The way from Ghana was tumultuous and unpleasant to say the least, so South Africa was a welcome change. A new port, a new country, a new perspective awaiting us…there was so much to look forward to. Coming into South Africa, I had three trips lined up and I was eager for them all. Even though they were through Semester at Sea, they looked promising. We were going to be in South Africa for six days, longer than any other port so far. Getting off of the boat was a little harder this time, as we had to meet with South African officials individually to be allowed off of the ship…but even so it was still relatively early when the ship was cleared and we were able to get off.
Cape Town is right on the water and has a bunch of things to do, and I decided to venture off on my own, getting some much needed alone time. I decided to head off to the aquarium, a place that back home I found relaxing and fun, and at $13 dollars (or 96 Rand) was a decent price to get in. I walked over, through the waterfront markets and made my way into the aquarium. I spent a good hour and a half exploring its underwater treasures before going back to the ship for a quick lunch. I had plans to meet up with someone, which unfortunately fell through, so continuing with keeping to myself for the day I decided to venture out to the theme park Ratanga Junction and go ride a few roller coasters and have some fun for the day. The park was small and a little disappointing but the novelty of it made up for that.
When I got back to the ship I met up with some people for dinner and we went out to Long St. a place where everything is happening at night. Unfortunately, we went too late for dinner and too early for anything to be happening at night, so we went back and had dinner at the waterfront. It was a good first day however it was clear to me that South Africa was going to be an expensive country, with over $50 dollars of taxi rides the first day.
The second day I had a Faculty Developed Program, also called an FDP. This FDP consisted of a tour of Cape Town, a visit to the District Six Museum, a visit to a township, was supposed to go to Robben Island, the prison where nelson Mandela was held prisoner for over thirty years, however since the ferry to the Island broke, that part of the trip was canceled. The first part of the trip was a tour of Cape Town, in which our tour guide told us things about the city as we rode around in the bus. The next part of the trip was to the District Six museum to discuss the Apartheid and learn more about it. When we left the museum we headed into one of the townships for lunch and a tasting of some local beer. On the way, we were able to see the poorest of the poor in South Africa living in literally shacks made up of thin sheets of metal or plywood, about the size of a small shed. It was shocking to see that and compare it to the city. South Africa has an unemployment rate of almost 50%, and it was clearly evident.
Lunch in the township was the best part of the FDP. We went to the home of a woman named Shelia and ate at the restaurant that was inside of her home. It was there that I enjoyed ostrich meat for the first time and was able to listen to some live African music as we ate. I also bought a wall carving of the big five that I fell in love with as soon as I saw it. It was a wonderful time and I was happy that I went, even though I would have loved to go to Robben Island. When we got back from the FDP I went to the post office to send the carving back home as I knew it would be too big to keep in my cabin, and too big to fit in a duffel bag coming home. That post office was the worst one that I had ever been to in my life. Not only did they not have boxes, but they made me find my own (I had to find two, and tape them together with the tape they made me buy from them), wrap it myself, and then send it home at the price of 1109 Rand, about three times what I paid for it in the first place. Ugh. That night I hung out with Shelley in Hout Bay for some quiet R&R, internet usage, and a good dinner.
The next day I decided to book a safari, realizing that I was going to regret not going on one more than I would paying for one, so I booked a simple day trip safari for the 7th. Afterwards I had to get ready because I had a township homestay that night. We weren’t staying in the same township that had the shacks, but it was pretty close, so I was weary at first. However, when I got there and saw how it really was, while in severe poverty, it was also a relatively happy place, and my worries went away. The family I was paired with was very nice and accommodating, and the two sons they had showed my around the township and we hung out for the night…it was a great cultural experience.
The next morning I had to leave early because I had a wine tour at 8:00am. I had to get up early and make my way to the ship for some breakfast, and then a taxi ride to Eco Café where we were all meeting for Bikes ‘n Wine, a winery and wine tasting done on bike. I had never done a wine tasting and it was quite fun! The only bad part about it was the bike riding which I hadn’t done in quite some time, so it kind of hurt. The best part was going to the Cheetah Sanctuary where I got to pet a cheetah! At the end of the tour we each got a bottle of wine, which was not allowed back on the ship, which meant we had to drink it before hand. I did end up drinking mine, but once I got back on the ship I ended up falling asleep…from the wine or the riding I wasn’t sure.
The next day was my safari which I expected to be great. I had to wake up at 4:30am to get picked up on time at 5:30. The ride there was about two hours long and we were greeted with a glass of wine when we arrived. After breakfast it was time for our safari, and we set off. We were able to see lions, rhinos, a leopard, cheetahs, crocodiles, warthogs, elephants, hippos, zebras, a giraffe, and more. It was great! When it was all over we had lunch and drove another two hours back to the ship.
That night I went out to dinner with a few people, and had a great time. I ended up going to bed when we got back since dinner was so long, but then someone invited me back out so I decided to go. We went to a club for the last night in South Africa, and after a good time didn’t get back until almost 5:00am.
The next day was our last in the port and it was time to do a little shopping for people back home. After a quick lunch, we made our way over to the Green Market, which was a bunch of merchants selling things outside in a square. I grabbed a few things and we were on our way back to the ship.
South Africa was fun, but expensive, long, and yet it flew by. I was happy to go, and happy to experience another culture that before, was previously unknown to me. It was another country that I would go back to, though also another country that I need more time digesting. There was so much to do, and yet so little was done…and the opposite it feels like as well. It was fun South Africa…you taught me that 37 is the magic number, and so much more.
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