Caught up amid Cup partying in Madrid

By Rosa Studholme | 14th July 2010

An Oamaru woman on holiday in
Spain has found herself amid
tumultuous celebrations  in Madrid
for the Fifa Football World Cup-
winning Spanish team.

Scenes showing thousands of
Spaniards filling the streets were
beamed around the world yester
day and Kathy Hobbs was  there
 soaking up the atmosphere.

Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0
in the final that was played on
Monday morning New Zealand
time.

Mrs Hobbs' timing could not
have been better, her holiday itin
erary putting her squarely in the
winning team's homeland when
the crucial game was won.

She was on hand to take in a
five-kilometre open-air bus ride by
the heroes through the city's his
toric centre yesterday that
 was
also attended by hundreds of thou
sands of people lining the streets.

The experience had been
"amazing'', she said.

"[We are] staying only one kilo
metre from where the parade
ended. Huge celebrations _ very
noisy.''

She said the build-up had
started well before the big game.

"[There was] lots of pre-match
excitement, flags and hooters.

"Spanish television showed the
crowd hysteria.''

She said she had not experienced the hysteria first-hand while
the game was on but during the
night that followed could hear
horns and partying.