Waking up this morning, I have a feeling like a mac truck ran me over during the middle of the night. I am not sure if my Malaria medicine, my jet lag or if it is the sleeping pill that is causing my exhaustion, but my body is tired. I have treated myself like a kid at Disney World for 2 months and my body is saying that it needs a day of rest. I am glad that I did not plan anything and I sleep in and open the big windows looking out of the City of Cape Town and Table Bay. It is a rainy day with dark clouds over the city and surrounding mountains. I am too tired to even go down stairs and eat. I open the room service menu and see Poached Eggs and Salmon Benedict for $60 Rand dollars. Still not used to the conversion, I realize that $1 Rand equal $0.128 US. The poached eggs are $7.20!!! Wow, that is pretty good for a Westin. I get a smoothie for $2.56 and decide that it will be a day of relaxing. The food arrives in 10 minutes and the Salmon Eggs Benedict are as good as I have ever had.
I decide that I will get my schedule together today and meet with guest relations to develop a game plan
. I am amazed at what South Africa has a lot to offer. In addition to the US playing Spain on the 24th for the Federation Cup Semis in Bloemfontein,South Africa, the top Rugby teams are in Cape Town getting ready for a big tournament, there are surf lessons just south, hiking and biking in Cape Point National Reserve, Seals/penguin, whale/shark watching, vineyards, and natural flora and fauna to observe in wetland environment. It is all very close to downtown Capetown. I am told that a safari to Krueger National Park should be a top highlight and try to decide if I can fit in the safari and the US Semifinal soccer match against Spain on top of all the other stuff in 8 days. Tickets are available as many people did not expect the US to make the semis. I put the guest relations guy to work to see what he can put together and decide to walk the nearby streets of Cape Town.
Getting reading to go for a walk down the street, I look at my backpack. It emits a smell strong enough that I could probably close my eyes when it came around on the conveyor and be able to identify when it approached
. I pull the clothes out to find something that does not smell. Unsuccessful, I change the standards and try to find something that does not smell that bad. I find an outfit, but wreak like a Frenchman on a hot summer day. My best socks are a hand-made pair that have lost all elasticity, they sag at my ankles resembling a bundle of yarn wrapped around my feet more than any type of sock. I bought them off a farm person in my hikes to Machu Picchu. They have definitely been well worth their $1.50 that I paid for them. Because my shoes smell horrible, I wear sandals. I figure that if it is wealthy Americans that robbers in Africa target, I will be far from their radar. Walking down the street, I am still a little paranoid. Yeah, we are supposed to be aware of things, yes, there are guards at every store entrance; yes, my clothing chose causes a lot of interest with each person I pass, but I have experienced nothing thus far to distrust anyone that I have met.
I get directions to go towards the local market hoping to see amazing prices
. As I walk further away from the hotel and realize that I am in a big city with a lot of people around me, but do not see another white person anywhere around me. Not that this bothers me in anyway other than the fact that I stand out even more. A homeless girl comes running up to me with a disfigured face, she begs for money saying that she is pregnant and needs to feed her baby. I want to give her something, but my money is tucked deep into my backpack and even opening my backpack in the middle of the numerous people hanging out in the city would be a bad idea. I walk faster and she is relentless where I get a little concerned. She starts pleading and I cross the street away from her. I get sad thinking about how fortunate my life is and how sad this gal was. It hurts bad and I determine that I will get change at the mall that I am heading to and give something to her on the way back.
I reach the location of the mall and it becomes a little bit scarey. The walkway next to the main street drops down under the road and leads to a mall that is kind of outdoors and indoors. There are lots of people and I still have not seen another white person. The large groups of people are a bit overwhelming to walk through. Instead of stopping in the middle of everyone or looking at a map, I reach a security guard as they are everywhere and ask him where the electronics store is that I am looking for. I am unsure I want to go any further and he senses it. He offers to walk me to the stores and then tells me when I come out, "just go down the stairs and to the right leading to the street." If I have any problems, he will be at the bottom of the stairs. Incredibly nice! I think the government is increasing security to prepare for the World Cup 2010.
I reach the check out at the electronics/ grocery store and am forced to check my bag into a luggage area unable to bring it in. There are only locals where I am at. The store is like a mini Super Target and this is where they shop for food and everything it seems like. Prices are good and I get a basket and pick up miscellaneous items like I am doing my weekly shopping. The experience is worth anything I spend. I ask the gal at checkout if I can get small change for a $50 Rand ($6 US) to give to people on the street during my walk back. She says, "I will give you change, but you should not give it to them because they will just use it for drugs and alcohol, not for their baby. You will not help them with your money." I told her that about the pregnant girl that I met. She appears to know who I am talking about and tells me that they will tell me anything to get money for their drugs. I figure that it is similar to the US and I return on the sidewalk passing a few persons with missing limbs. They are joking about acting out weird moans to emphasize their disabilities to people passing by hoping to get money. I guess this is not much different that what we do in the states. It is hard to shut out feelings for the people I pass wondering if I gave the $5 if it would help, but I continue a fast stride trying to be un-phased by any comments made as I pass. There are beautiful wood carvings of various African animals. I would love to take them back with me, but my luggage is pretty full. I talk with the guy for awhile as security guards escort another homeless person by us away from the sidewalk. They are putting great effort to reduce begging and persons loitering the streets for no reason. The World Cup will be a great source of revenue for some many people here.
I come back to the hotel and my laundry arrives. Instead of costing me the promised $30 Rand, the charge me $230 Rand. There are extra bogus charges and we agree on $150 of which I realize I should have just paid the $30 I promised. It equates to $20 as opposed to $3.60 and I just pay it and move on. I really love buying from other countries, but dislike being ripped off because I am a tourist.
It gets dark and the rain is still coming down periodically. I decide to visit one of the safer indoor malls in search of a camera to take pictures of fast animals from safari vehicles. I get my directions to go to the mall and just need to get off at Canyon City. I get confused on the exit and pass it by. A slight bit concerned, ok scared to death, as I know that I am now heading to unknown neighborhoods. I pull off at the next exit. I am frustrated as I don't see an Interstate to my left going back the other way. Not thinking well, I forgot that the return direction in South Africa is on the right (as I am driving on the left). I almost head left at the exit ramp and luckily catch my mistake before heading to no-where land and I get back on the highway heading back towards the mall. The most dangerous reason that they do not suggest tourists to travel at night is because it is dangerous if they get lost.
The mall is safe and the people are friendly once again. I tell my self again that I have never met nicer people in all my travels. Everyone is so respectable and pleasant. There are some big dudes here. I pass a guy that is about 7 feet tall and built like the Hulk. I review my game plan if I was ever robbed. Yup, there will be no fighting back. "Here it is: my backpack, camera and lots of useless papers. Ohh, just a little trick with the camera; if it gets jammed and does not take a picture, push this button and just spit on it a little bit and it usually will work fine. I got some salt water on it and it is corroded! :-)" So, I get carried away in the mall and chat it up with the local sporting good shops about the Federation Cup. The US is playing Spain and South Africa is playing Brazil. They are so excited to make the semi finals. I buy one of their shirts figuring if I go to any soccer match, I am pretty safe wearing the local team's jersey. I stay at the mall til 9PM and get Fish and Chips to go. I have heard that this is one of their favorite meals here and it is incredible. I think that I eat this everyday. Best $3.50 that I ever spent.
Day 1 in Africa, I am jet-lagged
Monday, June 22, 2009
Cape Town, South Africa
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2025-02-13