25 million U.S. viewers watched FIFA World Cup Finals on TV in July. I was one of the lucky 84,000 in Johannesburg’s Soccer Stadium, watching it in person.

Welcome! Our Coca-Cola entourage stayed at the luxurious “Palace of the Lost City.” Legend has it that the “Lost City” was the royal residence of an ancient civilization destroyed in an earthquake.

We were welcomed by Coca-Cola Chairmen and CEO Muhtar Kent and Doug Jackson, President of Coca Cola, China and Korea.

We took a three-hour bus ride to Sun City, called “Africa’s Kingdom of Pleasure.”

Sun City, a massive entertainment resort, is serious competition for Las Vegas and Disney. Hotel magnate Sol Kerzner (Bahamas Atlantis, and One and Only Resorts) was the creator.

The “Palace of the Lost City” is a fantasy world of African jungles, gardens spilling down cliffs, streams, waterfalls and pools, and entertainment.

At breakfast and lunch daily, the Crystal Court featured a bountiful African-influenced buffet with bands or pianist playing.

Breakfast on the terrace, overlooking the mountains and the swimming pool.

With all the wonderful meals, dining and the late afternoon tapas bar at the Tusk Lounge, many of us felt obliged to hit the gym!

Soweto Youth League entertained us with African music and dance.

At the Palace, media icon Yue-Sai Kan checked out the local handicrafts.

Africa is famed for its diamonds and jewelry.

“Zakumi” is a cute and sporty leopard with green hair and the official World Cup mascot. ZA is the international Code for South Africa and ‘kumi’ means 10 in various African languages…and it’s fun to say.

Spanish supporters, ready to board the bus for the drive to Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium.

The stadium was packed with throngs of Dutch, many dressed in orange and some in wacky getups. They far outnumbered the Spanish fans in red and yellow, but that ended up not mattering.

Yue-Sai Kan, leaving the hospitality suite to the stadium for the final match. Thanks to her, Coca-Cola extended their hospitality to me as part of the Shanghai official group.

Everyone caught the spirit!

Entertainment included pop star Shakira’s hip-shaking rendition of the World Cup’s anthem, “Waka Waka” (This Time for Africa).”

A performance by dancers wearing the colors of all 32 competing nations ended with a colorful display of the nations’ flags.

When giant white elephants marched in a line onto the field heading toward a fantasy water hole, we were open-jawed…until we realized they were puppets.

A thunderous ovation greeted 92-year-old icon Nelson Mandela when he and his wife, Grace Machel, rode onto the field in golf cart. As he waved, the vuvuzelas buzzed throughout the stadium and South Africans showed their pride.

In the 2009 biopic “Invictus,” Morgan Freeman as Mandela uses the 1995 World Rugby Cup, to unite the country. South Africa, hosts of the event, took the top prize. Its slogan was “One Team, One Country.”

Some of the Coca-Cola entourage.

Coca-Cola Asia President Glenn Jordan with wife Carolina.

More supporters.

It was thrilling for me to report from Johannesburg on my first World Cup experience for the New York Social Diary.

Yue-Sai Kan’s Chinese fans recognized the television personality and asked her to autograph their football.

The real World Cup action occurred in the 116th minute, when Spain’s Andres Iniesta took a pass and put a shot out of reach of Holland’s goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Spain, a three-time finalist, won its first World Cup and defeated the Netherlands. Everyone buzzed about “Paul the Octopus,” the German oracle who predicted the winner of eight matches.

When the final whistle blew, Spain won 1-0 in an extra-time victory.

Ecstatic Spanish fans blew thousands of deafening vuvuzelas (which some want outlawed!).

For the women, the big attraction was Iker Casillas, a 29-year-old from Madrid, voted the World Cup’s top goalkeeper. Sadly (for us), Casillas is taken—by TV reporter Sara Carbonero.

Yue-Sai Kan and I were happy with the outcome.

The grand finale for the World Cup 2010.

As you can see, it was a big celebration!

We arrived back late at our ‘Palace” after a full day; we slept all the way home.

Post-ride, we perked up after hot soup and snacks in the lobby. Some of us headed for the Tusk Bar…to discuss business (of course).

A few hit the Hollywood Slots for a little fun and were amused to watch Chinese gamblers order hot tea—so unlike the Las Vegas crowd that enjoys all the free booze.

We gathered at the outdoor Royal Amphitheater to hear a special performance by Somalian rapper K’NAAN.

K’NAAN won the competition for creating Coke’s World Cup 2010 anthem with “Wavin’ Flag,” a remixed selection from his 2009 album, Troubadour.

After the performance, we enjoyed a dinner at Club Jabulani “to celebrate” in the Zulu language, and watched (on TV) the 3rd and 4th place World Cup matches.

I was impressed by Somalian performer K’NAAN.

K’NAAN with Yue-Sai Kan, the Chinese media personality.

