June 19th - Day 12

BUMPING

I hired a mathematician (nerd) to try and calculate when I need to get these stories written for appropriate parts of the country and even he couldn’t figure it out. So I’m catching up with you BEFORE I head to Stuttgart to watch Spain and Tunisia.

It’s the late game so by the time I get back it would be too late for me to write and I’d have all my loyalists up in arms again. I think the sidewalk cafes that all have soccer games being televised are great. The beer is good and the weather, though a bit on the humid side, could be a lot more miserable.

What I don’t care for too much is getting bumped around all day and not a single ‘excuse me.’ When I get bumped back home and don’t get an apology immediately afterward, I usually end up getting into some sort of confrontation. THIS is NOT the place for that so I’ll be patient for a few more days until I get home and THEN maybe settle up with the first person who even inadvertently bumps into me. Hopefully it’s somebody small and relatively passive.

Other than some unwelcome bumping I’m having a blast but I know that I’ll have to start dipping into the energy reserves soon if I’m going to keep up this pace. GO HARD OR GO HOME, I keep saying to myself. It’s Europe, Germany…THE WORLD CUP. It’s no place for softies.

The games have been entertaining and fast. South Korea did a nice job with France and Japan did well to tie Croatia. The Brazilians are doing what they need to do to get by, knowing full-well that they have another three weeks of soccer ahead of them. Below is a quick glimpse of what the last couple of days have been like if I had to put it on paper:

9:30 – Get downstairs to eat what is a great breakfast buffet before they close it at 10.

11:00 – Pack camera, recorder, passport, euros and head into the city. Make sure that Baby Bruce has the whole day mapped out for us…if not, you said it…smack!

Noon – First beverages of many…walk around city…usually get lost.

3:00 – Find viewing area and place in the shade…stay hydrated with plenty of beer...oops, sorry… I meant water.

11:00 – Wander about city…lose Baby Bruce for a while on purpose…talk soccer.

Midnight – Stop talking soccer, drinking, wandering and enjoying myself to come home and write this blog.

Note - The real schedule will be available in paperback next spring. The price has yet to be determined, but will no doubt be worth every dollar or euro.