Day 2: Berlin

We woke up at 7 today, after sleeping at 2. We to hunt for breakfast and found this nice little Delifrance-like cafe. Lovely breakfast I would say. After that we started exploring the area around our hostel, and we found the girl´s Birkenstock shop. Ok, fine. We took the U-Bahn out to the Olympic Stadium where the World Cup matches are being held. No matches in Berlin at this time unfortunately, but we took many lovely and hilarious shots. The place looks so majestic and all in preparation of the finals which would also be held here. There is much security around, but I can just imagine thousands and thousands of screaming fans here on the 10th July for the finals. We also figured out enroute that we probably did not have to pay for the trains as no one else seemed to. No more wasting money. We started walking around the old city area and saw more cathedrals, ancient buildings, more here and there, several statues, most of which can be found and seen in the guide books. There was a Holocaust Museum which I felt was very enriching and informative. I was never a history student, and was never interested about European history, so I never bothered in the past. We also happened to be in this Platz (plaza) where they were screening the Japan-Croatia match live. The atmosphere was overpowering, to see flags of both countries flying high in the hot afternoon sun, people drinking beer and cheering at each shot, and the disdain with every miss TOGETHER. The feeling was just fantastic and overwhelming. This is what I came to Germany for, to have a feel of the World Cup atmosphere, although some would consider this to be stupid. After the match, we carried on doing more historical sites until we hit the shopping district. After which the girls went berserk, and we had to drag them to Checkpoint Charlie along the Berlin wall. We had dinner at this Spanish place. Yun and I, being the hardcore soccer fans, dragged the rest of them down to this place we saw in the afternoon, an indoor arena with many many many large TV screens, seats and a stage to watch the Korea-France match, which was at 9pm. The rest probably thought we were crazy, but at the end of it, none of them regretted following us.

In the buildup before the game, the organisers here have performances, introductions and videos of the fans in this arena broadcasted live to everyone else on cable. You could see the hardcore korean fans sitting behind us cheering madly, as well as the French on the other side. See the pictures when I get to upload them when I get to Pforzhiem. The cheering was incessant, overpowering and mindblowing throughout the match. The atmosphere had all 5 of us at the edge of our seats, rooting loudly and shouting our lungs out for the asian team of Korea. When they conceded a goal, there was pain, but the cheering never stopped as the supporters carried on. Every time there was a threat of a French goal, you could feel the hearts drop in the area, and every time the Koreas pushed on, the stands would burst out in trembling cheers. When Korea finally equalised in the 81st minute. There was a stunned silence on the French side of the arena and the Korean supporters, us included burst into non-stop chaotic cheering and flag waving. Even a baby was bouncing cheerfully for her team! Watching football would never be the same again. We all left cheering and shouting, hungry and tired.

Tags: Personal