Monday, 21 June 2010
Men in White!
I had a good chuckle when a bunch of "Men in White" came marching down the side of the pitch. And proceeded to methodically clear the field of any sods / tufts of grass! It made me think of the '95 rugby world cup with numerous "mammas" in black bags - sweeping the water off the Durban pitch.
Pre-Match Warm Up
We had enough time once we got into the stadium to watch the teams warm up. It was cool to see and especially do some "people-watching"!
I think this Paraguay supporters flag is probably the biggest one I've ever seen! But I did have to laugh at the English... You just can't keep the poms away! At a Paraguay - Italy match, there were as many English flags as there were Italy and Paraguay combined! My favourite was the one saying "Cabbies on Tour"!
Fantastic seats, you really did feel as though you were almost on the pitch!
The media setting up cameras and so on at the north end of the field.
Taken from the top of level one.
I think this Paraguay supporters flag is probably the biggest one I've ever seen! But I did have to laugh at the English... You just can't keep the poms away! At a Paraguay - Italy match, there were as many English flags as there were Italy and Paraguay combined! My favourite was the one saying "Cabbies on Tour"!
Fantastic seats, you really did feel as though you were almost on the pitch!
The media setting up cameras and so on at the north end of the field.
Taken from the top of level one.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Soccer Stadium - Inside the Restricted Zone
The security in South Africa has been upped 10 times over for the world cup. Especially around and about and close to the stadiums. On non match days, the area around the Cape Town stadium is a "no-go zone", on match days it is for ticket holders only. Once you get into the outer stadium area (as a ticket holder), it is amazing. All the sponsors have stands. Sorry Hyundai, but ENOUGH NOW!!! Sony had music blasting. Coke and Budweiser - well your supporters are spoken for already!
Crowds in and around the "stadium restricted area". It was cool and lots of fun, especially seeing all the "kitted out" supporters! And the rain managed to hold off while we wandered around outside!
Steve-O and Roland - full of the joys of soccer!!! Outside (yet ANOTHER) Hyundai supporter / advertising display. As I've said before... Enough already!!!
The long walk up the stairs into the stadium. It's a fantastic design, crowds in and out so easily. Perhaps some covering for future rain?!!!
Just outside the OFFICIAL stadium entrance... the one where they scan your tickets to make sure they are REAL! More and more police! And such a great job they are doing.
The reverse view from the previous picture... officially inside the stadium. The official start to an amazing evening!
Crowds in and around the "stadium restricted area". It was cool and lots of fun, especially seeing all the "kitted out" supporters! And the rain managed to hold off while we wandered around outside!
Steve-O and Roland - full of the joys of soccer!!! Outside (yet ANOTHER) Hyundai supporter / advertising display. As I've said before... Enough already!!!
The long walk up the stairs into the stadium. It's a fantastic design, crowds in and out so easily. Perhaps some covering for future rain?!!!
Just outside the OFFICIAL stadium entrance... the one where they scan your tickets to make sure they are REAL! More and more police! And such a great job they are doing.
The reverse view from the previous picture... officially inside the stadium. The official start to an amazing evening!
Soccer - We're on our way!!!
All the build up to the soccer was amazing, but the walk from the Waterfront into the brand new Cape Town stadium... that's when we really felt the "GEES"!!! Amazing, incredible, once in a lifetime, awesome - Cape Town and South Africa, you are THE BOMB!!!
(And GEES, I hope you make it into the Oxford Dictionary as a GREAT new word!).
I was so skeptical about us hosting the FIFA football world cup, the biggest sports event in the world. Even though we hosted an amazing rugby world cup in '95, so soon after "THE" elections (which I have to add I wasn't here for - I voted in Toronto!), we did the cricket world cup in 2003 and we pulled off one of the most amazing feats in sports history - the IPL only last year in 2009 - with only 3 weeks notice.
So SA, I need to apologise, what an AWESOME place we live in. I never thought we could pull it off, yet we've got one of the most amazing FIFA world cups to EVER take place.
