Soccer's catching

One of the very best things about living in Germany happened last night - a big old soccer game with outdoor viewing and oh, Germany won.

We were in downtown Wuppertal, where the European games 2 years ago were shown everywhere (outdoors) and a big car parade followed, where people hit the streets and go crazy waving flags.

The whole country comes alive with pride for this, and knowing that everyone is watching together is great fun. So we were back at Parga, our fave Greek restaurant, where they have TVs outdoors and in, and free Ouzo (?) all around.

My man is a "fussball muffel" meaning he doesn't really get into it, but even though I know nothing about soccer, I was out there on the sidewalk afterwards, waving a flag I took down from a fence full of flags. It was the "autokorso" - a parade of honking cars and happy fans. I waved my flag at them, exhilerated, as they went by.

I guess it's kind of like New Years, but more structured.

I got these photos from the local online paper.

Someone offered to give me an American flag, for the next game where my country plays, but I don't know.....one thing though, if America plays Germany, I'm rooting for the underdog. That's what I do. (How to figure out who the underdog is...hm...)

It was hard to find a single German flag flying in this land until 2006 when the last Weltmeisterschaft was here. Since then, people are less worried about displaying national pride.

See you don't just see German flags here, you see flags from every country competing, if someone is that nationality.

This is for you, Sonya!

Awww, this is something you NEVER see - an American flag hanging right-side up.



Half the cars going by are decorated, and half the apartment windows have flags hanging down. It's great!

The closest thing to this in America that I experienced was when I worked serving espresso at the University of Washington's Husky Stadium and got to see a little college football. Good grief those people are crazy!

It's a good time to be in Germany.