Thursday, June 10, 2010

24 HOURS TO GO!!!

GREETINGS FROM AN EXCITED SOUTH AFRICA!
MAXMOM here...
It is less than 24 hours to Kick-off of the
FIFA SOCCER WORLD CUP 2010: SOUTH AFRICA!!!

For the next 30 days, our city (JOHANNESBURG) will be flooded with soccer fever!
Despite not knowing much about the game, I am being driven along in the prevailing excitement. This is going to be so much fun....No-one can possibly remain immune!
 Our visitors are arriving in droves, our airports are buzzing, our nation is emitting an ambience of hospitality and festivity. It's becoming quite a joke at the moment in our household as all of us just want to
"HUG A FOREIGNER" :)
Obviously cultures of the world are varied and complex so we resolve towards respect and courtesy in an attempt to convey...
"WE LOVE HAVING YOU HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LAND!"
"WE WISH YOU A WONDERFUL, HAPPY AND MEMORABLE STAY IN OUR AMAZING COUNTRY!"
We know that some of our visitors may take the opportunity of exploring all that South Africa has to offer. Some will visit our beaches...


We know that the family of our blogging friend "ANGUS" is currently in Camps Bay in Cape Town, so we thought we'd offer them a picture of Camps Bay :
Hopefully the 'Mongeese' will be spending some time at Cape Town's beautiful waterfront...?...
This is Cape Town City at the moment...

Or perhaps our visitors will go and visit some amazing geographical phenomena...

Or some of our wild life...
But if you are in our cities....Well....
IT'S SOCCER FEVER!!!
(and there's no getting away from it!)
Yesterday's parade in the streets of Sandton City was echoed at shopping centres and places of business throughout the country.
This is what the streets of Sandton looked like yesterday...
(Thank you to all my friends who are sending me these pictures!!! Keep it going!)

School and universities have closed their doors for six weeks over this SWC period. Everywhere you look is a sea of yellow clothing with our flags flying high. It seems that the buzzing sounds of Vuvuzelas are here to stay...at least over this time period.  Since no one can fight them, the only option is to embrace them as well as the spirit which goes along with them...
As many of you know, we sadly don't have tickets to any of the soccer games, but that is not stopping us from absorbing all that is on offer to visitors, spectators and supporters.  This morning, a friend and I decided to take a road trip out to go and look at
SOCCER CITY!!!
(This is what Soccer City looks like on Google earth...)

  SOCCER CITY is the venue for tomorrow's big kick-off game between...
MEXICO vs SOUTH AFRICA
and it is a sight to behold at the moment! Street sweepers are making final touches and cars are stopping for last minute photos without the thousands of folk which will be hosted there tomorrow afternoon.

We set off from home on one of our newly constructed highways:
...and drove past some of the Gold mine dumps which our city is famous for...
...and Soweto...
It is an extremely windy day here in Johannesburg so there is a haze in our city. The mine-dumps too are giving off a cloud of fine dust which, as you get closer to Soccer city, is swirling in the wind. There are well marked signs showing motorists the route to Soccer city...

The approach to Soccer City via Nasrec Road...
An aerial view (Google Earth) of Soccer City.
One can't comprehend the size of this place! It seats 84 000 spectators.  For this reason, I have put a red star in the picture to show you where we stopped to take pictures...

I want to point out that the distance between me and the stadium it is an opticle illusion.  Although I've not gone inside, there must have been at least 800m between the ticket office and the stadium entrance, yet it looks like it is on top of me.
"VIVA BAFANA BAFANA!!!"
Perhaps this picture gives better perspective...
The massive cooling tower next to the stadium looks small in comparison...
Gate "H"...
Its hard to think that tomorrow night this stadium will be packed to capacity!...
One of the signs on the western side...
A picture...about a kilometer away...
Tomorrow night it should look like this...
For more information, please visit the official FIFA website:
HERE

Tomorrow evening also features the game between
URUQUAY AND FRANCE
(At the beautiful stadium in Cape Town)
Some of my blogging friends will be putting up posts in support of various countries in the SWC.
Tomorrow, please visit:
 ANGUS at http://wilfanddigby.blogspot.com/ as he will be featuring
FRANCE!!!

If you would like to participate in our "UNITY IN DIVERSITY" campaign by featuring a post in support of one of the participating countries, please visit
You can also grab a 'button' from my sidebar which will also link you straight into the post which gives the details for the "UNITY in DIVERSITY" initiative!

Since we won't be going to the stadium during this SWC, we have resolved to pump up the spirit in our own homes...
"GO BAFANA BAFANA!"
Sending lotaluv to you all!

25 comments:

Dexter said...

That soccer stuff is INSANE! Wow! I love the way the stadium looks at night.

Slobbers,
Mango

Dom said...

Hi Maxmom,

What an awesome post! You have really managed to convey the excitement going on in Jo'burg! We live in a beautiful country and I am so glad to share it with the World! I am extremely excited for tomorrow! I cannot wait to sing the national anthem along with millions of other South African's! Keep up the wonderful SWC posts!

Love
D

Doris Sturm said...

I can tell how excited you are and I know you all want to hug a foreigner, but I hope and pray that these visiting people will treat you and your beautiful and inviting country with dignity and respect... from what I can see of the masses here, I do not have a lot of faith for common decency and respect of the general public any more.
I hope your excperience with the visitors will be a good one.
With love and prayers,
Doris :-)
take care of your babies :-)

Maggie Mae and Max said...

Wow, you sure is excited about all this soccer stuff, I am excited too and I don't even know what soccer is! I will have to have my mom explain it to me. Have a fun time and let us know about what happens!

Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae

WFT Nobby said...

Oh I so wish that I were in South Africa and not Scotland just at the moment!
Gail.
PS From Bertie - I have tried to send Gail out to buy me a South Africa flag for tomorrow night's game, but she says she's still recovering from her attempts to find an England flag for sale earlier in the week...

Scout and Freyja said...

Beginning today I declare myself to be an adopted South African☺ There is NO way anyone could not get swept up in all of the excitement and festivities!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for sharing this event and your lovely country.

My Mind's Eye said...

MaxMom
Until I found your blog, I had no idea how breathtakingly beautiful S. Africa was...thank you for sharing.
Enjoy all the festivities...my nephew is somewhere in the droves of visitors.
Madi and Mom

Ms. ~K said...

Exciting post! Our national news is highlighting SWC every night. I heard that the US has purchased more tickets than any other country, other than SA....pretty cool!
GO BAFANA BAFANA!
xoxo
it

Jake of Florida said...

Your excitement is coming through our computer screen and we are now dying to hug (and be hugged by) a foreigner!! Since we're in Canada, it shoudn't be too difficult to find a willing hugger/huggee!

Thank you so much for letting us participate in this way. We are proud for South Africa and all the energy that has gone into planning for this event!

Jake and Just Harry, the Barkalot Bafana Bafana

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

What did I say yesterday about your excitement being contagious?? I can feel it all the way here in Virginia and will be looking forward to hearing and reading all about it!! :-)))

houndstooth said...

That stadium is just amazing! I love how it looks all lit up.

Sometimes you get a better view from at home on the TV anyway! I'm not sure who to cheer for in that first game!

Amy & the house of cats said...

Wow there is so much great stuff to visit there and the stadiums and city just look great. But we have to say that fountain is probably our favorite (well, that and the girraffe!)

sprinkles said...

Your country is so beautiful. I would love to be there right now to explore it and feel the excitement in the air. It would be nice to get away from my problems for a little while and have something else to focus on.

I was going to say that you'd probably have a better view of the game from the tv anyways but houndstooth beat me to it.

Cloud the Wonder Dog said...

Ooo, this is so exciting! And that soccer fountain is sooo beautiful!!!

Luv,
Cloud

Jacqueline said...

Great photos!...So much excitement and happiness filling your streets=it all looks wonderful and fun!...I look forward to hearing all about it as the festivities continue for the next month.

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

The feeling there must be very similar to how it felt here for the Olympics.....but maybe a lit larger since this lasts longer than the Olympics. It really is amazing how the atmosphere changes!

Love the pictures! Thanks everyone for sharing!!!

Rhonda

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! World CUP. It is sure a beautiful city to celebrated the World CUP. Just enjoy the photos ... my family n I wish to be there. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Mrs. JP said...

Sideline (get the soccer reference) has anyone told you that when they press "post a comment" another screen comes up for a Tara reading? I just wanted you to know.
I think you've got it good, staying home and watching it on TV. Go SA!!!
It would be a shame to come to your beautiful country and not see the sites!
BAFANA BAFANA

Asta said...

Thankyou fow all those wondewful pictoowes MaxMom!

We awe getting goosebumps of excitement..it's catching, hehehe
I hope evewyone who goes fow the soccew stays and sees the magnificence of youw countwy..We'we jelly of the Mogoos.
go BafanaBafana!!!
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Clive said...

Hi MaxMom

We had great fun watching the concert on the TV tonight!

Murray sang along with lots of the music and we enjoyed his enjoyment!

take care
Murray's Mom

Golden Samantha said...

Your excitement is so contagious! I can feel the electricity all the way from there to here in Cali! Love the photos of you and you and your friend in front of the stadium. I GUESS it's big!!!!! World Soccer fever has descended upon you. I'm impressed by how welcoming and generous S.A. has been to foreigners (it may just be you!) but the country has gone to a lot of trouble to make a beautiful new highway, a huge stadium and all that goes along with a "World" event in your venue. Very impressive! Looking forward to hearing all about the first game tomorrow!
Hugs xoxoxo and Pats to the furry ones!
Sammie

Scout and Freyja said...

We are sniffing by from The Portuguese Water Blog's red bandanna celebration 'cause we wanted to say how nice you look wearing red!

Momma says: Smoochies to da poochies, too☺

BAFANA! BAFANA!

Mango the Maltese kiddo said...

Hi MaxMom, you're the greatest fan of World Cup, I love your enthusiasm. Max trained you well to live your life to the MAX.
Thank you for supporting my cybersisters Autumn&Jasmine, your kindness means a lot to me.
Cheers!

Lorenza said...

Your post is pawesome!
Good luck Bafana Bafana!
Good luck Mexico!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

Maxmom...

What a fabbers postie!! We're so excited...we feel like we have a front row seat to all the excitement from your bloggie!!!

What an amazing tour you gave us today of your bootiful country...

And we love the diverse but united theme...oh we are all so diverse, but so connected!

Oh, we have to tell ya...where we do our walkies at the park there was a very sweet man whom we always saw with his very old black lab. We'd see him every day. But this spring we noticed he wasn't ever there. We were afraid for him or his doggie.

But this last weekend, we saw him again! His old labbie is not well enuff to walk the park now, but she still enjoys her walks at home. BUT, he got a new pup. A little golden pup. And we thought of Max. We firmly believe he is keeping an eye on this gentle man with his new golden boy...

And do ya know every time we have to reboot our puter, there is a Golden dog who flashes up on the screen? I swear he winked at me!

Kisses to all 'specially that Toffee!!

Laciegirlie