Since this thread is still active, I'll post a horror story that happened to one of the people who hung out with a group of us before and after the game. It happened the night of the 29th/morning of the 30th, and I heard about it the next day. A guy from Dublin went out to a bar with us, but walked back to his hotel by himself. When he got there, he decided to "go around the block for a beer." He met a Mexican girl at the bar who was on vacation from working in the U.S., but she told him she was a lesbian. They kept drinking and realized they didn't have enough money to pay the bill. The guy made a deal with the bartender to leave his bag there while he went to get money. He and the girl walked outside the bar to find an ATM, and she had an open beer. (NOTE: rksehga, I TOLD you that could be a problem ). Some police officers came up to them and told them it was illegal to have the beer in public. It's about 2 a.m. by this time, and the location is maybe two blocks from the Zocalo. The girl tells them in Spanish that they're going to get money. The police suddenly become helpful. They say that's dangerous, so they will escort them, and wouldn't ya know, they know where an ATM is. The guy took out 200 pesos (less than $20) and the group walked back toward the bar. When they turned a corner, the police told the guy to give them the money. Then they said they'd escort the two back to the ATM to get the money they would actually pay to the bar. Then they decided they wanted that money, too. The police then followed the guy and girl to his hotel, where he told the English girl who was at Azteca with us what was happening, and stored his travel documents in her safe. He also let a guy at the hotel desk know. The police then escorted him back to the ATM. Along the way, a few more officers joined them. One started putting his hands on the girl. A few minutes later, the police told the guy he could go, because he paid them, but the girl had the beer, so she had to stay. The girl looked at the guy and said, "If you leave me, they'll kill me." The guy stayed, and when the police separated from them for some reason, he gave the girl 100 pesos (less than $10) to run away and find a taxi. The police were pissed the girl left, but the guy told them the truth, that he had just met her and she took off. They walked him back to his hotel, and it was now about 5 a.m. He waited an hour before he tried to go back to the bar to pay the bill and get his bag. Some of the police had fallen asleep in the hotel lobby waiting for him. He ran past them and made it to the bar and back. The whole ordeal cost him about $50, a serious scare, and four hours of sleep. Some people have suggested the girl might have planned this with the police, but after some analysis of the details with the guy, we're pretty sure that wasn't the case.
Whoever made that map of the Zona Rosa got most of the locations on the map wrong. Anyway - here are non-game supporters photos: http://www.ibiblio.org/footy/2005a/0325_mexico_ycj.php My laptop died on the trip. Game photos (with a ton of crowd shots) will be up soon.
Firefly, Actually, there was yet a third young boy there, younger than yours (a nice kid, by the way) and that of the gentleman who cut his lip (another good kid). The dad was an employee of the US Embassy so father & son actually live in Mexico City with their family. I had a nice chat with him at half time. He was really impressed at the number of Yanks who actually made the trip down from the US specifically for the game. He figured most Americans would be ex-pats living in Mexico or State Department employees such as himself. He asked if we were all 'Sam's Army', something he'd obviously heard of. I explained that many were but many more were not, about the Screaming Eagles group, etc. He seemed really pleased to see so many of his countrymen (& women & children) embracing the traveling supporter lifestyle. He definitely enjoys soccer and it's nice for him to meet other Yanks who feel the same way. Cobblestone, That story is scary! I kept waiting for an 'urban legend' punch line---like the lesbian gave him a dog that turned out to be a giant Mexican rat and it took his kidneys or something. It's too bad about the money but I'm glad everything turned out okay otherwise. Andy Mead, Nice photos as always. I saw you at the game but you were busy with the camera and I was several rows away trying to psychically will the ball into the Mexican goal. I wasn't in Mexico on the day of the pyramid excursion and I had no idea you went to a bullfight, either. Next time, amigo. I look forward to the supporter pics. Let us know when you get them posted. Finally, two general observations from watching the match on TiVo: 1.) We definitely played a decent game, not well enough to win, but we looked better in losing than many gave the squad credit for. Altitude was definitely a factor. The match v Guatemala was much more indicative of where the team is right now. I'm very confident about beating that (very good) Mexican side in Columbus. 2.) If you watch our goal celebration in very slow motion, you can see several cups of beer dropped onto the flag from above, indicating that yes, we were given a shower and it wasn't all US fans throwing beer in the air to celebrate. Not a big deal but several wrote they were unsure.
Looks like you've made a fan on another website! http://www.**********************.com/php/boards/index.php?showuser=1067 Yikes! Should have known that website was censored here! (gabnoinoeht)reverse http://www.the0ni0nbag.com/php/boards/index.php?showuser=1067 P.S. My avatar would be better had BC chosen a USA-motif sportsbra!
LOL...Can I start selling my photos on the net? Maybe If I get enough votes they can hire me here on BigSoccer to model clothes!!
Somebody on our bus heading into the stadium made a comment that the mass of policia lining the streets were meant more to publicize the political party printed on their chests... then they were to provide security. I dunno.
Just a few shots that reflect the variuos first hand accounts that have been shared.... [Drew and Andrew]
I read a news story the other day saying that the US State Department is fielding a lot of complaints of tourist shakedowns in Cancun. Anybody driving a rental car is pulled over and forced to pay a "fine" on the spot for some "crime".
I stand corrected! I guess you were focusing on her varied facial expressions? Will the young lady (& boyfriend, of course) be attending future USMNT games?
http://www.ussupporters.com/photoMexico05.asp bottom of page: The Mexican Headlines - Our new American Covergirl
At least someone was focusing on my facial expressions, or was he? Anyway, Yes my boyfriend and I do plan on attending future USMNT games and we will be going to Germany for the Word Cup. It's going to be awesome!!
There were some patriotic women in Korea! http://www.njbrigade.com/images/kor_jeonju/kor_jeonju37.jpg I believe this young lady & friend were traveling around the world! Perhaps they'll have made it to germany by 2006!