Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: December 2, 2012
With: Dave
While South Africa is one of the most beautifully stunning countries I have ever seen, it does have one rather large blemish on its reputation. Usually, the word that creeps its way into your head when you think of South Africa is Apartheid, when segregation laws classified every South African citizen as either white, black, or colored. These classifications determined every aspect of society, from where people lived to where they worked.
The thing that is the most difficult to wrap your min around is how recently Apartheid ended. This wasn't an era from the history books, it ended less than 20 years ago, within the lifetime of most adults in the country. While it would be incorrect to say that the former prejudices associated with Apartheid are gone, its uplifting to see how far they've come in the last two decades. Most people are really open to talk about what life was like during those times and almost proud to show how things have improved (though the extent varies based on who you talk to). Also, the country has done a really great job of not shying away from their past, but displaying it as an example of where they went wrong.
While there are many great museums displaying life under Apartheid, probably the most poignant is Robben Island. Sitting only 3 miles off the beautiful coast of Cape Town, it holds a dark past with one of the most infamous prisons for those that fought Apartheid, the most famous being Nelson Mandela.
When you take the boat to Robben Island from the waterfront, its hard to believe you're heading to a prison. The water is so turquoise blue and the view back on Cape Town is so beautiful, you feel more like you're on a tropical island.
Once you step off the boat, you are loaded onto a bus that drives you around the island. Approaching the gates, all the visions of paradise immediately disappear.
Most of the island remains fairly barren. Aside from the main prison, a few buildings and a quarry, the landscape is rustic and typical South African. Various animals inhabit the island, including penguins, seals and many types of birds.
When his children were allowed to visit him, they were kept in an adjoining building in these beds. Him and his wife wrote to each other regularly, and all their letters are on display in the house. It was really touching to see how much hope their letters had for each other.
Afterwards, the tour leads you to the actual prison where Mandela and several other prisoners were kept.
The last stop on your tour is the building that housed Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 year imprisonment.
When: December 2, 2012
With: Dave
While South Africa is one of the most beautifully stunning countries I have ever seen, it does have one rather large blemish on its reputation. Usually, the word that creeps its way into your head when you think of South Africa is Apartheid, when segregation laws classified every South African citizen as either white, black, or colored. These classifications determined every aspect of society, from where people lived to where they worked.
The thing that is the most difficult to wrap your min around is how recently Apartheid ended. This wasn't an era from the history books, it ended less than 20 years ago, within the lifetime of most adults in the country. While it would be incorrect to say that the former prejudices associated with Apartheid are gone, its uplifting to see how far they've come in the last two decades. Most people are really open to talk about what life was like during those times and almost proud to show how things have improved (though the extent varies based on who you talk to). Also, the country has done a really great job of not shying away from their past, but displaying it as an example of where they went wrong.
While there are many great museums displaying life under Apartheid, probably the most poignant is Robben Island. Sitting only 3 miles off the beautiful coast of Cape Town, it holds a dark past with one of the most infamous prisons for those that fought Apartheid, the most famous being Nelson Mandela.
When you take the boat to Robben Island from the waterfront, its hard to believe you're heading to a prison. The water is so turquoise blue and the view back on Cape Town is so beautiful, you feel more like you're on a tropical island.
Once you step off the boat, you are loaded onto a bus that drives you around the island. Approaching the gates, all the visions of paradise immediately disappear.
As you enter, a large mural to your left shows some of the first prisoners of Apartheid to arrive on the island.
Most of the island remains fairly barren. Aside from the main prison, a few buildings and a quarry, the landscape is rustic and typical South African. Various animals inhabit the island, including penguins, seals and many types of birds.
One stop while driving around is the Robert Sobukwe house. Sobukwe was a political dissident against Apartheid and while here, he was kept alone in this isolated building under solitary confinement, allowed only books and newspapers for entertainment.
His room was small and barren, with a barred view to the world outside.
This was all the land he was allowed to enjoy on his daily allotted walks.
When his children were allowed to visit him, they were kept in an adjoining building in these beds. Him and his wife wrote to each other regularly, and all their letters are on display in the house. It was really touching to see how much hope their letters had for each other.
Afterwards, the tour leads you to the actual prison where Mandela and several other prisoners were kept.
A guide takes over the tour once you are inside. The unique thing about all the guides here is that they are all former prisoners. Therefore, each tour is unique as the prisoner will take you into their specific cell and give you their personal experience from their imprisonment on Robben Island. Our guide was arrested for possession of arms and inciting terrorism. He lived in this room with about 60 other inmates, no glass on the windows and wearing nothing but thin cotton shirts and shorts - fine in the summer, but frigid in the wintertime. They slept on shabby pieces of foam and only could shower every 2-3 days.
The last stop on your tour is the building that housed Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 year imprisonment.
Outside the building is a courtyard. It was here that prisoners were expected to work their day away. It is also here that Mandela hid the manuscript of his autobiography while he wrote it, behind the garden in the corner.
Finally, you enter the building to see Mandela's actual cell. It's so tiny that it's simply unimaginable that someone lived here for 18 years.
While a somber activity while you are in Cape Town, it is a must to see a glimpse into the Apartheid life that, despite its horrors, shaped the face of the nation we see today.
For the rest of our trip in South Africa, click here.
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