Fortunately the weather cleared up to take in a rugby game in the evening. I caught the bus to the train station where Regan met me after work.

The train station at night

As is tradition, we went to a pub before the game and had beer and fries (oh sorry, chips). He got a hoppy red beer for himself and a Belgian-style wit beer for me. Other than being served way too cold, it was yummy. We then got our fries served with the tiniest portions of condiments. This is always the thing I enjoy about travelling... learning what things are great and wonderful about someplace new, and what things make you appreciate home too.

Our lovely beers and micro condiments

It was approaching the time for the game to start, so we headed back to the train station. At the far end of one of the tracks was a pedestrian bridge that led to the stadium. We could tell we were headed the right way from all the little kids running about waving giant yellow flags.

At the top of the bridge, we got our first view of the Westpac Stadium, glowing from all the large spotlights. Regan told me its nickname is the 'cake tin' because that's how its shaped. He also said the design tends to funnel in wind, which then goes round and round picking up speed. I suppose it's only appropriate that the local team is called the Hurricanes.

As we walked the long way to the stadium, we were stopped every few feet by people asking to donate money. These were the Poppys, and they were collecting for the Royal British Legion... for those who serve in it, veterans, injured members, etc. and their families.

Many people were being stopped and searched, but we were allowed through without problems. We scanned our tickets (that Regan had bought in advance) at the turnstile and were in! A man was handing out free flags, so of course we had to get one.

Regan, ready for some major fan action! He was hoping to get me to shout all sorts of things at the ref... but seeing as I still can't even tell when a goal is scored, I don't see that happening!

We were still a bit early, so we walked around the stadium a bit. The Australian team, The Western Force, was out on the field practicing. Up in the stands just behind us, were the Cook Island Drummers, beating out catchy rhythms. We then made an entire loop around the outer part of the stadium. The beer and food stands hadn't opened yet. Captain Hurricane (the team mascot) was busy taking pictures with people.

The Aussies warm up.

The Cook Island drummers seemed to really be enjoying themselves.

Aaaaw... I'd like to have a pet beer!

Eventually we returned and found our seats. The stadium wasn't super full, even with most of the people being clustered at this one end. Regan had grabbed us a couple beers. Instead of the open-topped thin-plastic cups we use in the States, these were sturdy plastic bottles with caps on them. I also now understood that the PET referred to this type of bottle (meaning Polyethylene terephthalate). Darn, I liked my explanation better.

My pet beer

It was a bit cool out, but nothing like we thought it was going to be.

Captain Hurrican had come out and was making his rounds with the fans.

It was almost time for the game to begin. The Aussies cleared the field, and a Maori woman came out in traditional dress. She made her chant and then made room for the grand entrance of the teams. First the Force came out, without much fanfare. Then... the Hurricanes! The rock music blasted, fireworks were shot into the air, giant flames roared up from the sidelines, and the team ran onto the field.

The opening ceremony

The game was somewhat of a blur for me because most of the time I had no idea what was going on. But eventually I started to get a bit of a feel for it. A bit. The game was broken into two 40-minute halves.... although not exactly. A horn sounded after 40 minutes but they could keep playing until the ball went out of play. But the clock started again where it had stopped, not at a new 40 minutes.

There were Poppys. Note the red poppy flower on the hat on the man on the left.

Did someone get dressed in the dark?

Medic! There were a couple injuries, but nothing looked that serious.

This is a scrum, where each team attempts to get control of the ball with their feet. I REALLY couldn't figure out the rules on this one!

The ref is the guy in hot pink. He just declared a score for the Hurricanes. Giant dogpiles such as this were common... and also when the fights tended to break out!

Is he going to make it??....

... Yes! Another score for the Hurricanes!

We decided to leave about 10 minutes early to beat the crowds out. With a score of 22 - 13 in our favor, and the way they were playing, we figured we weren't going to miss much (the final score ended up being 22 - 16).

We walked back to the nearest bus stop, but it was going to be another 20 minutes before it arrived. Since it wasn't too cold out, we decided to leisurely stroll to the next stop. By the time we got there, it was still another 10 minute wait. So we went to the next one, then the next one, until we decided to finally wait for it. There was a very chatty woman there who said she was also headed to Island Bay... but then she got on a bus going a completely different direction. She was a local so we had to assume she knew what she was doing.

The almost final score

A sign on the way to the bus stop. What I like most about his is how he is subtly stepping over the red line!

We got off the bus at our stop and walked the steep streets up to the house. We were absolutely famished, so we jumped in the car and drove down to the supermarket. It was already closed... as were most of the restaurants in the area. It was around 10:30 pm. Fortunately Hell was still open. This was a pizza place, and what a cute clever place it was! Everything was flames and demons and jokes. Regan said a Heaven pizza had also opened up downtown... but it wasn't nearly as successful.

We were going to get a vegetarian pizza... but like all vegetarian dishes around here, that means feta, only feta, and nothing but feta. So we ordered a build-your-own with garlic, mushrooms, bell peppers (they call them capsicum), asparagus and onions. And regular cheese. I am beginning to wonder if the reason they do that is because some cheese is made with rennet (the traditional way of making cheese, from the stomach lining of slaughtered, unweaned veal calves). But there is also "vegetarian" rennet. Anyway, they probably just feel this is easier.

We brought our hot pizza and garlic bread home and wolfed it down.

The doors to Hell

The pizza box

Mmmmm.. pizza!

Very cute marketing

Proof that 'normal' cheese can also be vegetarian.