Football!

A quick post here as we await to check into our new hostel!

Our day yesterday became action-packed at a pretty quick rate so I figure I may as well fill you guys in!

We ended up not being able to find where we had seen the directions to the Chocolate and Cheese Factory, and having already left the hostel, we wandered to the Botanical Gardens instead! It was a sure site to see and we spent about an hour or so just wandering. It was so peaceful. From there we made a stop at the post office and sat to decided what to do - we were planning on leaving for our hike after dinner to catch the sunset so we had a few hours to kill. We ended up grabbing McFlurries (ha) and sitting at the fountain across from the Tram Stop for some assured interesting people-watching. We spent almost two hours there!

We dropped back into the hostel to eat some leftovers for dinner and look for a place to stay in Lausanne (where we are currently). While browsing the internet, a German guy came to make some polite drunken chat with us, asking about our travelling and why we were here. Then six more of them emerged and next thing we new we were drinking free beer in the hostel visiting with some serious characters. They were quite a hoot, one bigger guy pumping some serious techno from his phone and dancing throughout the commons area. They explained to us how they were huge hockey fans and how they take trips all across Europe to watch hockey and football (soccer), a few of them having even gone to Halifax just for hockey and drinking!

They explained to us that there was a minor league game that night and they invited us along. We were a bit skepitcal until it became clear that it was already seven and there was no chance we were going to make it to the hill for sunset. We joined them as did an American guy, Kevin who was also staying in the hostel. They assured us there would be tickets and scoped out scalpers for us (how nice of them! hahaha). While we waited with one of them, he explained to us that this stadium was nothing compared to German or English football games, for it only sat 10 000 and typically they go to games where it seats 90 000. There were thousands of people still packed outside of the stadium chanting and drinking beer like crazy. Some guys had just bags of it between their feet, chugging it before they entered.

Two of the German guys were cops who get to control riots and fights at football games in Germany and he explained that of the 90 000 seats and the people that wait outside of the stadium, usually more than half are waiting outside just to start a brawl. And that if Eastern Germany were playing Western Germany they have a lot of problems with Nazis too. Still, he said that England is worse but if we arent the kind of people to call on the other team that we would be alright. Hahaha.

For having it been a smaller stadium and not sold out, there was still a handful of people there, some with huge flags and lucky us we were with the kind of guys who chanted throughout the entire game. Which allowed for serious laughter and good photos. I should have you all know that we had no idea what most of the chants were (They were in German), but we took pride in good ole SK and did a few rider and defense chants during the game.

Afterward we caught the tram back to the hostel and went dancing at the bar underneath. Jenna and I wore our Ladies Night shirts and danced like there was no tomorrow. Which allowed for most of the people in the bar to assume we were hammered but we had only had two or three beer. The Germans on the other hand had been drinking since the afternoon and were completely wasted, doing the twist and letting us spin them while one person was designated to take photos. When we get the photos I will make sure that they get posted!

We made an agreement with the big guy, Gustoph, that if he woke up early and bought groceries that we would make breakfast. So we went to bed around three, not expecting Gustoph or any of the Germans in fact to make it for breakfast. With a little knock on our door this morning Gustoph was awake and gleaming as we made breakfast for two of them while the others were already pre drinking for the Junior Hockey Championships this afternoon.

All in all, the Germans were great - dance ringtones and all. And we are sure that the Swiss people and the Germans too, believe that all Canadians love to dress ridiculously and are dancing machines.

Miss you all!