Back to Jo'burg

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After the trials of actually getting to a hostel yesterday I wasn't in the mood for leaping out of bed at 7am for sightseeing and so my last day in South Africa passed rather quietly. I braved the weird bathroom set up, shower in one room, toilet in the next, sink on the outside wall! I went for breakfast in the kitchen area. I really like this new hostel - it's designed to look like a castle and it was quite novel to run down the steps from the battlements to the kitchen! I made myself breakfast and watched in bemusement as a very skinny couple got through 16 slices of eggy bread rolled in sugar between them! I relaxed around my room for most of the morning and then decided to walk to the shops in search of food. I was told at the bar/reception that there's a shopping centre about 10-15 minutes walk from the hostel. I dutifully set off following the instructions on my little map. I was surprised after about 10 minutes had passed to find I was still on apparently the same road as the hostel and I was already geting hot and tired. I bumped into a girl I recognised from the hostel and she said if I was heading to the shops she'd come with me. She said she'd already walked for 20 minutes and not found them and was just walking back to the hostel. With each other for company the walk didn't seem so bad and we strolled along chatting, so much so that we missed the turnoff and had to backtrack making the walk even longer for ourselves. It was nice to see a bit more of the local area. We passed a large park, and a river which would have been quite pleasant had it not been filled with rubbish and smelling rather foul. Even so, the walk ws considerably more than 10-15 minutes, and even if we hadn't got lost the walk would have taken us about an hour! I can't work out why the hostel would under-exaggerate so much. I mean if they told us it was a longer trip we might have paid for a taxi, I fail to see what gain they have from lying about how far we have to walk! We were very relieved to finally reach the shopping centre. I found the supermarket and my new friend tried to buy a mobile sim card before retracing our steps back up the long hill. With over two hours of walking/chatting we got to know each other fairly well. She actually used to live in South Africa for several years but is originally from Holland. She told me a lot about living in and getting around South Africa. It wold probably have been useful to meet her near the start of the trip!
We returned to the hostel and set up camp in the kitchen. While I was cooking one of the workmen came in and helped himself to my bread rolls! He looked so worried when I pointed out they were mine and not part of the free breakfast provided by the hostel. I told him not to worry, I'm hardly going to be able to eat them all before I leave anyway!
I spent the afternoon curled up on a sofa in a warm patch of sunlight streaming through the glass doors to the balcony. I read my book, briefly used the internet and mostly just relaxed. A few new people arrived and checked in and I got into conversation with a couple of the new arrivals, as well as my friend of the morning.
I retired to my room for the evening and sat out in the outside courtyard under the stars until it was time for bed before the rush of the morning's packing.

01/09/2009

I left South Africa today! I left for my flight with no hitches. I travelled to the airport with a German guy who's been living and working in a village in South Africa for the past 7 months. We parted ways at departures and I stood impatiently in a huge queue while the American passengers filed quickly though the check-in counters open solely to them. Why were the Americans getting special treatment?
The flight was quite pleasant although I was a bit late landing. Traffic was a problem leaving London but it is good to finally be home. I've had a wonderful month and some amazing experiences but I'm definitely ready to be home, and back with friends and family. I think for once I've had enough of travelling and will be glad of a bit of a break.

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Comments

[spidermiss]

Greetings from Patagonia!
Hi Anna, loved your South African Blogs. I need to return there at some point in the future especially to Cape Town. Viva Mexico!!! Dawn

[thetravelbugtribe]

16 slices of eggy bread?!
We're enjoyed reading your adventures, and are looking forward to the next ones. But maybe not as much as we are looking forward to our next adventures!

[AnnaAdventuring]

Where are you off to next then? Happy travels! :D

[thetravelbugtribe]

Havent picked a "where to next", half the fun is in discussing and deciding! Its the usual too many places and not enough time problems for us right now!