Durban!!!!!

These are pics from Durban a coastal city on the Indian Ocean (East SA)...amazing weather...and I finally got my run in ;) (one more continent checked off of my running bucket list)...the pics are from various places in the coastal city...including the land of 1000 hills (even in the foggy rain was still beautiful) where Alan Paton was inspired to write Cry the Beloved Country...

Ghana game...front row seat...BLACK STARS (still) shining!!!

These are pics from the Ghana v. Germany game...with the best seat in the house!!! had a great time with the Ghana bredren and sistren, even though Ghana lost got to see some world class soccer...and hopefully a future CHAMPION!!! Soccer City was an amazing cite...it made the Giants Superbowl in Phx look like childs play...I sat about 30 feet from the field...got to meet the Ghana coaches from years past as well...I understand why soccer is the most popular sport in the world...btw...sorry US team, black stars trump white stars and bars... ;)

SOWETO...Mandela House...Speechless...

Today was an emotional day! I feel inspired and revived after seeing the South Africa I have been waiting for!!!! I finally got to touch the people...don't get me wrong SA is an amazing country that really leaves you not wanting anything from home, but I wanted to see what the people are doing and where they live...So Soweto and Jo'Burg was the destination...got to visit Mandela house...(it was amazing to stand in the house Nelson and Winne raised their family in), ride over the Mandela Bridge (Ke Nako= We are ready)and went to Jo'Burg-New Town to watch Ghana hold it down for Africa...(would have been nice to get the win...but hopefully I will see a win against Germany on Wednesday in Person in Soweto)...stay tuned...and btw check out the "photo dump" page and look for the upcoming "video dump" ;)...thanks for following the journey...

As I remain...

Rx

this was a nice welcome home...to the real S Africa which I was waiting to see...

Ok...tomorrow...a new day...

Ok...so today was a bust...had to work all day so no Soweto :(...but no worries we will go tomorrow ;)...so instead we went to the mall and met some locals and went to watch the US game with them...was nice to get the feel of some local peeps :)...can't believe Kobe won (boooooo!)...Ghana needs to win tomorrow...

world wind....

not a lot to report...was hard at work today...headed to Jo'Burg and Soweto tomorrow...loving the international flavor of my hotel and the world cup...as for an update...Nigeria :(...Mexico ;) Viva la Raza!!!...NBA finals...I promise a nice gift from S. Africa to the 1st person who sends me a message that the Celtics won!

Up early in the Morning...

Sooo...was busy today with work...so not much to report...saw a beautiful (but brisk) sunrise...then off to work...for all those who are USPHS-CCorps following or who know what I do...the one pic is our SA counterpart...pretty cool to be working with them acutally...I'm blessed to be back helping the Continent nearest and dearest to my heart...maybe some touristy (is that a word ;P) tomorrow...Bafana Bafana tried at least...Happy Youth Day S Africa! Remember the Soweto uprising....how quickly we forget those historical moments...

a room with a view...

just a few pics from my room...it was cold today so I didn't get out much...but I will tomorrow regardless! Bafana Bafana!

Home Cooking!?

Today...back on the grind...but did make it to the US Embassy (Obama pic)...and also had a chance to get some taste of the US with a apple pie from Micky D's (first time in like 7yrs) - as an aside this 2nd pic is a quadruple decker burger aka "fan fuel" (this is not Public Health) ;P...tomorrow is a SA holiday so may have time to see more sites...as for the cup Côte d’Ivoire tied today (made me proud) and be sure to catch Bafana Bafana! tomorrow (it's gonna be bananaz here)...more tomorrow I promise...until then...Se' Afrik!

a lil more from day 2...

two more pics from day 2...still going...and still not adjusted to the 6hr time difference...hoping the Lions and the Elephants win today ;)

It was a good day...

An eventful day...first day at work with SA...great day seeing some WC sights...and some great food at a local spot named MOYA...great food, more beautiful sights and people...and it's only day 2!!!! AND GHANA WON!!! West Africa STAND UP!!!! ;p
Working hard, but loving my time...got to see more sites today and had some great food (all my foodies know what I mean...maindishes and desert yum) got my face painted and got to listen to some nice SA sounds...and took a pic with the WC mascot...also got some vuvuzelas! ;)

Touchdown!

Made it in safe after the marathon plane ride...airport is nice...city was lit up like any US city...more pics tomorrow, but I am speechless with the beautiful people and sites I've seen already...ahhhh it's good to be HOME!

the video isn't great (just a lil taste of what the ride into Pretoria was like)...but MORE to COME (promise ;)

What's the word?....

Johannesburg...all packed and ready to head out this evening...15 hour flight...can't wait to be back in the motherland...will post my first impression pics ASAP...