Jul
'10
Post World Cup - no hangover...
Posted by Pieter in News
Hey sports fans…
Whew. The World Cup is over. The fans have gone home, but the memories remain… here are my personal highlights:
PG TOPS moved over 200 people, and I personally either guided or facilitated trips for 500+ people. In addition, we had 14 houseguests at Casa Geldenhuys, my girlfriend Dianna did her first gig as a French guide. Both vehicles did brisk and frequent trips, and when the dust had settled, we had shown off magical Cape Town to Americans, Australians, Bulgarians, Germans, Chinese, Chileans, Costa Ricans, Mexicans, Brazilians, Venezuelans, Frenchies, Austrians, Englishmen and even the odd Israeli!
A massive thank you has to go to all the people that supported my business and helped me not only make but exceed the targets for FIFA 2010:
Jaco, Mandi and Anelia, Swifty, Tes, Sheila, Warrick, Natalie Stephanie and Darryl, Phillip and Desiree, Charlene, Jackie, Andy Cole, Feroga, Craig Newbury and Peter Pound… you guys rock! Thanks for all the amazing support.
To my family and friends for their help and support in getting Casa Geldenhuys ready for guests, the vans organized, the programs printed and the prep done…
To all the folks that helped during this crazy ride to drive vans, wash them, take care of the admin… who waited outside sports matches, found private plane terminals, figured out where the key wine farms were, and essentially looked after my peeps as well as I could myself…Simon, Mervin, Oiana, Charl, Tish, Marianna, Ivana, Marcelis, Johan, Parri, Denise and my darling Dianna. Awesomeness.
My first group for the Cup was 40 HSBC clients. I will never forget walking through Cape Town’s amazing new arrivals hall with them. They started shouting Mexico, and suddenly the airport erupted in Vuvuzela chaos as every single burger flipping employee tooted their horns. Welcome to Africa baby!
I have never-ever-experienced anything like watching the opening game with them in the Hyundai tent, Newlands. They were vastly outnumbered by 2000 very loud South Africans in the tent – and the way my countrymen celebrated, then welcomed them, was incredible. The Waterfront, afterwards, was one massive party as South Africa celebrated the start of what would be a month never to be forgotten!
What can I say. I had the privilege to watch four of the games at Cape Town stadium – I watched one game with my oldest two mates and my sister, two with my girl and one with my dad, which was really special. They were all amazing, the Fan Walk probably even more fun than being at the game. But watching Spain-Portugal with my dad was truly special… hey, I might even start to really like football! I am afraid, beloved Newlands, that the writing is on the wall… jy kannie poep teen donnerweer nie, and this stadium is DONNERWEER!
The Fan Park
I was, like many South Africans, converted to fandom of the Oranje (The Dutch) after witnessing the amazing Orange army in Cape Town for their group stage game. They had an amazing presence, not least in the fan park when I popped in there to have a look… and then and there, I resolved to take at least one day to properly experience it! And so we did… England vs Germany second round was the occasion on a semi-summery Sunday afternoon. I had good friend from ze Germans with us, and we proceeded to drink too much beer, have too much fun and blow too much of ze vuvuzelas… it was awesomeness! Dianna and I just barely made it to Spur for our cheesy there-are-people-in-my-house dinner!
Best Moment: South Africa’s first goal in the fan tent.
Best day out: The Fanpark. No question.
Worst Moment: Forlan’s kick sailing across the goalie. That was the beginning of the end for South Africa…
Funniest incident: Depends on your perspective. Might be my American houseguests waking up the neighbourhood at 4 in the morning after trying to break into my house cat burglar style… but then again, I was sleeping at my mates’s place, and poor Dianna had to take the irate phone calls…
Best tour group: I really enjoyed the Chileans that went on wine tour with me, then kept me sitting in the Diamond Store while SA trounced France and the coach didn’t get to do a handshake... The American rabble rousers were fun too, but that first Mexican group still takes the prize…
Best meal: Del Aire. When you spend that kinda money on a wine farm, the steak better be awesome. Two thumbs up.
Most impressive restaurant: Baia in the Waterfront. You CANNOT beat that view…
Best wine tasting experience: Middelvlei every time. Ben Momberg, with assistance from canine mascots Pinotage and Tinta, wows them every time with a barrel tasting party that has no equal. Ben, you’re a rockstar.
Most memorable sight: Usually this is any time I’m up on Chappies or doing a walk down to the Cape of Good Hope, having a vino at Seidelberg or taking folks through the Aloe garden at Kirstenbosch… this time, I reckon it was those elephants at the closing ceremony. Even on telly that was impressive!
Best ambassadors: All South Africans for being such awesome hosts. People NOW KNOW!
Best supporters: The Orange Dutchies. I’m a believer, thanks for coming guys.
Worst Coach: The French dude. Idiot. Never come back.
Best sideline entertainment: Diego Maradonna. He was the REAL STAR of this show…
Best team: Spain. And Holland! Taking out Germany and Brazil… those were rock star performances.
Biggest potential male crush: I can’t deny it. Diego Forlan blows my hair back. If I swung that way, I would totally go for that roman nose…
Best leveraging of assets: Either the Uruguayans with only 3 million people, but a rock star team. Or Paris Hilton and the joint. I lean towards Paris, this chick knows how to get into the news…
The almost award: To Ghana, for living the dream… you still made us proud guys.
The biggest disappointment award: Either Argentina getting drummed by the Germans (Et tu Messi? Et tu?), Christiana Ronaldo (chicks still dig him), but my vote goes to the Italians. I watched that Cape Town game dammit.
And finally, the AWESOMENESS AWARD: A tie between my girl Dianna, who helped me run the business when I had 12 fingers in about fourteen pies simultaneously, and my dad, who recovered from a kidney operation to do the Fanwalk with me and watch Spain take out Portugal on the way to becoming world champions…
I’m going to Vegas! A few more days of doing business, then I send off another warrior to the chapel, join my folks for a day or two of R&R at the spa and then I jump on a plane to go river raft the Grand Canyon… and go horse riding in Utah… and maybe I’ll blow a few bucks in Vegas. Hey, someone’s gotta do it.
South Africa is on the map. Better believe it, and it’s about time. Live it, love it.
Take care of yourselves, keep on trucking, and see you on the flipside!!!!
PETE