Soccer

On Sunday, I went to a soccer game.  It was Merida's team, Los Estudiantes de Merida, against somebody I don't remember.  I got some good photos and videos from it.  Unfortunately there were no vuvuzelas or large crowds of people, but there were police there to escort the referees off the field so people didn't throw things at them.  The game ended at a tie of 0-0, so it wasn't too exciting, but there were some close calls at scores.

In the morning I awoke to the usual sounds of birds. In the US, this would be fine, except these birds have a sound like a mix of crow, seagull, and parrot.  It sounds like someone is dying.

Then I walked over to where I could take the trolley.  I live across a viaduct, which is essentially a bridge.  I love the viaduct, even though no one is supposed to walk across it a night or people will try to rob you or gang up on you.  It's such a pretty view, and the bridge itself is fascinating to me.

This is my favorite thing about the bridge.  It says: GOBIERNO SOCIALISTA DE MERIDA. Or in English, SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT OF MERIDA.  It is so interesting to me.  I cross it every day, and I always make sure to look at it until I pass it.  It is a very blunt reminder of where you are, and what kind of life you must live.  Everything is painted colorful here. It is a stark contrast. Poverty in pretty colors.  I once heard that Chavez, the president, once gave an excuse as to why no one had air conditioning, and it was that Americans all had it so that they would not have to open their windows and enjoy the view outside.

This is a view from over the viaduct.

But anyway, once I boarded the trolley, I was on my way to the soccer stadium.  The trolley is the nicest, most technologically advanced bus in the whole city.  It runs on a cable in the middle of the road, on its own path.  But the best part about it is that it's completely free.

I like things that are clean.

But we finally reached our stop, and got off. I would not have known where to go.  Luckily I ran into a friend on the bus who was also going to the game.  Even if I had known the right stop, I would have not known where to go after that.  You had to double back a little, cross the street, and slip in between this little fence and a concrete wall.  That took you up a dirt path, which then got you to the stadium.  We bought cheap tickets, and then went inside and took our seats.

People organized their own pep bands to cheer for the team.

Their mascot is a bear.

 These guys thought it would be a good idea to climb on the fence.  It was the most reckless behavior of the game.  That little boy was so content with himself for climbing the fence even though the guy told him to stay down.

Hey guys!!! I have videos!!  Yay for cheering fans.  They were shouting or singing something for the entire game.