Today was Human Rights Day in South Africa which celebrated the end of apartheid. It was a perfect day to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 17 years. Took the ferry to the island. We were met by a bus and a former inmate (political prisoner) who summarized the events of Mandela's imprisonment. The bus drove us around desolate Robben Island. We saw the Limestone Quarry where he served hard labor. We toured the cell block where he had been incarcerated and saw his cell. It was very sobering. Took the ferry back to Cape Town.
We skipped the tour of the Diamond Museum and salesroom. Chuck and John had made it clear that they were not interested in purchasing diamonds today. Instead, we enjoyed a non-hurried lunch. At 2 PM, we met the group for the Cape Town Cultural Township Tour. Met our guide and boarded a smaller bus - perfect for our group of 18. Stopped at the District 6 Museum which was in a historic Methodist Church. The museum memorialized District 6 which was home to a multi-cultural population prior to the beginning of Apartheid. When apartheid was declared the blacks were moved 20 miles away to a township. District 6 was demolitioned.. Next we traveled to the township where the blacks were moved to. Our guide pointed out where his family had lived. We visited a craft shop which also taught crafts. We visited the pottery class. We visited the music class where we learned to play the 'bongo' drum and each had our own drum to play except for John who played the mirimba. It was fun. Back on the bus. Drove by where women were preparing sheeps' heads for sale. They dunked the sheeps' heads in boiling water to remove the fur/skin, then cooked the head, removed the brain, tongue, and meat for sale, etc. Looked rather bizarre, but their product sold and they made money. We moved on to visit a home where several families lived in the buildings that used to house the migrant workers. One lady was sitting in the 'great room' doing laundry, another was making supper. Each small room contained a family, a stove, refrigerator and a bed. It was very compact. Taking pictures felt very intrusive. We continued and walked (watch where you step) to the bus. Saw some women processing cows' heads. Visited a woman making beer for sale. On to see the medicine man (healer) who was making potions for customers. By this point we were gritty and exhausted. Time to call it a day.
We skipped the tour of the Diamond Museum and salesroom. Chuck and John had made it clear that they were not interested in purchasing diamonds today. Instead, we enjoyed a non-hurried lunch. At 2 PM, we met the group for the Cape Town Cultural Township Tour. Met our guide and boarded a smaller bus - perfect for our group of 18. Stopped at the District 6 Museum which was in a historic Methodist Church. The museum memorialized District 6 which was home to a multi-cultural population prior to the beginning of Apartheid. When apartheid was declared the blacks were moved 20 miles away to a township. District 6 was demolitioned.. Next we traveled to the township where the blacks were moved to. Our guide pointed out where his family had lived. We visited a craft shop which also taught crafts. We visited the pottery class. We visited the music class where we learned to play the 'bongo' drum and each had our own drum to play except for John who played the mirimba. It was fun. Back on the bus. Drove by where women were preparing sheeps' heads for sale. They dunked the sheeps' heads in boiling water to remove the fur/skin, then cooked the head, removed the brain, tongue, and meat for sale, etc. Looked rather bizarre, but their product sold and they made money. We moved on to visit a home where several families lived in the buildings that used to house the migrant workers. One lady was sitting in the 'great room' doing laundry, another was making supper. Each small room contained a family, a stove, refrigerator and a bed. It was very compact. Taking pictures felt very intrusive. We continued and walked (watch where you step) to the bus. Saw some women processing cows' heads. Visited a woman making beer for sale. On to see the medicine man (healer) who was making potions for customers. By this point we were gritty and exhausted. Time to call it a day.
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