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.