We finally made it out of Koln after a two-day stay turned into four, thanks to the party quotient. This town has it going on with good food, beer and people. Know this: I don’t think we had the same type of beer twice in a row.
Koln pubs serve beer in drinkable 30 centiliter (about a half-pint) glasses before upgrading to half-liters. Of course we were the only ones in the bar drinking from these larger glasses. “The Americans like large beers!” one server said to us.
A day trip to Gelsenkirchen for the U.S. vs. Czech game was great–save for the result. The size of the American contingent of fans surprised some pleasant Czech fans. Then again, after they killed us on the pitch they could afford to be nice.
U.S. fans have a new off-color Team America chant that could be heard throughout the streets, thus ending any chance at developing a reputation as the quiet Americans.
Now I’m in Hamburg for a taste of northern Germany to regroup, but it appears there will be no rest for the wicked. We plan to spend Brazil’s match at yet another bar.
