Back to Swiss-land

Yeah Yeah, I know... been slacking on the blogging. But seriously, there has been NO TIME to even pick up a computer to blog. It has been go-go-go These last few days...

I'll catch everyone up and add in our missing last few days posts when I get home later this evening... (Let's be honest, tomorrow!)

We're in the Swiss airport now and having a few beers to make the last flight go by a bit faster.

See everyone soon! One more flight and a drive from Chicago to Indy!

Kwamahla Lodge / Pilansberg Game Reserve (SAFARI)

We headed out to our first game reserve about an 1.5 hours north from our home base in Pretoria. We packed the cars, headed out & down a very long and bumpy dirt road. Once we finally got to our spot, we were greeted with a VERY Jurassic Park like scene. Wire fences, buzz-gates and LOTS of brush. Once we toured the grounds and settled into our chalets, we geared up for the cold and started our first game reserve braai.

With an early exit, early as in 4:45 am (still dark and VERY sketchy) we headed to Pilansberg for our guided safari. Again, as the theme remains the same, it was blistering cold at the start of our tour. We all looked like eskimos in a safari truck with one eye peaking out to see the wildlife! We braved the elements and ended up seeing some of South Africa’s beautiful scenery. Amongst the beautiful reserve, we ended up catching shots of giraffes, lions, zebra and many others. Truly amazing and a bit surreal to see the lions the size of cars at feeding time. WOW!

After thawing out, again, we headed to Sun City. A beautiful Casino that resembled many of the Vegas resorts. Beautiful scenery, pools, hotels & people watching! A good place to catch our breathe and take a relaxing stroll.

After a few hours in Sun City, we headed back to our chalets to prepare our final game reserve braai and to get ready for USMNT second match. (GO USA!) Again, some amazing cooking by Newman himself and we all headed to the lodge for the match.

The match: Well I think this section could be quite long given the outcome and unruly referring so we’ll take the 3-2 win...USA! USA! USA!

Headed back to Pretoria and look to get ready for a night out in Hatfield.

THAWED OUT!!!

South African Breweries (SAB) World of Beers, perfect breakfast!
We headed to the brewery for a fantastic guided tour, of how South Africa brews its finest. Although the tour kept us freezing cold in most rooms and really hot in others, it was an extremely cool tour which ended with two FREE beer tickets AND a souvenir schooner (half pint glass).

Came home, had fast food (Steers), after a lazy ride home, we arrived to a lively Pretoria, where we hit up the Hat Field and Faerie Glen local bars!

From the Newmans back to Loftus Park to watch Paul’s home nation’s second match against Uruguay. After being “very spirited” (Hats off to Hat Field) and not as cold as last night, the match was yet another unbelievable site! The R35 Vuvuzelas were in full effect.

Due to the unfortunate result, we headed back home for a few night caps and a recap of the day’s games.

Tomorrow morning should be interesting.

Soccer, Golf & Freezing weather!

That's right, FREEZING weather! Let's start with the soccer and golf!

We headed to the local park to get a few touches on the ball. The gang piled in and tightened up our boots. Nice 4v4 for about an hour made every one of us smile! From there we headed to a bar for a quick beer. Just so happened the bar we stop at is a nice golf chip-n-putt. Midas scored us a club and a bucket of balls and we were having a beer knocking balls into a heard of Gazeles! Truely unreal feeling. Aiming at South Africa pin flags and dodging wild animals!

From here we headed home for pies & a shower before we headed back on the train to see the Samba boys;Brazil v Korea. First thing first, the crowd topped every game thus far. True nation supporters!

BUT...

BUT..

It was the coldest day of all of our lives! I mean cold down to the core. We were all shizzerling and snuggling up with the local South Africans. (that is a story in itself) Brazil is truely some amazing soccer to watch. It is like a show case every time they touch the ball. Ended in a 2-1 result which was impressive for the Korea side.

Today is Bafana-Bafana in their second match. The home nation is sure to bring a new word to the eaning spirited!

We love everyone and miss you guys back home; looking forward to share our photos with everyone!

Carpools, Trains & 84,000 Vuvuzelas!

Yes, 84,000 piping Vuvuzelas. Today was an early departure after an early night. We were off by 8:15 a.m. heading to our 2 hour train ride from Pretoria to Jo’Burg to see what was surely the most massive stadium any of us have ever seen! At arrival, the stadium nearly trumped foreground mountain. Once in, it looked like a Netherland home game down to the seats even being orange. The Holland fans definitely rival the the spirt of Ghana, just out numbered them, by the bus load!

After the match, and the marvel of the sheer mass of Soccer City, we rushed back to the train to start our 2 hour journey home! And a journey it became!

Let’s start the train ride with Kel wrapping up her third WARM beer of the day. WIth a good buzz by all, and a long trip ahead... something had to keep our minds off the fact that we could not pee for the next 2 hours. So comes the bets! Seriously, chin-ups on a moving train full of Netherland fans?! Only Americans! Bets were made, money exchanged and plenty of sore biceps.

Once back to the station, we headed home for ANOTHER amazingly cooked Braai by the one and only Roberto! Steak, baked potatoes and carrot balls?! Seriously, what is a carrot ball?!

Another breathtaking day in South Africa!

Game 2: and some good eats!

Today started out a bit rough for some. Well, okay, very rough for some!

We headed out early to start the day in honor of Renee's 27th birthday! We headed to a bird sanctuary called Blue Crane for a MUCH needed meal. It was excellent food. From here most of us walked down the street a bit to head into the our second stadium and see our second match! Paul and Kel stayed and spend some much needed QT with the 'rents! This game was Serbia vs Ghana and was SURE to be a spectacle considering this was our first match involving an African Nation team. Let us tell you, it was like no sporting event any of us have experienced. To say they are spirited is the under statement of the trip! It seemed as though every african from anywhere in Africa supports ANY and EVERY African nation. It was breathtaking! I have to speak for my self when I say the hair on my arms was standing tall nearly the entire match, but I am pretty sure we all felt the feeling. With a 1-0 win late in the match for Ghana, it was a display of spirt unlike anything.

So when in Rome (or Africa) we headed down to the field and joined the dancing!

After taking off our dancing shoes, we headed back to the Blue Crane for a quick drink before heading to watch the Australia v Germany game over some beers and pizza. Some of Paul's local buddies, just hanging around and again ... living the dream!

Note: Every South African any of us have come in contact with have been amazingly helpful and super nice! So helpful, so friendly, none judgmental... Great welcoming people!

UNREAL

So we are all accounted for after a game and an experience like nothing we have EVER seen! We started the day with heading to a lion park and literally played with the lion cubs! We were all in the cages and amongst them! It was simply UNREAL. From there we headed into the wild. We packed in the van, and when I say packed in the van, we had 12 grown adults in one car! We drove out in the fields and had lions the size of our cars grazing right next to us! Scary but something we all loved!

Once we left the cubs, we headed towards Rustenburg for the US England game. A quick stop at a market and we were on our way. Got to the park and words can't explain what we all went through. It was breathtaking! Clearly a great game by the Yanks and of course came with all the English trash talking! blah blah blah...

We are off this morning to a bank and to Serbia v Ghana Pretoria! Going to be hard to top last nights game, but we are looking forward to it!

We'll update more tonight!

Happy Birthday Nee! One you will never forget!