Updated Today: Culp Reports Live from South Africa

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Matt Culp, GoLocalProv Sports Contributor

South Africa Travelling

Today we left a rainy Cape Town and initially headed south toward Cape Point, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

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The drive along the coast was quite beautiful, but I have to admit a bit scary at times. They drive on the left hand side of the road in South Africa, which was awkward enough. Not to mention the fact that to your left was solid rock and to your right a cliff leading into the ocean. The Cape of Good Hope is right next to Cape Point and was quite a site. We ate at a restaurant in Cape Point and ironically we saw the same Algerian fans we had seen in Cape Town. Are the Algerians scouting the Americans?

From Cape Point we headed east and stopped at Boulders Beach to see some African penguins. Penguins in South Africa? That’s right, I guess it isn’t that much further to Antarctica. We finally made our way to George for the evening, which was eerily similar to the landscape of Colorado. George is the host city for Japan. On the drive there, we kept hearing updates from the Portugal vs. North Korea game in Cape Town. It’s too bad we weren’t at that game with Portugal dominating 7-0. However, this may mean the Brazil vs. Portugal game I am attending may be an uneventful tie with both teams playing to advance.

The guesthouse we stayed at in George didn’t even lock its doors. A little bit different than Cape Town, where everything was on lock down.

The next day we slept in and then headed off to Port Elizabeth.

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On the way we stopped at an ostrich farm and I rode an ostrich. Yes, you heard me right. Just like Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince of Persia. You can check that off my bucket list. We then made a stop at Jeffrey’s Bay, where Endless Summer was filmed, and caught the second half of the South Africa game against France. Everyone was supporting Bafana Bafana with their vuvuzelas but they came up short.

World Cup Recaps:

Portugal unleashes on North Korea with 7 goals. Can Cote d’Ivoire score 10?

Spain regains their form and dominates Honduras.

Chile benefits from a questionable read card and downs the Swiss.

Bafana Bafana downs Les Blues but its not enough to advance.

Mexico and Uruguay are the first to punch their ticket to the Round of 16.

USA vs Algeria:

Today is the big day for our boys as they match up today at 10 a.m. I think they will pull it out and make it to the next round. Donovan and Howard must play big. I know Altidore was feeling sick for yesterday’s practice, but he should be good to go for the game. Let’s Go USA! Remember to check back for updates on that game and others while I'm live in South Africa.