Wednesday, June 21, 2006:
We made it back to Nuremberg a day ahead of the US-Ghana game, having been in Munich the past couple of days.
NOTE: Europe is big, and a continent I would tell anyone to come explore - bring a guide book, check out all the old churches, history, etc. But if you come during the World Cup, don't bother checking every place a guide books tells you about. You see, the World Cup brings so many people together, from every country, even if they are in a city where their team isn't playing. They don't need to have won a game, or have a chance of advancing - these people want to show others that they support their colors; they wear them proudly, and even convince all Americans to wear their stuff.
In Munich we went to the Marienplatz, passing the hoards of fans all wearing their colors, and after some walking, head straight to the tourist mecca that is the Haufbrau House - a beer garden like no other. Except today, unlike many other days, it's not dominated by American tourists. In fact, we're greatly outnumbered. Brazil played Australia last night, so both teams have plenty of fans around. We order our beer - which come in these huge beer steins. After some time, we hear the USA, USA chant, so we join that group. We try to combat the Brazil and Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, chants, but we're really no match.
Yesterday - we wake up extremely late for tourists, but like i said, we're not tourists in the same sense of the word. We're hear to experience the World Cup - the churches are old and have lasted this long, they'll be here if we return. So we start our trek to the Olympia Park, where the Fan Fest is set up to watch the Germany v Ecuador game.
It is hot as hell here, and Tuesday had to be the hottest day. We walked soaked in sweat looking for the park, which the maps make it look like it s bigger than Central Park. After walking up a huge hill, we arrive to join the thousands already there. The game was over early, and the enthusiasm was minor as it seems the Germans were more or less expecting the result. The place itself was cool, right outside Munich's Olympic stadium. There's even a soccer field painted out on a hill.
We went back to the center to watch the England-Sweden game at a restaurant, but holly shit was it hot there, too. We just couldn't find a place advertising 'air conditioning.'
Anyway, we made it to Nuremberg this morning in time to watch Mexico lose on TV. Now we wait with hope that the U.S. can beat Ghana tomorrow.
