It’s back to the telly and soccer this evening. It’s been two long days of replays. The news is dominated by problems relating to ticket sales, this Jabulani ball and some awful referee calls. Can’t blame South Africa for any of that.
And the other item dominating news is how many people have really, really come to South Africa.
South Africa is first-world by African standards. We get a lot of visitors from the rest of Africa who come to shop and do business. Soccer aside.
I love Nationmaster for statistics. How about these numbers? In 2005 South Africa was the 25th most visited country in the world. To put that in context France is number 1 and Cyprus is in 54th place. Thailand is 19th and Australia is 36th. Germany is 10th and India is at number 40. Looks like people like coming here. And I got a feeling the 2010 Soccer World Cup will push us higher. Wonder what all the naysayers think of that?
Picture courtesy P Gillespie
No soccer game last night? Or yesterday afternoon either? How did we live without soccer?
Meanwhile the South African Navy boats are furiously charging up and down keeping us safe. From what, I am not sure. I thought we were fine, but then what do I know. Apparently the powers that be intercepted a terrorist plot on our borders.
Back in the apartheid days we had APLA, who bombed amongst other places the Helderberg Bar and Robert Mc Bride of the ANC, who was involved in the bombing of Magoo’s Bar. That sort of thing has not happened here in years. Thank God.
We had the Truth and Reconciliation Commission where individuals on both sides of the apartheid fence were given amnesty in exchange for confessions.
The biggest issue at hand right now is who to support through to the semi-finals.
Photograph courtesy of P Gillespie.
Last night’s game between Portugal and Spain was well supported by the local Portuguese community. But sadly it is adeus to the Portuguese soccer team. South Africa has 11 official languages. Apart from those 11 cultures, we have old and newer immigrants. The Portuguese community are into their second and third generation here now. As are the Greek, Lebanese and Chinese community. There was a time when Durban had more Indians than any other place outside of India. Newer immigrants are the Germans and Brits to Cape Town. In the Gardens area German is widely spoken. We also have burgeoning Somalian, Nigerian and Congolese communities. And not surprising, Zimbabweans are aplenty here too.
But we all understand local lingo. Here are three of my favorite local expressions. Shayila time. It’s when you finish work and get ready to go home. Bliksem. It’s like saying damn it. Tsotsi. We call a thug or gangster a tsotsi.
Don’t they just sound so good?
I was rather looking forward to seeing the English WAGS. Sadly we were denied an onslaught of WAG glamour by the coach who wasn’t keen for them to be with English soccer players. Some still slipped into SA for the England vs. Germany game. However, after England’s knockout they returned home swiftly.
Ah well, the whales have arrived and been spotted so we can look for them instead.
I have mastered the art of multi tasking Soccer World Cup style. I keep the telly going and when I hear the commentator’s voice raise or get excited I dash to see what has happened. There is always a slow motion replay of a goal or a foul. Life does go on and a person can’t exactly sit and watch soccer all day long. Well maybe?
In the picture is the new municipal airport shuttle bus. It costs R50, runs every half an hour and takes you right into the heart of the city. Apparently you roll onto the bus with your luggage so access is really easy. From the city centre you can either catch another link of this bus or bargain with a taxi. The central taxi drivers have got together to standardise their prices. They tell me that a trip less than 3 kilometres is R30 during working hours. I would bargain hard and fix a price before I get into the taxi.
Yesterday’s games involving England and Argentina were again marred by flawed referee calls. I can’t understand why FIFA insist on allowing this to continue. However both games were very exiting. It’s clear just why these are the top teams.
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.
