Drive to Pietermaritzburg to return the car. Try to find the sleepy hollow hostel but struggle. Ring up and the lady says stay there and I will come to find you with a male nurse! The place is terrible. No locks for rooms, lots of people in the lounge who dont speak and are not backpackers, wifi and breakfast have been stopped, really dismal. Luckily we find a really nice place nearby.
Intercape bus to Pretoria next day.The bus was delayed for 2 hours before departure and we had a very nerve wracking road crossing to Mc Donalds for a coffee while waiting. Youngmi was convinced the road was full of robbers.
We phone a hostel Friends Accommodation from the bus and the owner Tertius mat us at Pretoria bus station. Very kind especially as it was dark when we got there. Hostel great . Diplomatic Fair at union buildings on Saturday was a great success. Union Buildings looked good in the sun and parkland. Pretoria also looked lovely with jacaranda trees everywhere.
Henry( the Joburg mate we met in Argentina and Bolivia) and his friends come for a night of wine tasting at the hostel.Great night.
On Sunday they took us to breakfast at a bird reserve where we met a giant tortoise. Voortekker monument and concert nearby. Great day with really lovely people Carmen,Carl and Dane. They really made our last days in South Africa.
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| Jacaranda in bloom in Pretoria late October |
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| Concert in front of the Parliament Buildings |
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| Henry and 3 South African mates at our great hostel in Pretoria |
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| Giant tortoise ambles into our brunch spot |
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| Voortrekker monument |
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| Parliament buildings Pretoria |
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| Picnic at a Sunday afternoon concert. Good life for some in South Africa |
Have to visit Joburg as we have heard so much about how dangerous it is. Gautrain train from Pretoria to Joburg was excellent. Take the Hop on Hop off bus but daren't hop off in many places The side tour of Soweto is excellent especially Hector Pietersen memorial and Winnie Mandelas house from a distance.The world cup stadium is said to hold 120,000 people but for a local derby 20,000 are security.The apartheid museum is good.We got off for the last stop for a snack but scary area. We didnt dare do wait at the bus stop so stood in a shop and dashed out when the bus came. Walked back from the Gautrain station to hostel in pouring rain.About 30 mins including a stop to buy fish and chips and wine for dinner
We tried to play the vuvusela that Dave bought in Soweto but difficult at first.
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| Joburg |
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| Soweto |
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| Memorial to Mbuyisa Makhubo who carried the body of Hector Peterson after he was shot by police in 1976 |
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| One of many lovely people in Soweto |
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| Desmond Tutu's house in Soweto |
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| Playing the Vuvuzela in Soweto |
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| One of many poor parts of Joburg |
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Tuesday and the flight to Sydney.Had a comfy morning at the hostel then Bobby drove us to the airport. He and Tertius are brothers in law and both could talk more than Dave. Very interesting run through South African history and present on the 40 minute drive to the airport. Quantas flight and surprisingly very comfy. One steward like Robin Williams. Flight through the night.
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