Estadio Azteca

Last night I went to my first Mexican soccer game at Estadio Azteca (one of the worlds largest soccer stadiums - full capacity of 129,300 seats). The Mexican National Team was playing Paraguay and although the stadium wasn't full there were still about 80,000 people there.

Even though the game didn't begin until 9pm our evening started at 5:30pm when we left work and drove to the stadium. Leaving at 5:30pm turned out to be a good idea given that our commute to the stadium took 2.5 hours!!! Christian (the guy I work with who took us to the game) also wanted to make sure we got parking right at the stadium because he didn't want to be walking through the dark streets after the game with 3 gringos…a sentiment we all appreciated!

When we arrived at the stadium we were all starving, but Christian warned us about the 10 step tacos (once you eat then you can only make it about 10 steps before you need the bathroom) and suggested pizza instead! Pizza and beer…how authentically Mexican?

I know most of you have probably been to a professional game of sorts (basketball, hockey, football, etc.) and are likely aware of the types of items available at the concession stand…hotdogs, hamburgers, fries, popcorn, etc. Well at a Mexican soccer game things are a little different! In Mexico they sell tacos (of the 10 step variety), chips (but only spicy ones...even the Doritos only come is spicy and extra spicy), soup, doughnuts, and my favorite, pig skin…and I don't mean pork rinds! They actually sell boiled pig skin that is steeped in some questionable sauce. I'm guessing you all now know why Christian suggested pizza!

Although I was the only one from our group who was actually interested in watching the game as well as taking in the atmosphere we all still had a great time learning the songs, chants and cheers…all of which I either now don't remember or should not be posting on the blog! The good time was probably helped along by the quick friendship we established with Marta, our friendly neighborhood beer lady. Whenever I ordered "una cervesa pequeña" (a small beer) she always came back with "una cerveza grande" (a large beer)…which is probably why my head hurts a little today.

After the game it was pure madness! I have never seen such as crazy state in a parking lot…not only were cars all over the place, but they were all going in different directions creating mass chaos. Eventually we made it to the exit, but still encountered traffic the entire way back to the hotel…we were lucky though, the ride home was only 1.5 hours!!!

Oh yeah, Mexico lost 1-0.