...or leave it

---

Having enjoyed a good night's rest, I decided that since I was in Johannesburg, I should probably take a look around. Now Joberg doesn't have a very good reputation, so armed with that knowledge, and my new friend Holk, I decided to go exploring.

Holk and I walked from our hostel down the hill to the Eastgate shopping center. Strangely, much of the social activity round these parts centers in shopping malls. Not so much my cup of tea, but when in Joberg......

There is a sort of interesting open-air market near the mall, and we went in to take a look. After walking around for a bit we decided it was time for a cup of coffee and grabbed an outdoor table at Cafe International. We had no more then sat down when the sky opened up yet again, and scared the pants off me with the loudest clap of thunder I have ever heard. Then...somehow...it started to hail. REALLY hail. This still baffles me, as it must have been in the upper 70's, but the marble sized hale persisted, and eventually chased us inside the cafe. The storm lasted about 40 min, just long enough to enjoy lunch and a couple cups of coffee before we headed back out into the soggy streets.

After getting our fill of the market, we grabbed a cab to the main train/bus station, called Park Station. Our cabbie was very pleasant, and as we pulled up to the station he very sternly instructed us, "you see that door? Go directly through that door. Directly through that door. Do not stop until you get in the door. You understand?" We assured him we understood, and with a bit of trepidation got of the cab and headed directly through the door. Holk bought a train ticket, and I bought a bus ticket. With all our business done, we went directly back through the door and grabbed a cab.

Via a bit of a misunderstanding with the cabbie, we ended up in Game City, which is across the street from the Apartheid Museum (which was closed). Our cabbie convinced us that since we had come all the way out there we should at least see Game City, we agreed, and went inside. Ugh. It was a huge casino. HUGE. And felt like every casino I have ever been in in my life. After taking a quick walk around, we escaped back into the sunshine.

Next we headed to Melville (after a brief stop so our cabbie could pay his rent), the only really "cool" section of Joberg. Upon arrival we strolled the short street, and found a nice cafe to have coffee and a dessert. Realizing that it would soon be getting dark, we headed out of the cafe in search of a cab.

And here is the lesson...don't look for a cab. You won't find one. Have a cab called. Because what happens if you don't do that? You get mugged. That's right. What visit to Joberg would be complete without having something stolen from you. As we were looking for a cab, 2 young boys jumped in front of us, demanded our cell phones (neither of us had one) then grabbed my shoulder bag. After exchanging some curt words I decided it was best to let them have it and they scurried up a path into the brush.

Now....while it is very unsettling to have that kind of thing happen, it does give me great pleasure to know that this is what they stole: a travel book on Southern Africa, a calendar, a journal I hadn't used yet, 2 pens, and the train ticket (which was replaced for free the next day). Heh. Hope they can read, because otherwise their bootie was worthless. My wallet, passport and camera were all on my person. Aw yeah.

Holk and I finally found a cab and headed back to the hostel.

After having a bit of dinner, I went on a brief drive around Joberg with a local fellow and a couple travelers. We were headed back to Melville when we were pulled over by the cops. Seems they were drunk and trying to "fine" the driver so they could get more beer. Fortunately the fellow driving was wise to their ways and as he was getting back in the car (having surrendering no money), he told them to meet us at the bar for a drink.

The drink was uneventful, and we headed back to the hostel.

Needless to say, I'd had plenty of adventure for the day and retired to bed, and very restless sleep. I finally slept with the knowledge that I would see Jerry the next day.

---

Comments

[bijo]

...LOL
Your article was quite amusing, you got the full 360 on SA, you can't say you've experienced SA until you've been mugged.