Rovos Rail, South Africa
I woke up early from hearing the train screech. There are no pads on these brakes, metal on metal can make some nails on a chalkboard sounds. We stopped fairly frequently on the train to let other trains pass and sometimes I wasn't really sure why. It is nice to wake up early though and then let the window down and have cool morning air breeze into our cabin. Then to lay there and watch the scenery roll by like a slide show in the rectangular shape of my window was really relaxing. Sam slept and I got us packed up since we were disembarking in Joburg today at noon. We enjoyed another tasty meal in the dining cabin. The night before we decided to have room service and stay in our room and play cards. It was such a fun evening and they still brought in all the courses of food and Sam and I just enjoyed our dinner date in our room.
We joined our fellow travelers on the back of the train at the caboose. We sat on the back for a while chatting with the knowledgeable man from Cape Town who pointed out the sights as we came into Johannesburg and explained more about Joburg being a gold mining town. Sam wanted to play some cards so we went into the observation car that was just next to the Caboose and we played cards and visited and were entertained by our new friends from Singapore. Eunice was the chattiest member of the group and the designated unofficial group leader. She is such a riot. We were entertained by the "unofficial entertainer of the group" who same a couple of beautiful ballads- one in Chinese. We heard stories about their other trips to South America and Morrocco. Sam enjoyed hearing the stories and laughing with them. They had Sam and I contribute to the entertainment and we sang our Jambo Bwana song that we learned in Kenya. We enjoyed a small round of applause ;) We look forward to visiting with Eunice and our new friends when we go to Singapore in Feb.
As the train pulled to the end of the line and large and shiny Steam Engine came and pulled us into the Rovos Rail train yard. I do feel like all the years of playing Thomas The Tank Engine with Sam when he was little prepared me for the awesome view of all the cars and trains and sharp and sophisticated lounge. When we got off the train we were welcomed by Mr Rohan Vos- the founder again. We asked to have our picture taken with him. He is quite the entrepreneur to have built up these luxury trains and made them so successful during years of transition in this country and during the world recession of these past few years. It was a unique experience that did feel like times gone by.
We were met by a guide Stephen that took us to the Apartheid Museum. It was top notch. It began with how things had been during Apartheid and you were divided by color as you entered. It felt wrong to even walk through the white gates. The two paths weaved around and then met again as you were about to enter the museum. Inside we first toured the exhibit of Nelson Mandela. It was excellent with videos, and photos and his story. The other side had the whole struggle and videos and photos to tell the story along with a room of nooses. The nooses were a reminder of the death penalty that was given to so many that were just fighting for their freedoms. They had small solitary confinemnt cells where people were detained for months and sometimes up to a year before they would have a trial to find out if what they were brought in was illegal or not,... The impact reminded me of how I felt at the Yad Vashem in Israel where you can't believe what people overcame and how they were treated based on their heritage and what they looked like when they were born. It left me a feeling of hope, courage, and a gratitude for people that are willing to make great sacrifices for change.
Following we headed to Soweto. Soweto was actually a nicer township than I had imagined. The area has been fixed up by locals living there that are now living better than they had in the past. It was very interesting to go into Mandela's home and then walk down the street to Tutu's home. Then we drove around the back and Winnie Mandela's current home is there too. There was so much that came from Soweto, including the student uprising in 1976 where students stood up and said they weren't going to be taught in Afrikaans, the language of the white population- Afrikaaners. During that student strike several children were shot and one most remembered whose photo was taken after he was shot and killed and a fellow student is caring him- there is a monument on the corner where it happened and a place that tells the story. That had an impact on Sam, the thought that students could do something and that they were brave enough to do it and that they could be part of the change for their future.
I woke up early from hearing the train screech. There are no pads on these brakes, metal on metal can make some nails on a chalkboard sounds. We stopped fairly frequently on the train to let other trains pass and sometimes I wasn't really sure why. It is nice to wake up early though and then let the window down and have cool morning air breeze into our cabin. Then to lay there and watch the scenery roll by like a slide show in the rectangular shape of my window was really relaxing. Sam slept and I got us packed up since we were disembarking in Joburg today at noon. We enjoyed another tasty meal in the dining cabin. The night before we decided to have room service and stay in our room and play cards. It was such a fun evening and they still brought in all the courses of food and Sam and I just enjoyed our dinner date in our room.
