Onward to Nelpruit

Moon rising behind Mbombela Stadium

June 22

Headed out this morning to Nelspruit, about 360 km from Muldersdrift, in the eastern part of the country. It was a 4 hour 45 minute drive, that included a missed off ramp in Pretoria and a very helpful toll booth operator who got me in the right direction. Also 2 rest stops- first at "Ultra City" and then "Milly’s Trout Stall". Milly’s stop was actually quite expansive with a gas station and several shops/restaurants, all run by Milly. The food shop had your various meats: duck, gannea fowl, quail, ostrich, etc.

Arrived in Nelspruit about 1pm, the hotel was easy to find. Near the stadium, but unfortunately across the street from a FIFA Fan Fest, a high school field converted to a free park to watch the games on giant tv screens. So, as I write, the bleating of vuvuzelas fills the air. There is a 4pm South Africa-France match, so I’m hoping the crowd will have gone by the time we return from Australia-Serbia practice at the stadium today.

Sign for women's bathroom in new stadium:

Self-portrait in shiny high-tech looking elevator

I drive to the stadium at 4pm with Rob, the AFP reporter, who has been here a few days. The brand-new Mbombela Stadium has supports that look like giraffes. I meet up with Natalia Kolesnikova, the AFP Moscow photographer in the media center. She is following Serbia, Australia’s opponent tomorrow. South Africa is playing France right now. Suddenly, shouts erupt from the media room, the staff members here to help us are estatic, Bafana Bafana has scored the first goal! I head to the Australia press conference with a few other journalists, they say France is in disarray, they don’t have a chance now.

During the conference with the Australian coach and captain, more shouts from the hallway, helpers inside the room have to quiet the people outside. As I leave to get to the field for the practice, 2 security guards are beside themselves with happiness. “What’s the score?” I ask. “Two- Nil!!” a woman replies, “I’m soooo happpy!!!”

As we send the photos after the practice, the game continues and France finally scores. Then Bafana has an unbelievably close try, the poor man across from me almost dies. The final is South Africa 2, France 1. The British announcer delcares: “Hugely disappointing for France, they’ll be storming the Bastille.”

Saw this most interesting advertisement on a corner trash can. Not sure if “Get bedded by the best” is the best slogan.