World Cup remembered - Fire Engine drives to Durban from Germany

This time in 2010 South Africa and Durban was in the grips of Word Cup fever. The opening game in Durban was Germany vs Australia and we had 7 Germans and 7 Australians in the guesthouse - including some guys who drove here from Bieleveld Germany in a landrover and a Fire Engine to get here in time for their team's first game which they won.

And yesterday Germany beat Portugal 4-0 in their Group G game in Brasil.

Here's a link to all of the fixtures and results.

In fact I started this blog to capture the spirit of the World Cup, then after the event decided to keep it on as my personal blog about life here in Durban. Here's a glimpse of what I posted about the previous World Cup Germany games, as well as the story of the fire engine through Africa.

2014 World Cup Brasil - Germany 4 Portugal 0

Germany vs Spain semi-final in Durban Wed 7 Jul

With a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay last night, Spain joins Germany who had a exciting 4-0 win over Argentina in the earlier game to produce a Germany vs Spain semi-final for Durban on Wednesday next week.

Both teams and fans were in Durban for the opening games of the World Cup when Germany beat Australia and Spain lost to Switzerland, so the return will be a hard-fought battle.

Podolski scores as Germany beats England in an earlier round

David Villa of Spain scores against Honduras in the run-up to the semi-final

Germany back for semi-final in Durban

Germany's footballer Podolski has everything to be proud of with Germany's (4) win tonight over Argentina (0) in the World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa.

This brings Germany back to Durban, for the semi-final next week. We had a house-load of proud German fans at our Guesthouse here in Durban for the opening game against Australia and they will be back for some more fun in the sun hopeful of making it to the finals.

Firetruck down Africa

Ronnie and Manu (left and right in the photos) are the 2nd of three groups of travellers we have met at the Guesthouse who travelled from Germany and Switzerland through Africa to Durban in time for the World Cup. Ronnie and Manu bought a genuine Fire Truck and this was their home for the incredible journey. The result 4-0 for Germany and 1-0 Swiss victory against Spain for Marco and Tamara, who also made the journey in a landrover, was sweet.

More Africa explorers

Wow, we are having such fun at the Guesthouse. Today Armin brought back some more adverturers who came by vehicle from Bielefeld, Germany, to Durban by road across Europe and Africa.... in a red fire truck.

Meet Manu (top right) with Ronnie (second left) whose blog is also linked here. Marcus (top left) and Armin (top right) were also joined today by Armin's wife Uta who flew in from Germany to visit her husband in Durban after a 2-month absence.

In the middle picture Llewellyn and I (Dave) join the African adventurers for a photo in the Guesthouse bar.

In the bottom picture the vehicles meet up at Mahalapye-Mokolo Dam - the red fire truck, the "Buffalo" Jeep and a fellow traveller, Nachos from Spain, on a Vespa scooter.

Germany beats Australia 4-0

The Germany vs Australia game was awesome and we ended up with 7 Germans and 7 Ozzie supporters in the house. The result of Germany (4) and Australia (0) made for much rivalry and drinking afterwards and the Ozzies insisted the Germans had to do the paying. In the 1st photo above guests Nelson (Perth), Tino (Germany), Les (Perth) and Michael (Sydney) enjoy a drink after the game and a night on the town.

In the next photos Germany supporters gather for some TV news after the game, a rasta man celebrates in the street, a Germany supporter gives and interview and in the last photo above Durban Stadium View Guesthouse guest Tino joins a group of Germany supporters for hischance to be seen on TV aroundthe world as Germany celebrated their win over Australia.

Durban abuzz for the Germany vs Australia game tonight

The Durban beachfront outside the World Cup Stadium is alive with Ozzie Socceroos and Germans eager to watch their team beat the other tonight. It was a glorious sunny day and the surfers were out as well as the fans.

In the photos guest Rudi shows which team he is supporting whilst my family and friends also took a stroll down the beach promenade to get a feel of the action.

Bielefeld to Durban 13 Mar - 13 June

We are privileged to meet at the Guesthouse trans-Africa traveller Armin Hollensteiner who made the journey from his hometown, Bielefeld in Germany, by jeep to Durban for the World Cup opening game Germany vs Australia today.

Travelling 21 000 kms through Europe, the middle east and Africa, Armin was joined in Dar-es-Salaam by Marcus and the travellers arrived in Durban yesterday making it a 3-month 13th Mar - 13th June journey. Armin has created a blog to document the journey and you can view it here.

In the top photo are Armin and myself (Dave) outside the Guesthouse with the reliable jeep that averaged 11 ls per 100kms. In the 2nd photo Marcus and Armin pose with their mascot Lohmann, the 3rd photo shows Armin's personalised numberplate with BI for his home town Bielefeld, ZA for South Africa (Zuid Afrika) and 2010 for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Football event. The 4th photo shows the route Armin travelled across Africa to get to Durban.

You can also watch Armin's YouTube Video Clip.

Wow, congratulations guys, what a journey and accomplishment!

Will the Germans tear up the Socceroos?

Ahead of the first World Cup game in Durban on Sunday, the German team are quiety confident they will "tear apart" the Australian defences. The Socceroos and the Germans, who are favourites to win Group D, kick off for Durban's much awaited first game here at the Moses Mabhida World Cup Stadium. Already a 1000 Ozzie fans have arrived in Durban to fill a tent-town that has been erected at the cricket stadium. Meanwhile at their first practice in South Africa, the German team came out with shirts with the word "Yebo" on them. This means "Yes" in Zulu, the native language of the black locals in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal where Durban is situated. At the Guesthouse we have both Australian and German fans staying, so we should have an exciting build-up to the Game.

German Football Team fly in Style

The German national football team will arrive in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup in style as they will be part of Lufthansa’s first long haul flight for their new A380.

The special flight operated by Lufthansa’s new flagship leaves Frankfurt Airport on Sunday 6th June and will arrive in Johannesburg.

Germany plays Australia in Durban's opening World Cup game at our new Stadium on Sun 13th June.

Opening Game features Germany vs Australia

The opening game of the FIFA 2010 World Cup football in Durban will feature Germany vs Australia Sun 13 June 2010.

Click here to connect to the German Football team's Facebook group and keep up to speed on the latest news on the team and the challenge of the World Cup. And here is a link to their website.

And here's a link to the official Australian Football Federation website... are the Ozzies up to it?.. and here's their Facebook group. Both teams have been drawn group D with Serbia and Ghana.

Accommodation for the game in Durban is limited but may be booked online here or send us an email to mailto:durbanstadiumview@gmail.com and we will check availability for you.