I WAS AN ARGENTINIAN FOR ONE DAY!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXMOM here...

Hello there to all my friends around the world!
Whew! What a day! Where do I start?

Firstly, I'm really sorry that I'm not getting around to all your blogs...it's just hectic here at the moment with the happenings of the Soccer World Cup and my home full with visitors. Please forgive me during this time of intense celebrations.  All I am really able to do at this point is to simply put up posts. Things are really exciting but I also DON'T want my cyber friends to miss out on all the fun either! So for the moment I am merely concentrating on posting.

Yesterday "The Boss' came home with a wonderful surprise - two tickets for him and I to go and see the game at Soccer City!!!  Not only that, but they were for the same game which Adam (our old exchange student currently visiting us) and his brother were going to see.

We got up early this morning and got our things together to go to the game . 

Since South Africa wasn't on the agenda for the day, we just had to choose another country to support, so we decided that we'd all support Argentina!!!  (who were to play Korea.)

So...."BLUE" it was!!!

This was to become my first opportunity to experience my country from a 'foreigners' point of view...

Today I was supporting Argentina!

"The Boss" too was on the same team...although there was still a bit of South African left in him!...

I took the first opportunity I could to show my new colours....by joining up with the first group of Argentina supporters I could find...

  They were more than happy to have me in their ranks and called upon their other supporters to show me what they were all about. (I'm not shy to greet foreigners) They were determined to show me what it was like to feel Argentinian...

(Can you spot me?...I am the third from the left...holding up my new blue scarf?)

We travelled by bus to Soccer City...

(Right front=Adam, Left front=Adam's brother)

  The Argentina supporters were extremely vocal and displayed great dancing rhythm in the bus (poor bus driver!).  It was smiles and jubilant laughter all the way.

We got to the stadium...What a stadium!...

My first point of call....to offer Korea some support too.

Then to have my face painted!

...and check out the vibe.

Our biggest surprise of the day was to discover that we had been issued VIP seats...huh????...yes, what do you know!!!? - we had been allocated to one of the suites in the stadium... We couldn't believe our luck!

 It seems that the suites (which had been block booked a few months ago) hadn't been occupied and when 'The Boss' went to enquire yesterday about possible tickets, those were the ones we were given (at a much reduced price)...we had no idea!

 Hey, I'm not complaining!!!

Who would have thought - a private bar and lounge and a balcony overlooking this magnificent stadium which is built to accommodate about 95000 spectators. (I can just see Maxdog wagging his tail!!!)

We had our own waiter too who kept us hydrated and salivating with snacks to sample...

We had arrived very early, so the stadium was only just starting to fill up.

I took the opportunity to orientate myself and to show my support.

An Argentinian supporter was willing to take my camera and take a picture for us of the boss and I. (Okay, I know...I shouldn't trust strangers with my camera...but the vibe was so fesive, I couldn't resist!)

"Zakumi" (The official mascot) was also there to entertain the crowd.

Korea's big flag - during the National anthem.

Finally...the full stadium.

The teams are on the field.

The game is on!...

I had chosen to use ear plugs, so the sound of vuvuzelas was not a problem at all for me.  The atmosphere was electric and most enjoyable.

The dispersal of the crowd after the game.  Who do you think won?....

Walking back to the bus...

Once on the bus, the route was through "Downtown Johannesburg" ...

Over the famous "Nelson Mandela" bridge...

The colourful artwork on Nelson Mandela bridge (below)...

Nearly back to our car...

Overall...It was a truly incredible day!!!

What an incredible feeling to be an Argentinian!

(Thank you, Argentina!)

I must say...as a foreigner (Argentinian supporter) I was well cared for by my hosts (South Africa).  The transport system to and from the stadium was very efficient - I was most impressed!  Attendants were curteous and very friendly. (Eish...you get so well treated as a non-South African, LOL!) The whole day was hugely enjoyable.

THANK YOU, SOUTH AFRICA!

With lots of love from today's Argentinian supporter...