Its finally here! After months of waiting the World Cup starts today. I'm not really a sports fan but I am a huge fan of South Africa (in general) and I am so excited! The spirit in Johannesburg is "OFF THE HOOK".
I am also really lucky because my job really lets me experience the vibe in a huge way- I have been spending loads of time in the Joburg CBD/inner city and Soweto on tours lately. I cant even put into words how awesome it is. It is also great for my clients to see...they are so impressed and shocked at how excited everyone is. When we are walking around the city we just stumble upon random Disci Dance lessons, street party's, football games through the traffic of downtown....we even saw a lone Rasta on stilts dressed in flags walking through the city!
And don't even get me started on the Vuvuzelas- they are everywhere! People have taken to just walking around town or driving in their cars blowing their vuvuzelas. I was lucky enough to be returning from Soweto on our new(ish) bus system- the Rea Vaya with a group of clients on Wednesday when everyone had to blow their vuvuzela's at 12hoo. The guy sitting behind us literally blew his Vuvuzela from Thokoza park to the city. The bus officials also now tell the bus driver that all the passengers are on board by blowing a vuvuzela! I was even woken up this morning at 6h30 with people just vuvuzelering on their way to work.
I have never seen so many flags in my life..they are everywhere. Shops, houses, cars, street lights, buildings, trees, people! Joburg is looking so fantastic and colourful! I have also never seen so many flags for sale- a guy selling flags on every street corner! My business Past Experiences has joined in with an flag on the gate. Our car has a couple of South African flags and even an Ivory Coast Flag as we are totally supporting the African continent (and going to the Brazil vs Ivory Coast match). Our offices are in Northcliff and we have spotted some awesome flag decorations around the suburb- my favourites are the giant "Go bafana" sign and the trees wrapped in the participating countries flags.
Also adding to the excitement are the huge amount foreigners who are in Joburg and of course the international press. I was doing tours at Hector Pieterson Memorial and Mandela house (with some British sports journalists) and I saw so many other journalists and cameras. I even saw a huge broadcasting van with an Argentinian number plate...they must have shipped it over!
Joburg and its people are so amazing at the moment and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now....Good luck Bafana Bafana!
