Craig and I decided that we would spend our last night in Berlin (my last in Germany) with a couple thousand of our fellow World Cup fans. There was a huge festival (for lack of a better description) going on. The streets were shut down for a mile in one direction and a couple blocks wide. Huge jumbo tron TVs were set up all down the street and vendors were selling beer, food and t-shirts. Everyone was sporting the Germany colors. They were waving flags constantly, singing the German fight chant and having a great time. Kids had their faces painted with red, yellow and black - the German team colors.
The game started off slow, so Craig and I decided to turn our interests to our alchol intake. Surrounded by a huge crowd, I knew that the reality of the situation was that I needed a beer buzz or I was going to hate being part of a mob. So, we immediately got four beers, two each. Then I decided it was time for a brat. We wandered through the crowd to the guy selling brats. I ordered two of them....in German!!! Craig taught me how about 30 seconds before I had to say it, but whatever....it was in German. hells yeah!! so with a beer in one hand and a brat in the other, I was brought back to my German heritage.
Half time in the game came and went without a goal. Although, it did bring us more beers and Craig one very messy donar kebap (German version of a gyro). Three hours after we arrived, it was about time to go. The game was still 0-0 when we left. Part of me wanted to stay to see what happens when the game ends...win or lose. But then the realistic part of me said that thousands of people would be pouring through two gates, possibly rioting and I don´t want to die. So.....
We hailed a bike taxi back to the hotel. We proceeded to chant ¨Deutchland!!!¨everytime we passed anybody on the streets....or even thought we might pass somebody. Every body we screamed to, proceeded to raise their fists in the air and repeat it back. Made my night!! I even screamed it out to a group of Polizei (German police) who chanted back as well!! Good times!
On a sad note, I´ve decided that it is in fact my fault that Germany lost. I never did get arround to buying my Ballack jersey. We didn´t paint our faces. Perhaps the German flag on Craig´s car wasn´t big enough to show our pride. I knew that I wasn´t drinking enough beer to keep my German heritage proud. Damn it!!! So, yeah.....to all of the German fans out there...and to Germany as a whole: My Bad!!
However, I will always and forever love Midfielder Michael Ballack. He will have my shoulder to cry on if he needs it.
