WC2006: No Place Like Home

HAUPTMARKT, NUREMBERG (2:32pm local time) -- We got a late start looking for a place to watch Germany-Ecuador, and eventually we headed to the Irish bar where the U.S. fans will be congregating on Thursday. I had my first (and second, and third) pint of Kilkenny's, which was a nice break from all the Bitburger Pils.

After Germany won the match, we headed into the central marketplace, where there was, again, a stage set up with lots of food and beer tents. And many happy, drunken, dancing Germans. There's something about being out and about in the host country when their team wins a match in the World Cup. Part of me is curious as to what the streets would be like if the home team lost, as I haven't actually experienced that in two trips so far.

Walking into the square gave me a strange sense of deja vu, as I remember being in this exact same square about 12 years ago on a business trip. I still have this rolled-up scroll of a menu from a restaurant just off the square. I wish I could remember what it was called.