Last Weekend in Cape Town

This past weekend we had grand plans of taking care of everything remaining on our lists, but of course what we actually ended up doing was much different.

Saturday morning we had planned on going to the Old Biscuit Mill market, then hiking Table Mountain. Unfortunately, the weather was cold and wet. We ate our fill from an incredible selection of food at the market, then split ways to go shopping. I bought a bootleg Chelsea jacket for under $20.

Dave and I went to the SA National Museum. It was mainly a natural history museum. It was a bit of a let down- there were a few really cool skeletons of blue whales, though.

The site of the Fanfest. Much different now.

Biscuit Mill

Afterwards we decided to hit our last big Long Street night. We did so in spades. Some Russians started talking noise to me about America. What began with a countercriticism from Soviet fascism and murder turned to Russian keptocracy in one of the longest streams of insults and nationalist slurs I think I have ever mustered. I was pretty proud of myself.

On Sunday, Hirsh, David, Dave, Nick, and I went to Kalk Bay, a small beach community about an hour long train ride away. The one bar was PACKED on Sunday afternoon in the winter. We watched the surfers and ate, then went to the beach to play frisbee in the late afternoon. We waited for the return train from a Cuban bar on the beach.

Bar overlooking the bay

Walking to the beach along the sea wall.

Another beautiful beach.

There are probably not any other big adventures in store, as I will be going home in just a few days. David went home today. Dave is leaving Tuesday. Cary is leaving on Wednesday. Hirsh and I will be the last ones here, holding it down.

They have the 4th of July in Africa, too

After Germany Argentina was going to the same English pub that we pregamed the England USA game to watch Spain versus Paraguay. There were a few goofy PK calls, but it was a pretty dull game compared to the one that we had just seen.

We had gone back to the hotel and changed into USA clothes, then went out on Long Street. We ended up going to Cape to Cuba and waiting until midnight. We toasted Jack Daniels shots to America, then called it a night.

Andy, Scott, Tyler, and I went to the waterfront for them to do last minute souvenir shopping. The FIFA worker said that the shop opened at 7 AM. He is a liar. We wandered around and waited for it to open. Everyone stocked up with their toys, then we headed back to Saasveld. At 10:30 or so, I put the guys into a cab to the airport. They were off to Joburg and then onward: Scott and Tyler to go back home, Andy to Thailand.

I took a bath- probably my first one in 3 years- totally exhausted. That road trip with my college roommates had been in the works for 2 years. Incredible. It required a lot of leg work to set up and a lot of luck to pull off. I just felt really proud of all of us for making it happen. Once in a lifetime.

However, it was the 4th of July, which meant I had to do something cool. Hirsh and I decided to go to Camps Bay for the afternoon.

Everything in Camps Bay is beautiful.

At first it was just Hirsh and me playing frisbee.

The tableau of the mountains with the sea is pretty epic.

Hirsh's frat bros showed up to join us.

We met some young Argentines and played Soccer.

They were pretty devastated by the loss to Germany.

Cary and two of her friends joined us.
As did Nick.

John and John, newcomers, had an awesome USA jersey and a world cup 94 Jacket.

The roommates.

I wanted a picture with Hirsh almost as gay as the one I have with Doug Desroches in Greece.

An adorable kid showed up and wanted to play frisbee.

Then some older Argentines wanted to play us in soccer.
I swear I was being nice to this kid- this picture is hilarious though.
Sunset beach soccer. USA v Argentina. July 4th. Cape Town, South Africa.


It had been a while since I had run around.
One of the Argentines swapped his Carlos Tevez jersey for John's USA one. It was AWESOME.
The Argentines were out for blood

The game ended 3-2 Argentina. Respectable.

Cary had arranged a dinner for us at the Gold Museum. A 15 course African meal from all of the countries that were in the world cup. There were drummers and dancers and puppets for an 'authentic entertainment' experience. It was good but I don't think decadent 15 course meals are the standard African experience.

So my July 4th was not lakes and fireworks, but it was a pretty unique and special day. God Bless America.