SOUTH AFRICA DAY 8: WORLD CUP GAME #1

HAKUNA MATATA: Today was the first world cup game I actually went to: Argentina vs. South Korea. Parking was fairly well thought out, and the march into the massive Soccer City stadium was fun, with lots of meats being grilled and vuvuzelas. Slowly all the different lines of people converge and the hum of the stadium gets closer. Security is tighter at this stadium than any of the others, and the 82,000 fans plus make it a massive ordeal to get in. Approaching the stadium, more and more the hum of the hornets nest of vuvuzelas begins to shake the ground until finally, you turn a corner and you can look down on the pitch. The stands are massed with flags and colors...some of the closer seats to be filled in by bused-in school children. Argentina fans grossly outnumber two small cadres of South Korean fans, though the Koreans are upbeat and noisy all game, despite the eventual outcome. But Argentina fans come with huge cheering sections for every player, flags adorned with the likenesses of Maradonna and Che on equal footing. We arrived just before introductions, so all of the pleasant pre-game pageantry was our introduction - the singing of the anthems, the half-field sized flags rolled over the fans heads.

The vuvuzelas are loud but not intolerable when in concert. They roll and rock with the proceedings and truly add to the atmosphere.

The game itself was entertaining despite the lopsided final score. Argentina put a few goals in and looked very strong. Despite his failure to score in the game, or the tournament, Messi is noticeably special, always going a direction no one thinks to go with the ball because only he can keep control of it with that move. Argentina seemed comfortable with the lead before an awful mistake on defense gave Korea a goal right before halftime. The game picked up considerably as a result when play resumed and the Koreans put together a few of the best runs of the game only to miss on their scoring opportunity. Finally Argentina settled back in and controlled the ball, inexorably putting a few more goals in the net to finish it. My only complaint: stadium concessions were standard American fare (hotdogs etc). A huge missed opportunity in my opinion.

OH...AFRICA: If you find a lose diamond lying on the ground in South Africa, it belongs to de Beers. Literally. They own the rights to all undiscovered and unclaimed diamonds.

WORLD CUP TIP: Being up from the field a bit can be a blessing, and don't get seats behind the goals. At ground level, it can be difficult to see the cross-pitch strategy. But from a bit removed, it is a very easy game to watch. But it is absolutely vital to sit somewhere on the sideline - behind the goal is a very poor viewing area.

JUSTINE'S TIPS ON SOUTH AFRICA: That restaurant isn't locking you out. The Portuguese place we went to, for example, had the front door locked when we first tried it, even though we could see people inside. For safety and security purposes, restaurants have a remote lock on their front door. Just smile, show your gun-less hands, and try again.