Opening Game

$500 for a ticket to the opening game - South Africa vs. Mexico. Oh so very tempting. If it was 100% that President Mandela would show up, I'd definitely be there!

As a side note: Courtesy of the LA Times:

Argentines deported

Ten Argentine hooligans who were refused entry to South Africa because of their known criminal records Monday were put on a plane back to Buenos Aires after spending two days in detention because they had drunk so much they were in no condition to fly.

This was also on the national news last night. And in today's paper a Greek Orthodox priest was admonished for hooliganism - a priest! Soccer fever is definitely amping up - I'm not even a soccer fan (do I have to start referring to it as football? Maybe I should have read Soccernomics before I came - when I get back) and I am excited about it.

People are probably wondering why I'm not trying to go to the USA/England fixture on Saturday instead of contemplating going to the opening game. I would love to, but the game is in Rustenburg and doesn't start until 8:30PM here, which means I wouldn't get back to Pretorial until 1AM at the earliest. Everything I've read says it isn't really safe to be driving around late at night, so I don't think that is a risk worth taking. There's also the possibility of taking the train - I read that the country's rail system is offering free intercity travel to and from matches for Cup ticket holders - but even then, I wouldn't get back until really late, since the trains supposedly a very slow way to travel.

I'll figure this out by tomorrow and post what I decide.