Road Trip: Welcome to PE!

So it was a rather sleepy but moerse excited Mike Jansen (and a full Greyhound bus) who arrived in Port Elizabeth around 06h30 this morning.

I was probably the only person who was awake throughout the 11 hours trip from Bellville.

As expected, there were quite a number of the so-called “Cape Crusaders” or South African All Blacks supporters on the bus with me.

It was rather cold this morning, but I had to bide my time until the Green Acres Shopping Centre eventually opened for business. I used the time to clean up (my Missus will not be impressed that I had coffee WITHOUT having brushed my teeth!)

Breakfast:

After some nourishment, I was told that I could take a “metered taxi” to the Springbok team hotel where I was to collect my accreditation. Now, I live in Hong Kong and as they say on the Cape Flats “I know from metered taxis.” What I took this morning was NOT one… at R70 for the trip nogal! Have a look at what ‘passed’ as the taxi’s starter:

Two wires make up a starter! Only in the Baai… (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Thankfully I came here for the experience so it’s was all good, I got to my destination safely and in one piece!

I collected my pass at the Garden Court hotel which also doubles as the Springboks’ team hotel and had the opportunity to snap some pics of coach Peter De Villiers (pictured below) and some of the players when they came down to a buzzing hotel lobby:

As I mentioned this trip is a learning experience and if there is one thing that I can ask you to remember it is to NOT count on public transport to get you around. The trip from the Garden Court hotel to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was like taking a taxi on the Cape Flats. Here I’m talking about a REAL Cape Flets taxi… complete with doef! doef! pumping bass ‘music’ and of course: a Ghaartjie!

But as was the case this morning, I got to the stadium safely and in one piece, albeit with somewhat impaired hearing. Nothing that a cold beer can’t sort out!

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