A map of our cycling adventure except we are going from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town followed by a safari in Kruger National Park.
Mon Nov 5 - Port Elizabeth
After a late start this AM we took a $3 Uber into the city proper to The Donkin which is the highest point in PE. Nelson Mandela is remembered everywhere in this city and there’s is an amazing monument called Route 67 on the top of the hill. There I should also a lighthouse that’s we climbed, of course, and oddly enough a pyramid that is a memorial. We then wandered the town taking a couple of museums and looking about at some of the older structures. We accidentally found another amazing exhibit to Mandela called 67. It is a series of beaded works done by various women’s artists representing the 67 years he dedicated to public service and the improvement of life for all Africans regardless of race, creed or colour.
Tim at the Donkin with the lighthouse and the pyramid in the background. The pyramid was built as a memorial to a woman named Elizabeth who died young. The Port was named after her as well.
NOTE I HAVE STARTED ADDING NEW ENTRIES AT THE BEGINNING SO YOU DONT HAVE TO SCROLL TO THE BOTTM TO SEE WHAT IS NEW.
Today we departed for Port Elizabeth the city from which we begin our cycling adventure. We spent our last morning in Cape Town wandering about and visiting the Castle of the Cape of Good Hope. A good idea because the winds returned today plus Table Mtn, while open, was covered in dark cloud so zero visibility. We have been lucky with the weather so here’s hoping it continues. The castle was built in the 1600s on the water front to defend Cape Town. It is a classic 5 sided fort similar to the Citadel in Halifax. We also just happen to come across the location where Nelson Mandela first addressed the nation after his release from prison.
An example of the old architecture of Cape Town. It is not unlike and Australian Queenslander building.
I know that there has been no mention of cycling but it will come in do time. At the moment we are adjusting to 9 hours of time change and 40+ hours of travel. We arrived in Cape Town about noon local time and settled into the hotel for a short rest. Later in the afternoon we wandered the community garden, the city and the water front. It was extremely windy today so there was no point in trying to go up table mountain but I did get a couple of nice photos.
A view of the famous Table Mountain with the cloud (table cloth) on top.
Today was a busy day. We started the day about 10 AM with a circuit on the hop on hop off bus. The route took us along the east coast from the main city. Once we completed the circuit we went to Table Mountain to take the cable car to the top. The ride was only 5 min in duration but we had to queue for 40 min to get on the car with 40 other people. This was not bad because the wait in the AM was 2 hrs. The cable car was very interesting because the floor rotated so everyone got the 360 degree view. Once on top we wandered about taking in the amazing view. We descended later in the afternoon and took the bus back to the waterfront. Tim dragged me to the modern art museum. The building, a converted grain elevator, was very interesting but the art not so much. On the way back to the hotel we stopped for a cocktail and dinner in a very interesting bar called The Twankey.
So do you think it is windy here, just look at the sideways tree.
Today was a truly amazing day. We started with a visit to the Langa Township the home for many blacks. In SA they separate blacks from coloureds based upon a historical past but things are slowly changing. The biggest challenge in the Capetown area is housing so the townships are very crowded with many shacks in shanty towns. It is sad to see but there are cultural and historical reasons why it is what it is. (To difficult and complicated to explain here) Nonetheless the townships exist and something needs to be done but it is going to take government action and cultural adaptation to be successful. While touring this area we never felt threatened indeed we felt welcomed. We got a very good understanding of the history between the Dutch, English, and Africans who lead to today. Apartied only started in 1948 after WWIIand strongly influenced by the Nazi regime complete with personal documents for all black/coloured people. The documents were called “dom pass” meaning “stupid pass” so you know what the whites thought of the blacks. You could go to jail if you did not carrry your book at all times.
In afternoon we went to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Our tour guide was a former political prisoner who had spent 7 years at Robben Island. He explained that his 6 months in detention were far worse than his 7 years in jail because he was repeatedly tortured while in dentention but not in prison. Robben Island in Dutch means the island of the seals since there were 1000s of seals here when the Dutch arrived. The island stareted as a provision point for ships and later became a prison for slaves, then common criminals and finally political prisoners such as Mandela.
A monument to several peaceful protestors who were killed when police opened fire on them. Ultimately the police chief was imprisoned and is still there today.
The lime quarry where the prisoners did manual labour often digging with their bare hands for hours per day in the hot sun. After the prison closed there was a reunion of former prisoners including Nelson Mandela. Mr Mandela quietly picked up a rock and dropped it here, he was followed by the others. Each rock represents a prisoner who did not survive.
Me with our wonderful and informative guide. As a former prisoner he lived the Robben Island experience yet he was not bitter rather hopeful for the future. Truly inspiring.
Deb HunterI'm going to be especially interested in this one. Christina did her semester abroad (5 months) in Pietermaritzburg, about an hour out of Durban, and traveled extensively in SA, including Kruger. This should be a fabulous adventure. A word to the wise - watch out for the monkeys! Reply to this comment 5 years ago
Jim HaileLooking forward to seeing you peddle past a lot of wildlife. Just remember, don’t be last in line. Reply to this comment 5 years ago
Gail JohnsonGlad you arrived safely and that you are get ready for the ride,. Bummer about the wind,, could see the flag at attention in one of your photos. Looking forward to reading about this adventure. Reply to this comment 5 years ago
Margaret KavanaghAll is good. We are adapting to the time change and enjoying Cape Town. Tomorrow we are off to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner. Mon we head to Port Elizabeth to meet up with the cycle tour group. Reply to this comment 5 years ago
Carol DunlopLooking forward o following Alaina on your journey. Bummer about wind. We were able to climb up and down Table Mnt when we were there. Are you doing the wine route? Reply to this comment 5 years ago
Jim HaileLove the pictures. South Arrica looks fabulous. You and Tim look like you are having fun. Reply to this comment 5 years ago
Gail JohnsonYou are truly seeing it all. Your commentary and photos of shanty town and the prison are most moving. Loved Tim's picture that he bought and the views from Table Mountain are breathtaking. Reply to this comment 5 years ago
Steve Miller/GrampiesHi we would love to follow your blog but are finding it too confusing to read. Perhaps if you would make a new entry for each day rather than having one long run on entry it would be easier for readers to follow. This seems to be how most writers use this site. Hope you can make the switch over to one entry for each day so we can go back to the start and read progressively along. Reply to this comment 5 years ago
