Dm41fan

Thursday's start included a very early morning work session with the CSR team where I was able to share the emotional township tour. Since this group is shaping the charitable arm of our organization, it was decided that we should start by leaving a legacy right in Cape Town. More to come on that. Thursday was a full day booked on large coaches for a tour of the country side and southern coast line. We made our way south around the west coast of Africa. We stopped in Camps Bay for an Adrenalin Boat ride and a visit to an off the coast sea lion colony. The speed boats were equipped with saddle type seats and fit about 15 people each. Our boat had twin 200 HP outboard motors and hauled ass! The bay was foggy ... read more

Today's activity was optional and among the choices was a tour of the local townships. Townships consist of the old segregated areas of Cape Town that were created as a result of Apartheid. Apartheid, also known as the Forced Removal Period, was the government sponsored separation of people by color. Whites were given access to the best homes, schools, and neighborhoods. Non-white people of Malasian, Indian, or mixed origin were called Colored and given slightly better housing and more privilege. African black people, who made up 80% of the population, were given almost no rights and evicted from their homes and moved into settlements outside of the city. All of this happened in the late 1940's and into the 1960's. On this tour we visited the oldest township Langa, meaning sun. We were greeted by a ... read more

Day two in Cape Town! Woke early for our first Ambassadors meeting and laid the ground work for the rest of the week. I am on the Corporate Social Responsibility project and am tasked with defining the social outreach side of our new company. Super excited! Enough about work! Awesome day outside of the Waterfront area and out into the country itself. Started with a bus trip up to Signal Mountain for a look at the town from 3000ft. The weather continues to be unseasonably warm for this time of year, but compared to back home it’s great. Signal Mountain was incredible and had views all around of the Western Peninsula and Cape. The drive up was scary as it was a very narrow, winding road with a lot of blind corners and no guard rails. ... read more

After crashing at 3:00am local time (8:00pm EST) I woke up rested and ready to venture out for the first time. This part of Cape Town is very westernized and is a hot spot for tourists. The Table Bay Hotel is connected to a large mall and the waterfront district is full of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shoppes. The hotel cafe has an amazing view of Table Top Mountain (named for its flat top) and today is about 100F which is very hot for this area. In the photos you have a nice view of Table Top Mountain, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront district, and a ferris wheel which arrived for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has stayed. Yes the cars on the ferris wheel are air conditioned! Seals are very people friendly and crowd ... read more

Hello from Amsterdam, Netherlands! After a 9 hour overnight flight I have completed the first leg of my journey to Cape Town, South Africa. We left Atlanta at 5:30 pm and lost 6 hrs in flight so its now 8:30 on Sunday morning. First Class is definitely the way to go, although I don't suggest watching Hangover 2 while seated next to a stranger as random bursts of laughter are disturbing. Next flight is 11 hrs which will be a test of my will and my seat mate as I hope to watch Horrible Bosses and Season 3 of Parks and Recreation so more bahahahaha moments are eminent. Joined the rest of the North American team that flew in from San Fran and Montreal. So blessed to work for such a class organization! Miss my Shelly, ... read more