Cape town!
Its differnt than what I have seen and yet it is the same as where I am from. Its just like the Bay Area except a little different look. Its not like the “Africa” I knew and have come to know. Wow. The history, the culture. I am actually called colloured here. There is White, Colloured,and African
A hand painted collage of Nelson Mandella. Those are all hands!
Most of the Africans working here in town actually live in the surrounding townships and shanti towns. They travel into capetown on foot or by mini bus or taxi. One of the buses is called “the bus for us” meaning this bus will pick you up if you are an African.
The real Mama Africa restuarant! Awesome Murals.
Each mural was this cool
The racism here is hard to explain. Its different yet the same. Nobody questions it to much here. Seems like everyone has a ”knows their place” kind of a feeling. Like I said. Its hard to explain and understand. Don’t forget Apartide has just “recently’ begun to be “dismantled” Its amazing how much has changed here in such a short period of time.
There have definately been places and towns where the African resentment is felt clearly becuase you can almost cut through it with a knife and then there are places and towns where everyone is happy. THere is a big difference between the feel of the places and towns where the majority of the business are black owned and run vs. towns that are run by white only.
I am not explaining this a great as I could because I could really do a few Phd’s on it all.
We are staying at a back packers lodge called Ashanti. Its awesome and has everything we need for a low price. Hot and clean showers, Internet, Cafe, small heater, clean common use kitchen and its walking distance from every thing.
Cape town takes your breath away.
12 apostles in the background at a place called Camps Bay. Beautiful ocean town. Reminds me of Sausolito.They are breath taking
I am calling one of the 12 apostles, this one ,Mathew. Doesn't it look like Mathew?!
Table mountain. You can hike it or take a cable extension car up the mountain if the wind is not to bad.
On our way to table mountain. View of Cape town. Looks like the bay area.
We took a drive down the coast to Simons Town. This town was over taken by the JackAss penguins. They are all over and their numbers have been declining but the people are working hard to make sure their numbers increas.
As we passed Simons town we made our way down to the Southwesterly most tip of the African Continent. We went to the Cape of good hope and Cape point.
This was amazing. The south westerly most tip of Africa. ( I could not stop saying that when I was there) I never thought I would be standing at this spot. I look to the left and its the Indian ocean. To the right the Atlantic.
Southwesterly most tip of Africa!
Can you guess what wild animal hangs out at the Southwesterly most tip of Africa. Can you? Well I had no Idea that I would get to the southwesterly most tip of Africa and run into, none other than huge, collassal, wild Oschtrages. Thats right. They were all over. Roming free and mad if you tried to close. I can’t find my picture!!!1
Yes its a gravestone that I am leaning against of one of the many shipwrecks that happened here.
Whalespective!
After leaving the Cape of good hope it was hard thinking about what this site meant a few hundred yeas ago. To think, someone could have been hanging out on the beach and look up to say “oh look, its a slave ship” This was one of the entry points for slave ships coming and going. To think about it is really immense. That it actually happened here, just one of the many places on earth.
Cape town is interesting but it is also conflicting. Real life here can be very different depending on WHO you are.
One day I did a Township tour in the morning and in the evening. We visited two townships. Langa and Khyleshia. Kyleashia being the biggest of over 2 million people.
I will shop pictures and add comentary. Again. You have to experience it your self. Being with the people that live in the townships and shanti towns. Talking to them. Asking them about how they live, what their hopes are for themselves and their kids and just listening to them talk about life was unforgettable. I went into hostels, shacks, and reformed housing. All of these were in the townships. Please don’t forget that the waiters at the restuarants, my guide on the town ship tour and most of the Black poeple that I see come home at night to there townships. When I say Cape Town is conflicting its because of this.
As far as the eyes can see.
THe shacks do not have toilets in them. You see rows of toilets along the outskirts of the townships.
This is typical. Trash is everywhere you look and step. The burning of trash happens alot allong side of the townships or inside next to a shack. There is no garage service here.
One part of a 10 x 12 Hostil room that houses 16 people. This means three families in this one room.
This is a Grandmother and her Grand daugher. The Grandmother has been living in this Hostil for 40 years. A hostil is a big building with many rooms. This one had on the first floor, 6 rooms. Each room is about 10 feet x 10 feet and each room houses 3 families. So in each room there are three beds with belongings stacked in piles up, down, sideways and all around. The children usually sleep under the beds.
One outside sink is used by all families. Electricty goes to each room and that is where the one or two hotplates are used to warm and cook food for everyone who shares that room.
tThis is the other bed in that room and accroos from us is the third bed. Rememer 3 families live in this one room.
Another room that houses three families
Here and her family have been on a waiting list to get a reformed house, (a small area that is not shared in a building) They have been waiting for 14 years.
Ready for a picture at any moment
These guys followed me everywhere.
I am going to call this the goat place. Its a place of business. A popular spot in manytownships. Its where women get the goat heads ready.
If you have a sensitive stomach then you might want to turn away. These ladies boil, cut, scrape, ax, and eat and serve goats heads all day long.
As I left cape town I was glad to have been able to have a greater understanding of township life. I was also glad to leave because it just did not feel like “Africa”
The Soweto township World Cup Soccer Stadium. Its huge!
I have the video as well!
I am exactly where I want to be!
However, I never boxed professionally
Do you know what flower this is? I saw these everywhere.