As for the VUVUZELA, well that's a post for another time!!!
The crowds on the way into the stadium were pretty hectic, but I was AMAZED by the way the SAPS (South African Police Services) handled it all. It took us less than 5 minutes from hitting the mass of people to getting through into the "restricted area". What was great about the security is that the entire area around the stadium is restricted to ticket holders only. So once you are through that, getting into the stadium and to your seats is easy. It was also really easy to look around the various sponsor areas.
I LOVE these "hats"... They are being sold all over SA. They are basic construction hard hats, adapted to become memorabilia for each country. You can buy different ones for every country competing in the world cup. The best part is that they are being made by impoverished men and women - and they are making money from them. How fantastic that our country is benefiting from this amazing event, not just our government and FIFA.
This photo really does not show the true extent of the police presence at each world cup match, but does show the first wonderful men and women from the SAPS, checking tickets at the entry point into the stadium restricted area. I didn't know we had as many police in the whole of Cape Town, as I saw at the soccer! They were incredible and SUCH a credit to our wonderful country. While we were sitting watching the match, a man in front of us lit up a cigarette. Within 10 seconds a police officer appeared and the cigarette was extinguished.
Roland and I were the UBER tourists, taking photos at every point! But then again, you HAVE to, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity! And to truly remember that "WE WERE THERE" we have to have a picture of us with tickets in hand!
And just in case you STILL don't think we actually made it... Standing outside the stadium on a very cold, wet and miserable Cape Town winter evening. The amazing thing about the match (pics and story to follow) is that although we were only FOUR ROWS from the field, we only felt a couple drops of rain!
(And GEES, I hope you make it into the Oxford Dictionary as a GREAT new word!).
I was so skeptical about us hosting the FIFA football world cup, the biggest sports event in the world. Even though we hosted an amazing rugby world cup in '95, so soon after "THE" elections (which I have to add I wasn't here for - I voted in Toronto!), we did the cricket world cup in 2003 and we pulled off one of the most amazing feats in sports history - the IPL only last year in 2009 - with only 3 weeks notice.
So SA, I need to apologise, what an AWESOME place we live in. I never thought we could pull it off, yet we've got one of the most amazing FIFA world cups to EVER take place.
As for the VUVUZELA, well that's a post for another time!!!
The crowds on the way into the stadium were pretty hectic, but I was AMAZED by the way the SAPS (South African Police Services) handled it all. It took us less than 5 minutes from hitting the mass of people to getting through into the "restricted area". What was great about the security is that the entire area around the stadium is restricted to ticket holders only. So once you are through that, getting into the stadium and to your seats is easy. It was also really easy to look around the various sponsor areas.
I LOVE these "hats"... They are being sold all over SA. They are basic construction hard hats, adapted to become memorabilia for each country. You can buy different ones for every country competing in the world cup. The best part is that they are being made by impoverished men and women - and they are making money from them. How fantastic that our country is benefiting from this amazing event, not just our government and FIFA.
This photo really does not show the true extent of the police presence at each world cup match, but does show the first wonderful men and women from the SAPS, checking tickets at the entry point into the stadium restricted area. I didn't know we had as many police in the whole of Cape Town, as I saw at the soccer! They were incredible and SUCH a credit to our wonderful country. While we were sitting watching the match, a man in front of us lit up a cigarette. Within 10 seconds a police officer appeared and the cigarette was extinguished.
Roland and I were the UBER tourists, taking photos at every point! But then again, you HAVE to, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity! And to truly remember that "WE WERE THERE" we have to have a picture of us with tickets in hand!
And just in case you STILL don't think we actually made it... Standing outside the stadium on a very cold, wet and miserable Cape Town winter evening. The amazing thing about the match (pics and story to follow) is that although we were only FOUR ROWS from the field, we only felt a couple drops of rain!
