Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Of course, John told me the names (and in some cases, the history) of the places we were looking at but I don't remember some of them now







Below, outside of the park. We will get back inside later.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa


Louis Botha was an Afrikaner and first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa—the forerunner of the modern South African state.







As the seat of the National Parliament, Cape Town is also the legislative capital of the country. From 1910 to 1994, parliament was elected mainly by South Africa's white minority, before the first elections with universal suffrage were held in 1994.

[nattydreadgirl]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Beautiful pictures!

ChurchDude, I love your journeys and trip reports from long time. THanks for sharing~

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nattydreadgirl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beautiful pictures!

ChurchDude, I love your journeys and trip reports from long time. THanks for sharing~
</div></div>
Thanks much and good to see you Appreciate you tagging along.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<span style="font-style: italic">According to John, we were now heading down to Mandela Square. Time was of the essence and so we had to be quick...</span>




If I recall correctly, this was the equivalent of City Hall


Flags that have flown over South Africa through the years.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Speaking of John, he was an incredibly interesting man. From the time we met in the Company Garden, I took a liking to him. Maybe it was his enthusiasm, his zest for life. And so it was quite the shock when he told me he was homeless. According to the story he told me, he was a veteran of the South African military who fell on hard times after he lost an eye and was discharged from the army. While he away on military duty, he had used some of his money to make some investments with a friend, who assured him that the business was doing well. However, when he was discharged, the friend disappeared and he was unable to keep his home as he had no income. He had a wife and a daughter, the former had taken the latter and he had not see them in a number of years. His life spiraled out of control; he took up drinking and became an alcoholic. He turned to a branch of a renowned Church for help, but he was unimpressed with the show of extravagance and very little concern for people like himself.

How did he manage to keep himself clean? He had a place where he took a shower every morning, changed his clothes, and stashed what little he had away in a corner of the park. He insisted on wearing clean clothes every day because he loved interacting with people. Sitting in the park allowed him to meet people like myself and he enjoyed showing newcomers around. He refused to feel sorry for himself and said he just needed a helping hand to get back on his feet.

What I found even more interesting was that after years as an alcoholic, he finally got some help in going sober. From his perspective, he could not remain an alcoholic if he was going to get his life back together. While he had given up on organized religion, he had found God and was convinced that He had a plan for his life. He walked around with a worn New Testament in his pocket. Whenever he was tempted to feel sorry for himself, the stories in the Bible reminded him that God loved him and that knowledge caused him to have a positive attitude. Even though some of the people he had met had promised to help him with a job, and those promises did not materialize, he was expectant that any day could be the day that he would meet the one who would be the answer to his prayers.

For a while I was amazed that this man was far more optimistic and had more faith than most Christians I knew. In some respects, he was far more fortunate than most people in that he had learnt how to be happy without having material things. I learnt a lot from him as we walked the streets and I resolved in my mind that the rest of the group had to meet him the next day. Two guys, one black and one white - walking and talking like long lost friends in what once was apartheid South Africa. The words of the apostle Paul came to my mind then: &quot;For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus&quot; (Galatians 3:26-28). Though separated by thousands of miles, and despite the differences in our life situations, this homeless man was my brother. Walking with him, it actually felt like it.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa


I was mesmerized by the mountains


Looking across Mandela Square




ABSA is one of the big four banks in SA

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<span style="font-style: italic">Still out in Mandela Square...</span>


KFC - there is one everywhere!



John and I had covered more than an hour and it was time for me to head back for breakfast with the others. Once we got back to the hotel, we made arrangements to meet the next morning. Before he left, I gave him the 100 Rand bill I had in my pocket. Funnily, it was the last thing I took up before leaving the hotel that morning, not knowing why I did at the time but looking at John, I figured it was for him. It felt right.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Earlier I mentioned not remembering the name of the restaurant we went to the first night. After looking through another set of pictures, the restaurant was the Savoy Cabbage Restaurant &amp; Champagne Bar on Hout Street. Maybe Magix might know it.



