

Well played MEXICO!!!

Well played BAFANA BAFANA!!!

The Stadium in Cape Town featuring Argentina and France also turned into a Vuvuzela fanfare.  These two teams also drew their game (0-0)

So after yesterday....we are still all equal!

(Who would have thought otherwise?)

Street lights in Cape Town...

TODAY IS A FULL DAY WITH THREE MORE MATCHES TAKING PLACE:

KOREA vs GREECE (13h30 SA Time)
ARGENTINA vs NIGERIA (16h00 SA Time)
ENGLAND vs USA (20h30 SA Time)

With all the fesivities around me, I can't but help remember my beautiful
MAXDOG
and the legacy he has left.
Blogging about him affirmed my belief in...
UNITY IN DIVERSITY

and the unity we experienced during his time...

Today's match between
England vs USA
is a special one for me because it reminds me of the time my blogging friends played host to us during
MAX'S WORLD TOUR...

I understand the sensitivities and patriotism of English football fans, but I can't help remembering the incredible hospitality I received from the UK (as a whole) on my first ever overseas trip. Although it is "ENGLAND" who plays today under the "St George's flag", I feel that I want to honour the entire, "unified UK" on this day)
Thanks to Hamish...

USA also plays today, and I remember ALL my friends across the UNITED STATES.

This was Asta hosting Maxdog in New York City during

MAXDOG'S WORLD TOUR....

There were so many other countries that Maxdog was invited to...and ALL were such perfect hosts! So with all these different countries currently in my own country, South Africa, I can't help but celebrate our Unity in Diversity! So again I say....
Good Luck to ALL the teams who are playing!!!

Three matches are scheduled to be played today at various venues in South Africa for this the

SOCCER WORLD CUP

These matches are:

ARGENTINA vs NIGERIA (16h00 SA time)

ENGLAND vs USA (20h30 SA time)

KOREA vs GREECE (13h30 SA time)

 

As promised, here is a recipe for each country playing today...

---xXx---

ARGENTINA

ARTENTINEAN POTATOE SALAD
Ingredients
4 russet potatoes - peeled, boiled, and cubed
3 hard cooked eggs, choppedNIGERIA
1 (10 ounce) can mixed vegetables
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
5 tablespoons chopped pimiento-stuffed olives
salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook peeled potatoes until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool, and cube.

2.Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, and immediately remove from heat. Cover pan, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water and allow to cool. Peel and chop the eggs, and toss together with the potatoes and vegetables in a large mixing or serving bowl.

3.In a separate bowl, combine the mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground mustard, lemon juice, dill weed, and green olives. Stir to blend. Pour dressing over the potato mixture, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour, or overnight.
---xXx---
 

---xXx---

ENGLAND

---xXx---

USA

---xXx---

KOREA

---xXx---

GREECE

Tomorrows fixtures feature the countries of:

GERMANY

AUSTRALIA

ALGERIA

SLOVENIA

SERBIA

GHANA

If you feel you want to pay tribute to any of these countries tomorrow by putting up a special blogpost for them, please email me at lescaryl@mweb.co.za

In the meantime, have a happy day with love from all of us in this beautiful country...

SOUTH AFRICA

(Picture: Sunset from Table Mountain over Camps Bay)

Now...
Don't forget to go and visit my other special blogging friends listed under
"UNITY IN DIVERSITY"
at the top of my sidebar.
Sending lotsaluv to you all...