Hello Capetown!

The scene was set for the perfect day to explore the streets of Capetown: with a crystal clear blue sky, Table Mountain as a magnificent backdrop, and the busy hum of downtown city buzzing in our ears, we were ready to begin our tour. Each destination point was predestined and we walked with an excited eagerness to each location. The day held many fascinating sights such as the museum, the Green Garden, and of course the food bazaar, which collaboratively inspired an eagerness to return and experience more of this city in all of its fullness.
We boarded the train and sat on third class and I noticed some interesting things. First, we were the only white people there. Second, the inside of the train was lined with advertisements for abortions and walking venders selling "sweets" and "crisps," or candy and chips. So much to observe inside one train.
Our first stop was the slavery museum, where we viewed a short clip about the history of the slave trade in Capetown and learned about some of the past struggles that have established the city today. The tales of the lives lost and the dreadful conditions were eye opening and helped to establish a foundational understanding of the roots of the city. We were then given a short time to tour the museum. The exhibit which stood out to me as most moving was the big, spinning pillar that glowed with written names of individuals whose lives had been lost. The pillar was slightly isolated from the other displays and was placed in a cylindrical corner, which created an almost sacred placement that called for a hush of respect as I approached. The museum tour ended quickly and we then ventured on with our exploration.
Two of my favorite sites were the Green Garden and the cathedral. Entering the garden was like entering a different world. I felt similar to Alice, walking through Wonderland, in awe of the glory around me. If time would have allowed, I would have spent hours in the garden grounds, soaking up the colorful array of blossoms but we trekked on and came to government buildings and churches. I appreciated the more traditional form of architecture in these buildings because they seem, to me, much more beautifully crafted than modern construction. We stopped at the cathedral, where Reg informed us that this was where the Archbishop Desmond Tutu spent much of his time. Unfortunately, our group did not make it inside of the cathedral; instead, we were led by our grumbling stomachs to our next stop, the food bazaar. This food kingdom invaded my senses immediately when I stepped inside the long, vertical string of sellers. Indian spices, savory garlic, and steaming platters made my mouth water and my steps quicken as I raced to order my lunch. There were several exotic flavors and dishes but the I found the most fascinating thing in the food bazaar to be the Indian bread bowl, which was literally a loaf of bread cut in half, turned upside down and carved out, resulting in a tall tower for a bowl. The meal was exactly what I needed to continue learning on the walking tour of Capetown.
The day concluded at the waterfront boat harbor where the scenery became noticeably different because of the people that we saw. Walking alongside the dock with the many ships, there were several fancy restaurants arranged on the border to display the view. Seeing the fine tablecloths, sparkling glasses, and the people finely dressed, dining at the various establishments, made me realize how much I had forgotten what wealth looked like. I felt like I was at a zoo; I could not stop staring at these beautiful people who were so clean, so put together, and so crisp, like a package. Every person looked like they were dressed to meet the Queen. I realized that this was a first glimpse of culture shock because I forgot what affluence looked like. The Capetown tour exercised all of my senses, opened my eyes to a historical background, provided me with an eagerness to return to the city and experience more.
May you never lose a sense of exploration, soaking up every destination you encounter with a sense of new eyes.

All my love,
Gennavieve