We joined our fellow travelers on the back of the train at the caboose. We sat on the back for a while chatting with the knowledgeable man from Cape Town who pointed out the sights as we came into Johannesburg and explained more about Joburg being a gold mining town. Sam wanted to play some cards so we went into the observation car that was just next to the Caboose and we played cards and visited and were entertained by our new friends from Singapore. Eunice was the chattiest member of the group and the designated unofficial group leader. She is such a riot. We were entertained by the "unofficial entertainer of the group" who same a couple of beautiful ballads- one in Chinese. We heard stories about their other trips to South America and Morrocco. Sam enjoyed hearing the stories and laughing with them. They had Sam and I contribute to the entertainment and we sang our Jambo Bwana song that we learned in Kenya. We enjoyed a small round of applause ;) We look forward to visiting with Eunice and our new friends when we go to Singapore in Feb.
As the train pulled to the end of the line and large and shiny Steam Engine came and pulled us into the Rovos Rail train yard. I do feel like all the years of playing Thomas The Tank Engine with Sam when he was little prepared me for the awesome view of all the cars and trains and sharp and sophisticated lounge. When we got off the train we were welcomed by Mr Rohan Vos- the founder again. We asked to have our picture taken with him. He is quite the entrepreneur to have built up these luxury trains and made them so successful during years of transition in this country and during the world recession of these past few years. It was a unique experience that did feel like times gone by.
We were met by a guide Stephen that took us to the Apartheid Museum. It was top notch. It began with how things had been during Apartheid and you were divided by color as you entered. It felt wrong to even walk through the white gates. The two paths weaved around and then met again as you were about to enter the museum. Inside we first toured the exhibit of Nelson Mandela. It was excellent with videos, and photos and his story. The other side had the whole struggle and videos and photos to tell the story along with a room of nooses. The nooses were a reminder of the death penalty that was given to so many that were just fighting for their freedoms. They had small solitary confinemnt cells where people were detained for months and sometimes up to a year before they would have a trial to find out if what they were brought in was illegal or not,... The impact reminded me of how I felt at the Yad Vashem in Israel where you can't believe what people overcame and how they were treated based on their heritage and what they looked like when they were born. It left me a feeling of hope, courage, and a gratitude for people that are willing to make great sacrifices for change.
Following we headed to Soweto. Soweto was actually a nicer township than I had imagined. The area has been fixed up by locals living there that are now living better than they had in the past. It was very interesting to go into Mandela's home and then walk down the street to Tutu's home. Then we drove around the back and Winnie Mandela's current home is there too. There was so much that came from Soweto, including the student uprising in 1976 where students stood up and said they weren't going to be taught in Afrikaans, the language of the white population- Afrikaaners. During that student strike several children were shot and one most remembered whose photo was taken after he was shot and killed and a fellow student is caring him- there is a monument on the corner where it happened and a place that tells the story. That had an impact on Sam, the thought that students could do something and that they were brave enough to do it and that they could be part of the change for their future.
We pulled out of Soweto and made our way through gold mine dumps which look like gold sand all along the roads. They are now mining these gold tailings again since they have better equipment, just like they were doing in Kimberly for diamonds. Once we arrived in Witbank after dark we enjoyed a great meal prepared by Natasha Grundy's mom. It was fun to visit, to see where our friends lived and get a small taste of their life. It was interesting to see how much locking up happens at night to keep everyone feeling safe, since they have had several robberies in their area. Sam enjoyed playing with the boys and it was fun to teach them Bamboozle after dinner. They enjoyed it and again Sam was in heaven having some kids to play with. Thank you Grundys for the hospitality, great food, and my comfy bed :)
With our new friend Eunice
The Rovos Steam Engine that came to pull our train into the Rovos Station
With the founder of Rovos Rail, Rohan Vos
Natasha and her mother Susan and I after a tasty dinner at the Grundy's
Outside the Apartheid Museum
As we entered the museum they gave us a sample of what it was like during Apartheid
These sticks symbolized the emotion you felt about Mandela from courageous, to forgiving, to resilient,...
Inside the home of Mandela in Soweto
This area remembers the Student Uprising of 1976 where children united against Apartheid sanctions for them to be taught in the white language of Afrikaans
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