The food was very good but the portion sizes were small....






Four plates because I took a pass. Way too rich for my liking...

[Jazz]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

YAYYYY a Churchdude report

[Jazz]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Speaking of John, he was an incredibly interesting man. From the time we met in the Company Garden, I took a liking to him. Maybe it was his enthusiasm, his zest for life. And so it was quite the shock when he told me he was homeless. According to the story he told me, he was a veteran of the South African military who fell on hard times after he lost an eye and was discharged from the army. While he away on military duty, he had used some of his money to make some investments with a friend, who assured him that the business was doing well. However, when he was discharged, the friend disappeared and he was unable to keep his home as he had no income. He had a wife and a daughter, the former had taken the latter and he had not see them in a number of years. His life spiraled out of control; he took up drinking and became an alcoholic. He turned to a branch of a renowned Church for help, but he was unimpressed with the show of extravagance and very little concern for people like himself.

How did he manage to keep himself clean? He had a place where he took a shower every morning, changed his clothes, and stashed what little he had away in a corner of the park. He insisted on wearing clean clothes every day because he loved interacting with people. Sitting in the park allowed him to meet people like myself and he enjoyed showing newcomers around. He refused to feel sorry for himself and said he just needed a helping hand to get back on his feet.

What I found even more interesting was that after years as an alcoholic, he finally got some help in going sober. From his perspective, he could not remain an alcoholic if he was going to get his life back together. While he had given up on organized religion, he had found God and was convinced that He had a plan for his life. He walked around with a worn New Testament in his pocket. Whenever he was tempted to feel sorry for himself, the stories in the Bible reminded him that God loved him and that knowledge caused him to have a positive attitude. Even though some of the people he had met had promised to help him with a job, and those promises did not materialize, he was expectant that any day could be the day that he would meet the one who would be the answer to his prayers.

For a while I was amazed that this man was far more optimistic and had more faith than most Christians I knew. In some respects, he was far more fortunate than most people in that he had learnt how to be happy without having material things. I learnt a lot from him as we walked the streets and I resolved in my mind that the rest of the group had to meet him the next day. Two guys, one black and one white - walking and talking like long lost friends in what once was apartheid South Africa. The words of the apostle Paul came to my mind then: &quot;For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus&quot; (Galatians 3:26-28). Though separated by thousands of miles, and despite the differences in our life situations, this homeless man was my brother. Walking with him, it actually felt like it.
</div></div>


Just awesome... the personal connections you make everywhere you go... you leave footprints in the lives of others

Loving the report and the pictures so far!

[SamChabs]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Love your report. I have visited Cape town a lot and usually just take these sights for granted ( except for table mountain of course). Loving the pictures.

[Nunya]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Loved the story about John, very well written.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The food was very good but the portion sizes were small.... </div></div> Those are the kinda places you take a date (except someone like Jazz, cause she can eat a horse <span style="font-style: italic">and</span> it's rider ) and then after you've dropped them off, you stop off at burger king...

[Jazz]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nunya</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Loved the story about John, very well written.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The food was very good but the portion sizes were small.... </div></div> Those are the kinda places you take a date (except someone like Jazz, cause she can eat a horse <span style="font-style: italic">and</span> it's rider ) and then after you've dropped them off, you stop off at burger king... </div></div>

*I* am a lady! those servings are quite sufficient for me... hhmmpphhh

(as long as I can order two or three)

Chruchdude - please to take my foolish advice an ban Nunya from yuh report if yuh want some peace and quiet in yuh life... das all mi saying!

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SamChabs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Love your report. I have visited Cape town a lot and usually just take these sights for granted ( except for table mountain of course). Loving the pictures. </div></div>
Thanks for tagging along When we were in Zambia, we were acutally on the hiway that goes into Botswana. Maybe next time

The iconic table mountain is simply beautiful and should be one of the wonders of the world.