Friday, June 11

Today is Friday, our second full day here in Johannesburg. We are getting a little more settled in today. Yesterday, Thursday, Johnn and I went to the Bruma Flea Market, about a 30 minute car ride from our hotel (and I'm sorry, I can't do the cool links like Johnn can...). We spent the whole day there, and had time to walk across the street to the mall there and had lunch at a place called Spur Steak Ranch, pretty typical Indian/Adobe themed restaurant in South Africa. Last night, we went to one of the biggest casino "compounds" I've ever seen called Emperor's Palace, but I've also never been to Las Vegas. There was basically a city within this casino and several very nice restaurants. We ate at the African Tribes Grill, a somewhat upscale restaurant there. Johnn and I are quickly learning that Johannesburg is not like Dallas, and we cannot simply get in the car and go to a fun neighborhood, walk around and just hang out. A little disappointing, but we're learning to be accommodating and realize we didn't come here to find another Dallas.

Today, Friday, Johnn and I had spa appointments at the Octavius Day Spa, which coincidentally, was at Emperor's Palace and we were just there last night! This might have been the most posh, luxurious day spa I've been to. Here is the website: http://www.octavias.co.za/ We had 2 Swedish massages and a 30 minute session in the "Flotation Pool," which is literally a small pool filled with high content salt water where you literally float weightlessly. It was a very weird sensation, but the salt acts as a natural detoxifier, which we found out, can make you sick to your stomach. We cut that session a little short and spent the rest of the time in the Roman Bath, basically a very large hot tub. It was a really nice morning.

After the spa, we came back for a quick nap and are about to head out to a public viewing of the Opening Match of the World Cup, South Africa v. Mexico, airing at 9 am central time today (4pm Johannesburg time). They built huge pavilion grounds for the community to come together to watch. Johnn bought a South Africa jersey, which he'll wear today in support of our host nation.

We will post pictures soon, but they charge us the MB, so we'll have to upload them at another time as my bytes are about to run out...

Tomorrow is the England v. US match, 1:30 central, 8:30 local time, so tune in, maybe you'll catch a glimpse of us!

Until then :).