Tour- 2007 South Africa
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We're Here!!! Johannesburg - May 9 and 10
We arrived in fine form, with all three flights on time and all luggage showing up with us. That was a huge relief for one and all. One night in a hotel, and we were off and running and pretending that no one had jet lag. Wednesday morning we visited the Apartheid Museum and learned quite a bit of the history of South Africa.
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Johannesburg - May 11-13
We began the morning with a quick tour that should have been quicker of the Constitutional Court. It was very interesting, and the hall itself as well as the grounds on which it was built is very symbolic of life after apartheid. The tour lasted a bit longer than scheduled, and that left us on the run to get to the 1 pm performance on the campus of the University of Johannesburg Arts Center. The choir changed quickly--some while the bus was in motion, some waited until we arrived (I'll leave that to your imaginations) and the concert began on time.
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Sunday, May 13: Update from Rachel Cox
Dear Family and Friends,
Molo (hello) from South Africa! We are having a truly amazing experience here. We are treated with incredible hospitality wherever we go. Here are some general observations about South Africa:
Molo (hello) from South Africa! We are having a truly amazing experience here. We are treated with incredible hospitality wherever we go. Here are some general observations about South Africa:
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Monday, May 14
Most of this day was spent traveling to Nelspruit. We did have a pleasant hour at lunch at a small lake where trout are raised. As would be expected, fish figured prominently on the menu. Once we arrived at Nelspruit, we were able to spend an hour wandering around a beautiful botanic garden.
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Tuesday, May 15
Today will remain a real highlight of tour, although our wake-up call at 5 a.m. was an abrupt and early beginning to the day. Many of us boarded open-air Jeeps to tour the park while the rest road the coach on the asphalt and dirt roads. We entered the park at 6:30 when it opened, and spent the next 10½ hours having the incredible experience of seeing African wild animals up close and personal that we had only ever seen in zoos and wild animal parks. (Warning - lots of pictures ahead!)
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Wednesday, May 16
Wake-up calls came at 4:30 a.m. and the bus was boarded at 5:30 a.m. We finally arrived at Durban after 8 p.m. That pretty much says it all. The two border crossings in and out of Swaziland went as smoothly as possible, but did take time. Most of that country seems to be under road construction, and that added hours.
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Thursday, May 17
The Durban Berea chapel is officially the furthest in the world from Salt Lake City. And here we are. We spent several hours this morning at the PheZulu Village, which kind of resembles the Polynesian Cultural Center with its performance and huts to see and the gift shop and restaurant--though on a much smaller scale. The views from the village are absolutely spectacular.
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Friday, May 18
We had an hour for some good shopping in a Durban mall of sorts—shops of all kinds, both for tourists and locals. Just about everyone found something to make them or someone at home happy, and we pulled away in time to arrive at the Campbell House for our reception/lunch with the University of KwaZuluNatal Choir. This is a private home built (if I remember correctly) over a hundred years ago, and was subsequently donated to the university.
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Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20
Another very, very early day to make our flight to Johannesburg. We had to fly there to fly to East London, as that was where there was a plane large enough for our group and luggage. South African Airlines still serves meals on hour-long and 90-minute flights, so everyone survived.
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Monday, May 21 Port Elizabeth
By the time we met at the Haven Hills Chapel this morning, last night’s wind had turned into this morning’s gale. Were we really complaining about the heat just a few days ago? Silly, silly choir. Today’s kind of cold is seen around these parts every 25 years, with gale force winds that just about knocked us over, and rain coming down in solid sheets. Every time we needed to leave the bus to go anywhere, the rain spigot opened full force. We had very soggy Singers, and no real place or way to get warm and dry.
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Tuesday, May 22 George
Just as we thought we couldn’t be wetter or colder, today came. Many of us wore just about all the clothes we brought, and huddled on the bus. Having the bus tip over in the winds might have been a worry had not so much Cadbury chocolate been consumed over the last two weeks—that helped the ballast. We did emerge once for a quick snack/lunch and a short walk over to a beautiful gulch that is a well-known feature in the area.
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Wednesday, May 23 Hermanus
Breakfast at 9 AM and a 10 AM departure. Sheer luxury. Some were warm last night, most were not. This area just doesn’t get this cold very often (snow on their mountains as we are driving by!) and they don’t have heaters to compensate. At least the rain has stopped and we have mostly blue skies; that has lifted spirits considerably. We hope for no widespread illness after being cold and wet for two days.
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Thursday, May 24 Cape Town
The hour drive from Hermanus to Stellenbosch was gorgeous. Wish the bus had stopped about every 100 yards for a photo op. Instead, we arrived on schedule and split up to shop or visit museums or enjoy simply walking around. There has been precious little exercise on this tour. The market was a good place to wander around and haggle, and those who went elsewhere had a good morning. Then lunch, and back on the bus to travel to Cape Town.
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Friday, May 25 Cape Town
Friday, May 25 Cape TownThe choir enjoyed their night off at the hotel in preparation for the final concerts. We began the day with a beautiful drive to a short boat ride at Haut Bay to enjoy the island of rocks that was absolutely covered with seals. They slept and frolicked and everyone was enchanted. And then the boat circled the island and we suddenly smelled the output of thousands of seals…the boat couldn’t exit fast enough for some of us. Such incredible views here, though.
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Saturday, May 26 Cape Town
Our final day to sightsee had arrived. We spent the morning on a 45 minute boat ride each way to and from Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated 19 of his 26 (I think) years in prison. A former political prisoner who was held there was our guide, and he emphasized the horrible conditions that we could plainly see. It’s very good that chapter of history is done with, but we are all very aware that the country is still adapting to it.
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Sunday, May 27 Cape Town - Tuesday, May 29 Home!
The choir attended three different wards or branches in the morning. Two of the branches were in townships, and those of us there were thrilled with the Spirit evident, and the warmth of the members. Hugs and handshakes from the members were the order of the day. And the singing! I wish you could hear the black members sing. It puts us all to shame.18 of us were hosted to an incredible dinner at the mission home that afternoon.
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