One morning we toured the Pilanesberg National Park, a game reserve, home to the “Big
Five”—leopards, lions, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.

At “The Elephant Wallow,” we could actually touch and feed elephants. Sadly, we hadn’t time for an elephant-back safari ride.

Returning from the game ride, I discovered my room had been ransacked. The culprits? Baboons! I’d closed the doors to my hotel room, as warned, but failed to lock them.

The clever baboons or monkeys ate all the candy in the mini-bar and drank all drinks, but not the alcoholic ones (surely, there’s a message there!), opened every bureau drawer, gone through the cosmetic bags, and eaten my breath mints.

A boma— a traditional South Africa “braai” or barbeque—is cooked, dude-ranch style, on a big open fire under the stars.

The African-influenced menu included pork spare ribs, ostrich medallions Creole rice, sweet potato with cinnamon, vegetable kebabs, and polenta.

Guests went wild when Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent sang onstage with the local African singers and dancers.

We were served refreshing Coca-Cola drinks, including some brands not distributed in the U.S. Steward and Kim Beck with Bill O’Brien and Gray Er.

I saw “The Bottle of the Future” with packaging that is made from 30% plant-based material and is 100% recyclable, and bottles that collapse to a smaller size launched in Japan. I hope it comes to America soon.

I stopped at the Coca-Cola Innovation area daily, fascinated by its new products: touch-operated vending machines with 100 beverages.

We took the two-hour flight to Cape Town, after spending time at the airport with our Brazilian friends Alexandre Biagi and Emerson Vontobel. Brazil will host the next World Cup.

Saying good-by to Johannesburg and thanks to Coca-Cola.

In Cape Town, our host Maurice Shawzin showed us the top sights, such as: Table Mountain, downtown, and Clifton and Camps Bay beaches.

The Cape Town World Cup Stadium, where more than 30,000 locals flocked for a last party and to watch the World Cup Final.

At Cape Point, the most southwesterly tip of the African continent. (We missed seeing the penguin colony.)

Lunching at a local fishing village at Kalk Bay, we felt as if we were in Maine.

From the vast seafood selection, we chose the seafood platter and chowed down on plates of lobsters and oysters.

Lady Linda Davis and interior designer Craig Caplan threw a dinner party in our honor.

We enjoyed shopping at Victoria Wharf, especially at The Safari Club, which features ostrich and crocodile bags, belts and other high-quality leather goods made by local artisans.

I was introduced to my new addiction, Biltong, a distinctive beef jerky devised by Dutch settlers and Africa tribesmen to preserve meat for long distance treks.

The One and Only, another Sol Kerzner gem, is contemporary and urban with African influences.

I never fail to check out hotel rooms; the ones here (and the bathrooms) are oversized and luxurious. There are even chests of drawers in the closets!

The bar with the view.

Yue-Sai Kan, Maurice Shawzin, our friend the doorman, and me.

The One and Only Resort is home to the first African outposts of two Michelin-star-winning celebrity chefs—Nobuyuki Matsuhisa (Nobu) and Gordon Ramsey (Maze). We dined at Nobu.

As Franschhoek (French Corner) was celebrating Bastille Day, the charming village was decked out in the tri-colors of the French flag. It was founded over 300 years ago by Huguenot refugees.

The main street is lined with churches, shops, galleries, antique stores, inns and gourmet restaurants—even a fromagerie and a chocolate factory.

Considered “the gastronomic capital of South Africa,” we stopped for croissants and French coffee at the award-winning restaurant in Le Quartier Français, a heavenly Relais & Chateaux property.

It was a lovely surprise to run into friends from the Coca-Cola trip, Emerson and Sylvie Vontobel of Brazil. They were visiting their friend Susan Huxter, owner of Le Quartier Francais.

Interior of the historic Boschendal Manor House.

We stopped at the Boschendal Manor House (1812), a museum that was formerly the country home of Cecil Rhodes (founder of the De Beers Diamonds and the man who funded the Rhodes Scholar program).

The Cape Winelands and vineyards in July, which is South Africa’s winter.

Located in Stellenbosch district, the exclusive retreat has 10 lodges, in the typically Cape Dutch style, with African influences, which are constructed of natural materials and sit amid the spectacular beauty of vineyards, mountains and exotic flora.

The Delaire Graff Estate is understated, chic, sophisticated, and perfect in every detail. There are several restaurants, a tasting room, and a spa.

After exploring the hotel, we arrived at the Tasting Room. The painting over the fireplace mantel is a collaboration by South African artists Robert Hodgins, William Kentridge, and Deborah Bell.

We tasted some of the award winning wines, among them the Delaire Sauvignon Blanc and Delaire Rosé Cabernet Franc that in 2009 Wine Magazine gave the highest rating in South Africa.

The tranquil rooms offer every imaginable amenity and spectacular views of the valley and vineyards.

As I headed to the airport I thought about all the beautiful things I wanted to see again and all that I had missed—including the chance to go on safari—and I vowed to return.