Falling behind or catching up - you decide

[AndyMead]

Not much to report from yesterday. I really did take it off. My big accomplishment was locating a laundromat! Which I just dropped most of my clothes off at. 7,90 to wash/dry/fold about two weeks worth of clothes. They're closed on Sunday, so I'll pick it up Monday morning.

Portugal is staying at the hotel next to mine. Fans have been crowding the door for two days now
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm01.jpg

And all the Portuguese TV networks have satellite trucks on the street:
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm02.jpg

and are broadcasting from the sidewalk
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm03.jpg

Can you imagine coverage like that in the U.S.?

[AndyMead]

I ran into the two guys from Texas who support both the U.S. and Mexico. We watched Holland beat Ivory Coast while enjoying a nice dinner at the 12 Apostles brewpub next to the hotel. They have a nice big screen, and their beer is excellent - and strong.

We headed down to the Main River and FIFA Fan Fest to watch the Mexico game on the big screens.

The buildings on the street were decked out in flags
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm04.jpg

Fans of various countries were playing pickup games together:
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm05.jpg

And some firefighters were sitting on top of their truck in order to see the big screen floating in the river
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm06.jpg

[AndyMead]

The Iran fans were also in town, and out in force with their game in Frankfurt today vs Portugal
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm07.jpg

I really don't want to know what some of the Imams back in Tehran think of all of these Iranian cuties mixing it up in public at the World Cup.

Once the game started, the crowd was definitely pro-Mexico
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm08.jpg

I took some shots of the big screen's light bouncing off the river. Hopefully this came out alright:
http://worldcup.bigsoccer.com/june16ajm/bs060616ajm09.jpg

Today's a big day. I'm about to head up to Konstablerwache and take in the market day crowd. I need to be at the main train station around 3pm for the ride to Kaiserslautern.

It looks like I'll probably get back to Kaiserslautern around 3am. I'll try to get some photos online tonight, but it might have to wait until I wake up on Sunday - especially if I end up standing on the train all the way back from K-town.

Of course if the U.S. wins big, I might not get back until sometime tomorrow!

[Loco4Footie]

Andy,
The 12 Apostles restaurant must have hired a new brewer because when I was there a few months back, the brew there was the worst I've had, second only to a pint I had in what was then leningrad, Back in 1990. A betteer place to go for your Saturday shopping is at Mareinplatz. It's about as close as Frankfurt gets to an ethnic neighborhood. Take the #4 Strassenbahn from Konstablerwache and get off one stop past Marienplatz. You'll find all sorts of food, both German and ethnic, including Jalapenos, which are hard to find in Frankfurt.

[AndyMead]

Cool. I may have some time tomorrow to go check that out.

Thanks!

Got to head out for the U.S. game

[96Squig]

I can recommend the Cocoon club in Frankfurt, it is expensive like hell, but worth it!

Also, you should try some other German fast food besides the Döner, for example a Currywurst and Pommes Rot Weiß, or go to Nordsee, where you can get excellent Fish.