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Drinks at Quay 4 Pre-Soccer
After hearing advice on the radio to "leave home for the soccer 4 hours before the start" we did exactly that. And a good thing it was too when we came to a complete stop at the edge of the city. It took us 1 1/2 hours to go a distance of not much more than 1km into the Waterfront. We still had a couple of hours (and only a 5 minute walk to the stadium) so headed to Quay 4 for drinks.
Roland and I kitted out in R's company beanies!
Roland and Steven - I guess they've both got a mouth of beer - with R's Old Mutual vuvuzela. I bought ear plugs to take to the match to block out that crazy droning sound - they were called "Plug-a-zelas"!!! Strangely enough though, I didn't use the earplugs, the noise in the stadium is much much better than on tv.
Fully kitted out to stay warm on a freezing Cape Town evening. Took along my Italy supporters vuvuzela (even though I can't properly play it) and my South Africa scarf!
Steven and Roland - looking slightly more normal!
Roland and I kitted out in R's company beanies!
Roland and Steven - I guess they've both got a mouth of beer - with R's Old Mutual vuvuzela. I bought ear plugs to take to the match to block out that crazy droning sound - they were called "Plug-a-zelas"!!! Strangely enough though, I didn't use the earplugs, the noise in the stadium is much much better than on tv.
Fully kitted out to stay warm on a freezing Cape Town evening. Took along my Italy supporters vuvuzela (even though I can't properly play it) and my South Africa scarf!
Steven and Roland - looking slightly more normal!
Cape Town on the way to Soccer 2010 - Italy - Paraguay
I can't even begin to explain what it is like to be in South Africa right now. It is awesome, incredible, amazing! We went to our first World Cup match this week, on Monday 14th June. These photos are from our very slow drive into town to park at the V and A Waterfront.
A very long line of cars on their way to the soccer.
Table Mountain from the elevated freeway.
Cool flag add on one of the buildings in town.
Nearly all the cars are kitted out with flags. This one was next to us in the traffic. We've also all got elasticated mirror flags that cover the side mirrors, will post a pic.
We've got a new temoporary tourist attraction at the Waterfront - the Wheel of Excellence. It came from Paris to Cape Town and was assembled in 5 days. Looks pretty cool, will have to take the kids for a ride at some point!
Thought this pic showing the Wheel of Excellence was pretty cool.
A very long line of cars on their way to the soccer.
Table Mountain from the elevated freeway.
Cool flag add on one of the buildings in town.
Nearly all the cars are kitted out with flags. This one was next to us in the traffic. We've also all got elasticated mirror flags that cover the side mirrors, will post a pic.
We've got a new temoporary tourist attraction at the Waterfront - the Wheel of Excellence. It came from Paris to Cape Town and was assembled in 5 days. Looks pretty cool, will have to take the kids for a ride at some point!
Thought this pic showing the Wheel of Excellence was pretty cool.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Bishops Boys
There is a local joke here in Cape Town... How do you know someone went to Bishops???
THEY TELL YOU!!!
Well this pic was taken on the boys first day as Bishops Boys. We hit the shops on the way home....
My 2 little darlings told the people in the queue and the cashiers... "DO YOU KNOW WHAT SCHOOL WE GO TO"???
THEY TELL YOU!!!
Well this pic was taken on the boys first day as Bishops Boys. We hit the shops on the way home....
My 2 little darlings told the people in the queue and the cashiers... "DO YOU KNOW WHAT SCHOOL WE GO TO"???
Kids Start to 2010
I really cannot believe where this year has gone. And I feel really bad that it's taken me this long to post the "start of the school year" pics!
But here they are...
Oliver
Cameron
2 Little Blonde Bishops boys!
But here they are...
Oliver
Cameron
2 Little Blonde Bishops boys!
It's Been a While!
Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I've blogged. Somehow life has run away with me and blogging has become something I do if and when I can.
Well I've made a big decision!!! I'm going to blog again!
I've got so much stuff to say and so many pics to post - so watch this space!
Well I've made a big decision!!! I'm going to blog again!
I've got so much stuff to say and so many pics to post - so watch this space!
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