Transit, sickness, photos, Oranje
I have to apologize for the lack of an update over the past week or so.
I picked up a nasty cold on my way back from South Africa that has forced me to spend most of my spare time – which I use for editing and collating the content – resting up and trying (in vain, it seems) to get better.
Despite feeling quite poorly over the past week I’ve still managed to get quite a bit done since posting the video from Durban, as you can see below:
- Enjoyed a lovely bicycle ride along the beach in Durban, followed by an authentic African food experience.
- Saw my first knockout World Cup game ever: Argentina 3-1 Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
- Bustled through a day riding the (in)famous public taxis in Johannesburg.
- Spent 24 hours in transit from Johannesburg to London, stopping Nairobi, Kenya for a mind-numbing seven hours.
- Rejoined with Patrick to travel to Eindhoven, Holland to watch the Dutch team beat favourites Brazil 2-1 with some very passionate Dutch locals.
- Played a beach football tournament in Veldhoven (a town of 40,000 just outside of Eindhoven) with our host Lennart and his friends. We made the quarter-finals before going out on penalties. Heh.
- Checked out Eindhoven nightlife. It is both very cool and very Diagon Alley-like.
Meanwhile…
The quarter-finals of the World Cup served up some real suprises with both Brazil and Argentina, the two sides I expected to contest the final, eliminated.
The results mean that we will likely be traveling to Amsterdam for the first semi-final between Uruguay and Holland before a short trip to Dusseldorf in Germany to see the Germans play Spain.
Where we will be for the final is anyone’s guess.
Clare, Robyn and I send best wishes and get well soon. My money is on Holland in the final in an upset win over Germany.
Keep up the good work. Spain V Netherlands final!
Hey I got sick too! I mean I am sick. Had to stay home today and felt so lame – already taken two weeks off and now a sick day?! Man am I slack. I totally reckon it was all the flying we did though.
Eindhoven night life sounds awesome – diagon alley? i love it.
My prediction is Holland vs Spain final.Hopefully Fabregas and his boys pack Germany home.I wish Holland to win the cup as they have a good squad but haven’t played upto their potential yet and wish VanPersie to score in the final to lift the cup.Let Holland find their act together and make it count.They played well in the second half against Brazil but never showed the intent to kill the game when they had chances.
Umm Fabregas is on the peripheral at Spain, he has played about 60min all up this WC and will be the same at Barca should he decide to leave. Germany or Holland I want to win.
If Spain win it, Fabregas might want to go to Barca to be with his WC winning buddies as they make up the heart of spains attack and defense
But if they lose then he might think twice about going as he will sit on the bench there too, instead of being captain and loved by all us Arsenal fans….plus if Holland win and RVP scores a couple, his confidence will be sky high for mighty GOONERS!!!
Imagine a Holland v Germany final..you would be sO happy!
I go for Holland – Germany, would be incredible, but I am still exhausted by the Argentinia game, how the hell are the players able to cope with so many feelings. . . , so you are sick within your travelling experiences Andy, I guess it belongs to it, the body is not accustomed to such extreme changes, but it will be worth it, so there remain four matches, I am a bit exhausted, the Brazil and Argentinia games were too much, you can’t top that, so . . the consequence is that you will be disappointed next match . . . mhhh ……….
Indeed I would be happy with a Holland v Germany final. I couldn’t think of anything better.
The only problem would be deciding who I’d like to win…
We shouldn’t take Uruguay lightly, they may not have the stars but they have the grit. Hope Holland don’t start being overconfident like Euro 2008.
Get well soon annie