WIR FAHREN NACH BERLIN!!
(frankfurt - stuttgart)
Today was the first day of the round of 16. This is when the tournament comes alive. Win or go home. No more draws. When players step it up a level. Seperates the wheat from the chaff...
This morning, the W'Cup 2006 tour bus pulled out of Frankfurt and headed south on the A6, next stop: Stuttgart, for the fifth city in as many nights.
Lucky for us, we would be meeting up with some very enthused Germans, and going to Stuttgart's Schlossplatz to join 25,000 people in watching Germany's second round opener against Sweden. We made it to Verena's house just outside of Stuttgart, where Uli and Verena's Aussie friend James, were also visiting.
Uli and Verena, the two Germans, greeted us at the door, decked out in their black, red, and yellow. James, who'd just survived a 22 hour flight from Melbourne to Singapore to Frankfurt, was recovering.
We were smart to get down to Stuttgart almost 2 hours early, as the town square became so jam-packed that the gates had to be closed.
The heat didn't seem to phase the Germany fans. They either had too much adrenaline or too much alcohol to fear the daunting task of overturning the Swedes. Already confident of finding their way to the finals, the full attendance chanted in unison... 'WIR FAHREN NACH BERLIN! WIR FAHREN NACH BERLIN!'
Fortunately for all the fans, 12 minutes into the game, Podolski had already netted the 2 goals that would be enough to beat Sweden.
What followed the final whistle was just pandemonium! The fans emptied out into the streets, chanting and celebrating. The non-stop cacophony of hundreds of simultaneous carhorns blaring, was just too funny not to participate in!
The evening, we opted for a little more laidback venue at which to watch the next match - Argentina v. Mexico. A great Beer Garden up in the hills north of Stuttgart suited us just fine. The food and beer was fantastic, and being able to sit and relax while watching, was a very welcomed respite from the high-energy atmospheres we'd become used to.
While I was completely exhausted from the day's heat and the week's travels, I had no idea how James was still alert on his first day, after such a grueling flight and an 8 hr time difference from Australia!
Tomorrow, a little R&R is in order. Note to self: stay away from crowds of shouting Piefkes...
Today was the first day of the round of 16. This is when the tournament comes alive. Win or go home. No more draws. When players step it up a level. Seperates the wheat from the chaff...
This morning, the W'Cup 2006 tour bus pulled out of Frankfurt and headed south on the A6, next stop: Stuttgart, for the fifth city in as many nights.
Lucky for us, we would be meeting up with some very enthused Germans, and going to Stuttgart's Schlossplatz to join 25,000 people in watching Germany's second round opener against Sweden. We made it to Verena's house just outside of Stuttgart, where Uli and Verena's Aussie friend James, were also visiting.
Uli and Verena, the two Germans, greeted us at the door, decked out in their black, red, and yellow. James, who'd just survived a 22 hour flight from Melbourne to Singapore to Frankfurt, was recovering.
We were smart to get down to Stuttgart almost 2 hours early, as the town square became so jam-packed that the gates had to be closed.
The heat didn't seem to phase the Germany fans. They either had too much adrenaline or too much alcohol to fear the daunting task of overturning the Swedes. Already confident of finding their way to the finals, the full attendance chanted in unison... 'WIR FAHREN NACH BERLIN! WIR FAHREN NACH BERLIN!'
Fortunately for all the fans, 12 minutes into the game, Podolski had already netted the 2 goals that would be enough to beat Sweden.
What followed the final whistle was just pandemonium! The fans emptied out into the streets, chanting and celebrating. The non-stop cacophony of hundreds of simultaneous carhorns blaring, was just too funny not to participate in!
The evening, we opted for a little more laidback venue at which to watch the next match - Argentina v. Mexico. A great Beer Garden up in the hills north of Stuttgart suited us just fine. The food and beer was fantastic, and being able to sit and relax while watching, was a very welcomed respite from the high-energy atmospheres we'd become used to.
While I was completely exhausted from the day's heat and the week's travels, I had no idea how James was still alert on his first day, after such a grueling flight and an 8 hr time difference from Australia!
Tomorrow, a little R&R is in order. Note to self: stay away from crowds of shouting Piefkes...
Brennilein - 24. Jun, 23:45
