That’s how I watched Germany beat Argentina. Sitting with the engineers we can see the ESPN feed of the games. It’s patched to us from the IBC on our return path. Even though the screen is tiny, the image is great and I like watching and hearing the ESPN broadcast better than the local show here. Even though it’s the same “world feed” video wise, I like to hear two talents calling the game. And for that matter, it’s in English, not Portuguese like the games are often in the office.

In other exciting news, I played paparazzi today with two players on the Ghana team. They were in the mall shopping. I ran for a good 100 meters backwards getting video of them …walking. This was after we interviewed them. The whole thing really got my adrenaline going. That’s got to be a good thing. There’s nothing like seeing real newsmakers and covering it.

There was a Lamborghini outside the Michelangelo Hotel the other day. I thought these only existed in video games and movies!

And I was walking around yesterday and came across a sky bridge between the Sandton City mall and the Intercontinental Hotel. There was a nice view. And there’s my camera in the reflection….  See the sun? This is looking north!

In more than one sense, it’s been game on non-stop for the past nine days. Not only have their been three games a day, but work has taken me all over the place. From interviewing players, FIFA officials, major international football figures and Steve Nash and Ian Thorpe, to going on a safari, to attending the US-Slovenia game I’ve been keeping busy.

Through it all so far, one song has been stuck in my head. Much like “Beijing Welcomes You” at the Olympics there, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” by Shakira is omnipresent. The official World Cup song is pretty catchy and it never hurts to go into the big Sony Dome in Mandela Square and watch the music video in 3D. Here’s the 2D version:

But sitting around watching this is boring. Luckily, I’ve been able to leave the compound. Yesterday I went on a safari with Fernando Schwartz, the reporter I’m working with, and some ESPN International VIPs. It was pretty cool. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a bunch of photos because I was, after all, working, busy shooting the elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhinos and zebras. Not to mention cool birds and a bunch of other African wildlife.

And! I was fortunate enough to go to the US Slovenia game. It was a Ellis Park in Joburg not far from our offices here. We drove through downtown and I saw the MNU headquarters building straight from the movie. This is one of the highlights of my trip so far.

MNU Headquarters

I couldn’t ask for better seats.

Plus! I finally got to lay my eyes on some real 3D cameras. Well, 2D cameras put together to create 3D images. Cool!

Check out more photos here.