I love seeing Chileans happy.

I mean, I love seeing everyone be happy. But especially in Chile, where I feel like people are often just kind of muddling along, where the ecstacy meter doesn’t budge off of not really, seeing people be elated is extra super special.

Which is what found me waking up at 6:45 (in the morning, in the dark, in the cold, oh please throw me a pity party) to hop on my bike and ride over to Plaza La Constitución, (opposite La Moneda) to stand in the cold and take pictures like this:

and this:

You see, it was Chile vs. Honduras this morning in the World Cup, Chile’s inaugural game of the 2010 world cup (Spanish lesson: Copa Mundial, not to be confused with the Copa Cabana (her name was Lola, am I alone here?))

And people were out in their silly hats:

and wigs:

and oh, they painted little flags on their faces (no star)

and here (with star!)

or maybe even their whole face

and otherwise trotted out their patriotism

and then we all shouted gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool, and it was good

And this man talked to his son on the phone about how fabulous it was

And it started to rain, but just a little. And the game ended without Honduras pulling a tie (but without Chile scoring again, which they really, really should have). And we all headed to Plaza Italia

and here we are at Chile’s ground zero for anything happening

where as always, there was visible police presence

and I had to run, because I had to get work, but that’s okay, because I got to meet Felipe. That’s this man’s pooch. Also dressed up for the occasion.

And everyone, but everyone, was elated. I’d wake up at 6:45 AM in the freezing dark for that most days. Well worth it. Chi-chi-chi-le-le-le!

More photos in this Chile World Cup set on my flickr page.

And Margaret of Cachando Chile has something to say in her post, Goooool Chile! First World Cup Win, too. And no, we didn’t plan that. We’re just brainwave sisters sometimes.