It all works out in the end

We left Sabie - our base town for Kruger and for our daytripping - for Pretoria on 6/22. We bought tickets to US - Algeria on 6/23 before we came here and also picked up some Japan - Denmark tickets on 6/24 while on the ground. We made it in a bit late, but made it out into Pretoria for the end of the South Africa - France game. We watched on a huge outdoor screen with hundreds of other people. The game was lively - SA needed to win by four, quickly raced to a 2-0 lead and then had chance after chance to extend it. Ah well.

We headed off into the city after the game (dark by then) and it was all sorts of sketchy. Sketchy looking Algerians mixing with sketchy looking South Africans. We watched the late game in the square (all the host cities have official big screens for watching games) but made a quick night of it, a little unsure that we would like Pretoria. Turns out it was just a spot of bad timing as game day was phenomenal. We returned to the city in the daylight to find it buzzing with anticipation. Americans and Algerians everywhere buying gear and hanging out in the streets and cafes.