I will be blogging more in the coming days (although we will spend most of the next 48 hours either on planes or in Dubai), but I thought you might enjoy a run through what we did while we were here. Take breathers when you need them. As always, photos are at: World Cup Photos.
Itinerary
Friday, June 11th
Arrive in Dubai early in the morning
Arrive in Johannesburg during first game of the tournament
Watch soccer on TV at Andrew’s
Saturday, June 12th
Mass at Catholic Church in Brineston
Drive 2 hours to Rustenburg
U.S. – England game
Drive 2 hours home
Sunday, June 13th
Mass at same Catholic Church
Brunch and browsing at African Market
Watch more soccer
Monday, June 14th
Meet with Administrator of the Archdiocese of Pretoria
Visit a few Pretoria churches and cathedral
Visit hospice built by White Father priest
Visit Fr. Guido in rehab (he is a Canadian priest who has spent over 20 years here helping people in the poorest neighborhoods of Joburg)
Watch more soccer
Tuesday, June 15th
Elephant sanctuary
Cheetah sanctuary
Watch more soccer
Wednesday, June 16th
2-hour drive to Pilanesburg
5-hour drive through game reserve, seeing lots of animals in natural habitats
2-hour drive home
Watch South Africa/Uruguay match at Fan Zone
Thursday, June 17th
Argentina/South Korea soccer match at Soccer City
Watch Mexico/France match at Montecasino
Friday, June 18th
Apartheid Museum
Hector Pederson Museum
U.S./Slovenia soccer match at Ellis Park
Watch more soccer
Saturday, June 19th
5 hour drive to Durban
Beach walk in Durban
Fan Park to watch Nigeria/Denmark game
Sunday, June 20th
3 hour drive to Drackensburg National Park
4 hour hike (including my unplanned dip in the chilly creek)
4 hour drive back to Joburg
Monday, June 21st
Regina Mundi church visit and Mass in Soweto (where we saw the families of the U.S. team, including a priest I know from Mundelein)
Spain/Honduras soccer match at Ellis Park
Tuesday, June 22nd
4 hour drive to Kruger National Park
3 hour game drive through park
Drive to God’s Window canyon lookout
Watch South Africa/France game at pub in Sabie
4 hour drive home
Wednesday, June 23rd
Visit with St. Vincent de Paul members to mission in Deep Sloot
U.S./Algeria soccer match in Pretoria
Watch more soccer
Thursday, June 24th
Lion park, where we petted lions and giraffes
Cradle of Humankind, where we toured caves where early human remains were found
Fly to Dubai
Friday, June 25th
Day in Dubai
Fly to U.S.
Saturday, June 26th
Arrive in New York
Fly to Detroit
Fly to Kansas City
WOW! You certainly made the most of your trip :)
ReplyDeleteHappy flying! Try laying your head on your fold down tray. It was the only way I could sleep, though I never slept for more than an hour on any of my 12 hour flights. I want to hear all about Dubai. I have a friend living there now.