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Hey Everyone,
Time for the first entry in this journal of mine. It has been one week - almost to the very hour - that I left Calgary for what I had thought would be sunnier shores. Upon arrival (some 30 hours later), however, I was not greeted by sunshine but by cloud, rain and a fierce headache.
I will admit that my first impressions of Cape Town were not overly favorable. Within minutes of making it to my hostel and starting to explore the city I was accosted by numerous beggars. The first few weren't particularly bad, but when you're followed and threated that 'without suitable payment, friends will not be so nice' you do take a little notice. You don't oblige the request, but you do take a little more notice. Those are first impressions though...
The Cape Town I've gotten to know over the week isn't like that, so long as you know how to handle yourself it can be a very peaceful, gracious, generous and beautiful place. It is also a city (and part of a country) that has undergone a dramatic revolution over the last 50+ years. Under an 'apartheid system' (racial segregation)
beginning in 1928 and lasting into the '90s, the predominantly white government began implementing a plan to discriminate and divide the races. Blacks and coloreds (mixed race) were forced to carry government documents, get passes to go into certain areas of the city and were... to put it kindly prejudiced against. This culminated in the forced segregation of the races in the '60s whereby the government divided up parcels of empty land and started forcefully relocating people to them. These places became known as townships. One instance of forced eviction was in an area called District 6 to make it a 'white only' territory. People were taken from their established lives and neighborhood, split from their neighbors and everything they knew, and moved into poorly constructed and poorly planned neighborhoods. In many respects ruining their lives... The townships still exist, however, they are not the violence plagued, poverty stricken places they once were. Although not well off by any stretch of the imagination 'the community' mentality has healed. I visited two not a few hours ago, and though most of what I saw I still haven't processed from anything more than a purely superficial "This is how they live" perspective,
I can say that what I did see was happiness. I did see a community. I did see people that care about one another, and that is an amazing thing to see.
The cultural perspective is but one of many perspectives to be witness to in Cape Town. It is also a city of tremendous natural beauty. This morning I climbed the nearby Table Mountain, which by Alberta standards wasn't a particularly challenging climb, but enjoyable still. Yesterday I took a day tour up to Cape Point. For less than $40 our tour guide took us from 9am to 6pm, exploring seal island, the south african penguin colonies, the southern tip of Africa and up on to Cape Point. It was a tremendous visual experience that I can't possibly recap in words. I've posted some photos, they may do it a little more justice. The city itself offers most modern conveniences, boasts typical city attractions, some great restaurants and a few decent bars.
Tomorrow will be my last day here before I head up to Tanzania in the evening. Up until this point I've enjoyed myself immensely. The weather has improved (I'm a little bit sunburned because of
it) and I've traveled with some great people from around the world. On now to Tanzania, and my volunteer experience.
Hope all is well back home.
Michael
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Looking on to Seal Island
Monika
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You stink...
Yes you do. I hate that photo of the ocean and your feet...jerk.... Looks like you're enjoying your "leave of absence". Have a great trip and I cant wait to read more!! Stay safe out there, Mon