A Trip to Jo-burg

Friday morning marked the beginning of our "free weekend."  Over the last week, I was looking into the possibility of going to Jo-burg and meeting up with a cousin of my friend (who I met while I was in London years ago).  He had given me her email address before I came and put us in touch.  I reached out to her once I was here and though she offered me the chance to stay with her, upon finding out that she's 39 weeks pregnant, decided it would be easier if I booked a hotel so I wasn't in her way.  I know how stressful entertaining a house guest can be (let alone one you've never met!) and didn't want to inconvenience her so soon before she gives birth. We thought some others from the group might join, but it ended up being just me and my roommate, Jessica.

It was nice to not have to wake up super early for once- after a week of primary and secondary school visits, I'm pooped.  You'd think I don't do the early wakeup all year with the rate at which I was yawning.  We had a leisurely breakfast then made our way to the Gautrain (2 blocks from our hotel).

The train was just about to pull away but we made it on to it.  Took the train 5 stops to Sandton- about 30 minutes.  It's basically the financial center of Johannesburg.  We were about a 4-5 minute walk from the train to our hotel.  When we came across it, though, we thought for sure we were in the wrong place.

The hotel we are staying at in Pretoria is in the same hotel group and class as this one, but this one was jaw-dropping, at a really moderate price too- especially when you figure we split the cost of the room between the two of us.  


Upon confirming that we were, in fact, in the right place, we were allowed to check-in early.  We explored the hotel, surrounded by beautiful gardens and a pool, and settled into our room.  More jaw-dropping.  It was easily twice the size of the room here, had a great layout, a separate shower (with jets) and tub.  

Our room at the Balalaika Sandton

Lobby in the hotel

Just some of the gardens from our window

Me and Jessica on our mini-vacay

The pool at night

We dropped our stuff and headed to a local craft market that we passed on the walk from the train.  It had a lot of little things we hadn't seen before.  We shopped a bit and headed back to the hotel to wait for our tour guide who was picking us up for a half-day city-tour of Jo-burg.

As it turned out, he was there early- waiting for us.  It ended up being just the two of us, so was inadvertently a private tour, which was pretty cool.  He told us the itinerary was flexible, therefore.  So we started off by heading out to Mandela's former home (from when he was president) and then a little ways over to his current home with his wife Graca.  There were displays of flowers, cards, and the like just outside the home.  Otherwise, unlike the hospital visit, it was pretty empty save for us.

Mandela's house when he was president

Displays outside Mandela's current home, many from school children

Madiba's the name of his family's clan, hence the nickname

We drove a bit further to the Munroe Drive viewpoint in the suburb of Houghton.  The view was astounding and the houses in the area were enormous.  They all had huge walls surrounding them, complete with electrified fences, home security systems, and even guards standing out front.

We then headed to Constitution Hill and got a tour of the Old Fort Prison- where both Mandela and Gandhi were held at different points either to serve time or while awaiting trial.  Our guide came along for this portion but we were also joined by a guide from the site itself.  She took us through the prison and explained what life was life for the inmates.  There was also a temporary exhibit on Gandhi's experiences in South Africa.  

One of the four remaining staircases of the old Fort Prison, with a cell for prisoners awaiting trial below

Entry into "number 4" the black men's prison

Isolation cells, rumor has it the third from the right is haunted

In choosing the site of where the new Constitutional Court of the newly democratic South Africa would be, they intentionally chose the area right next to the Old Fort Prison.  Between them are the "Great African Steps," a walkway (made of bricks from the old prison) that takes people "from the past into the future" or from the prison into the court.  They chose the site where the prison would be visible so that they never forget the struggles their country endured.

The Great African Steps, with the prison to the left and the court to the right

The court itself was really interesting.  Outside, the court is labeled using the 11 official languages of South Africa.  The doors mark the 27 points of the new constitution.  Inside, it's really inviting- not nearly as stuffy as the buildings we use for our own government.  It's theme is about "justice under the tree," the traditional way people used to discuss and decide on important matters.  While it's the highest court in the land, anyone from the public can come and sit in on the proceedings.  You don't even have to show ID. The seats for the public are symbolically higher than the seats of the justices themselves.  The justices sit in a room that is built from old bricks from the prison with a clear pane of glass cut into the room at eye level.  When they are hearing trials, they have a sight-line to the people out on the plaza, a reminder of just whom they are serving.

Door to the Constitutional Court, carved to represent the 27 points of the S.A. Constitution

The entry shows the 11 official languages of S.A.- including English and Afrikaans (2nd from bottom)

The symbol of the court, "Justice under a tree"- includes 11 people and 11 branches to represent the official languages of S.A.

The Constitutional Court, with the line of clear glass at eye level behind the justices' seats

We did a drive around downtown Jo-burg after, seeing the Magistrate's Court, Mandela's first law practice, the infamous John Vorster Square (a detention and torture center during the time of apartheid), and even gained entrance into the exclusive Rand Club (if only for just a moment).

Young Mandela in his boxing days, outside the Magistrate Court

Hillbrow Tower, Johannesburg

The infamous John Vorster Square, now home to the police department

We made it back to the hotel and were starving- hadn't eaten lunch in all the excitement of the day.  We went for a quick small bite at the restaurant attached to the hotel.  I had amazing butternut soup- didn't want to eat too much because my friend's cousin was picking me up at the hotel in just a little bit.

My friend and her husband came to get me shortly after and we went for dinner together.  It was nice to have real food that isn't just fast food.  (One of the downsides to staying in the university neighborhood.)  We went to a local place near them which they had heard was good for dinner.  It was!  We had a nice time chatting- they were around my age give/take and we had a lot in common.  It was nice to get out and meet some new people.

After dinner they invited me back to their place for some tea. We relaxed, talked more, and had a nice night.  By the time we looked at our watches it was almost midnight!  5 hours had just about flown by.  They took me back to the hotel and I hit the hay.

The next morning we were picked up for a tour of the Lesedi Cultural Village.  This was a chance to see five local tribes from South Africa and learn about how they live.  We learned about their customs, traditions, beliefs, and even some words in the local languages.  We got to see what the traditional homes looked like and were treated to a dance show with live music at the end.  Following the tour we were served a traditional African feast.  There was even some crocodile and ostrich on the menu.  Ended the meal with some good ol' Malva Pudding.  We were stuffed and napped basically the whole ride back to our hotel.

Entrance to Lesedi Cultural Village

Before we headed back to Pretoria, we found Nelson Mandela Square, just a few minutes walk from where we were staying.  There was a 6m high Mandela statue there.  Epic.

Might be my fav pic of the trip- this was awesome!

One quick, sleepy train back to Pretoria later, we relaxed and took it easy. 

This morning we made it to a local craft/flea market across the street from us that happens each Sunday (incidentally this was the first Sunday we were actually here to see it).  After, a friend and I went to Church Square- home to the old parliament building and the Palace of Justice- then on to the national zoo.

Phew, it's good to finally be all caught up on my blogging!

Tomorrow the real work begins.  Blogging may be sparing as it's going to be a lot of research from here on out.

8 days left!

Maur