Too Good to Miss

These are views from Cape Point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. It is the southern most tip of the African continent. The coastal views were exquisite.

Robben Island

We got on a ferry to go to Robben Island that housed the political prisoners of the apartheid era including Nelson Mandela. The guides who toured us around the prison were themselves political prisoners during apartheid so they spoke of their heartfelt personal experiences and one could not help but notice what a challenge that must be. The forgiveness and reconciliation that had to happen to end such a cruel era in very recent history on the part of the guides was touching and amazing.

Nelson Mandela and many others were held prisoner for opposing apartheid. Mandela spent twenty seven years in this cell before being released in 1990. In 1994 he became president of South Africa, the first black president of that country.

Cape Town, July 20th - 26th

We spent a week in Cape Town, which is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. This city thrives on tourism. It felt much safer to me and although crimes rates are high you can still walk around at night and feel relatively safe. There are many fine restaurants and craft markets at the waterfront and many touristy things to do. We explored fabulous hikes and beaches as well. Table Mountain is seen in the background of this photo.

We were able to see some street music from many different cultures. South Africans celebrate diversity and one of the neat things about Cape Town were there are so many cultural groups living together.

First Impressions

Arriving in Johannesburg was like arriving in any other modern international airport. I exchanged American dollars for South African rand and we were off to Pretoria where Rose has made her home for the past year. We visited IDASA, an African Democracy where Rose works and met a variety of international people working on non-profits for different countries in Africa. Everyone was very friendly and in the evening we attended a cricket match. Sunnyside, Pretoria is not a place I would choose to live as everything must be locked, you lock yourself in and others out and to me it feels confining and strange. Pretoria is a very large city and the seat of the adminstative branch of government.

On Friday we traveled to Sebokeng, a township 100 km away. It is not at all common for white women to ride the taxis but Rose is able to speak Sesotho so we were okay. A man riding the taxi told us how he believed it is good to mix it up. The townships are many small houses grouped together. Most of the homes are constructed of cement and surrounded by iron fences or brick or cement walls. On the way to Sebokeng were many shanty towns where people lived that were shacks made of tin. Rose says they have grown in size over the past five years. Some people have little stands in front of their homes selling produce, oranges, potatoes, cabbages and squash. People also offer sevices like washing cars for a fee. We walked through the township and a man we met, Sylvester, offered to show us around. He pointed out the school, the library, the health clinic and the shops. The bottle shop (liquor store) was popular hang out.

Kale and I spent a day together at the park before I had to say good-bye.  It was hardest to leave him behind.  He will grow a lot in 5 weeks.