I went to a dinner party last night and there were a couple of tour guides present. The conversation revolved around the Soccer Cup somewhat. What struck me most about what they had to say was this. The visitors they met all felt that South Africa had been portrayed in a negative light prior to the Soccer Cup. The fans had come with reservations and many had decided not to come. The negative publicity was about crime and inflated prices. Their experience was nothing like they had been led to believe and they felt other people had been robbed of a chance to be part of this celebration by irresponsible journalism.
South Africans are also their own worst enemies. They seem to have Green Grass Syndrome. They have this idea that the rest of the world lives in peace and harmony and it’s only us that has problems.
The other topic last night was the road in the inner city that goes … … … nowhere. So many urban legends surround that massive bridge that stops in mid air. Some say that a cafe owner refused to budge and the bridge stopped just above his shop. Some say that the engineer was American and forgot to factor that we drive on the other side of the road. Some say the council ran out of money and one day the rest of the bridge will be built.
We do know this, that road has been going nowhere for at least 40 years.
Picture courtesy P Gillespie
Woke up to a treat this morning. In the picture is a whale. Maybe two? You have to look carefully in the lower middle area of the water and you will see what looks like a dark rock, but it’s blowing water. Whales are not that easy to spot.
The outcome of the British journalist Simon Wright, mentioned a few posts back, is that he paid an admission of guilt fine. He was allegedly involved in the incident where a fan was found trespassing at Cape Town’s soccer stadium. It has been felt that some journalists went to any lengths to discredit South Africa and the Soccer World Cup. This could have been one of those instances. The trial never went ahead so we will never know the truth.
I have to ask, isn’t there enough good news out there? But then, what do I know?
France have had a complete re-shuffle of their football management. The French attitude to bad behaviour resonates with me. Good on them. I’m keeping their flag up for a while longer.
Meanwhile the Dutch are still moaning about the outcome of the final game. We watched the re-run last night and it’s way less stressful when you know the end result. I think the Dutch must accept they got off lightly. Yes, the ref missed errors from Spain but he overlooked way more from Holland. We must all move on.
It’s only a game. Besides, the best revenge in life is … success.
It’s all over! Spain are the champions and so are we. We pulled off a great 2010 Soccer World Cup. Yeehah!
I was indifferent to who would win the final but when Holland got going with dirty tackles I felt it would be wrong for them to win. I have an old fashioned sense that goodies must win and baddies must lose. The fair play award went to Spain. The awards for the most fouls and most yellow cards went to Holland.
Imagine winning those awards? I can see now that Suarez plays in Holland and Forlan plays in Spain.
The theme for this Soccer Cup was to welcome the world back home. The skull of Mrs Ples, believed to be 2.15 million years old, was discovered at the Cradle of Humankind which is now a World Heritage Site not far from Pretoria. Apparently the origins of humankind are in South Africa. The first tools, the first fire, all the firsts happened in Africa.
I love the way Rian Malan describes it here, when he says; “Foreigners think we are nuts, coming back to a doomed city on a damned continent, but there is something you do not understand: it is boring where you are.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Picture courstesy P Gillespie
Last night’s match between Germany and Uruguay reinforced just how Africans feel about “that” double hand ball. The rain bucketed down and so did the boos on Luis Suarez. Sports journalists have said we are small minded and petty and that we should move on. It’s not even so much about the double hand ball. It’s the way Suarez so obviously relishes his actions and lacks any remorse or sensitivity to us at all that leaves me feeling a bit – no come on? The Irish amongst us will understand.
In the picture is a Hadeda Ibis. Hadedas are prolific in South Africa and Africa. This bird makes expats weep when they hear it. It’s the sound of Africa. It’s the sound of home. They cry out something similar to haa haa ha de dah when they fly overhead. Hence their name. When they are not flying and making a hellava noise they can be found scavenging for worms, snails or insects in the ground.
In the picture are some African beads. I had to include this picture. Our fabrics and beads are so lively and colourful. So is our flag. The sun shines, people smile. South Africa is a happy place.
In the news is the case of British journalist, Simon Wright, who is set to go to trial this weekend. There is alleged conspiracy between him and the soccer fan who walked into the English team’s dressing room. I will be watching the outcome with interest. A lot of what is said in foreign newspapers about us is such rubbish. I often wonder where they get their stories.
Every country has some funny names. In England we came across a Pratt’s Bottom and a Nether Wallop. We have funny names here too. There is Kokstad, the stad part means town in English. How about Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein? Whew! That means – two buffaloes with one shot killed completely dead fountain. Die Hell means The Hell. There is a Tietiesbaai, the baai part means bay. Then Amatikulu means big spit. Gingindlovu is a right tongue twister meaning the place of the elephant. It was a sort of cockney slang for a double gin and you can love her back in the day.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
