Reflections...

South Africa is a land of contrasts.  On our way to Addo Elephant Park we drove through the township of Motherwell (among others).  Townships are the very depressed areas outside of the major cities.  During the apartheid era, only whites could live in the cities and the townships were for the blacks that could enter the city only during specified times and with proper papers to work (serve). Across the road from the township is the most massive cemetery I’ve ever seen.  We didn’t get a chance to get out and walk through, but I’m told many (hundreds/thousands) of the graves are for the very young.  AIDS has taken and incredible toll on the black population of South Africa.  “The sickness” as it is called is a taboo subject; misinformation and superstition abound.  Upon our return the orange-yellow lights on tall poles dotted throughout the township cast the most eerie and haunting glow over the shanty houses that stretched as far as I could see.  The condition of the road and the attempt to concentrate on keeping left while sitting on the right side of the car kept me from spending as much time as I would have liked taking in the surreal panorama. 

We arrived back in Port Elizabeth and had Nandos fast food Indian cuisine.  I’m planning on opening a franchise in Lee’s Summit; I think it will go over fabulously.  From there it was to the hotel and a look over King’s and Hobie Beach as the Indian Ocean powerfully said farewell to the day.  As I said… Contrasts!