I always do a lot of research before I go somewhere new. Google maps is amazing. You can walk the street around where you are staying before you even get there. Did you know that now you can even enter stores using google maps? The other day I walked from our Airbnb in Cape Town to the promenade along the water, and found the hop on hop off bus stop. On the way I saw a great fish store and gift shop.
I love using Airbnb. It not only provides an amazing array of places to stay for less than the typical hotel, but it also allows you to book "Experiences." I look forward to taking advantage of these opportunities to experience South Africa in a more meaningful way. The places we have booked are all self contained units: either condos or guest cottages on someones property. They all have pools, air conditioning, full kitchens, yards, decks or patios, and many of them are on the waterfront or have views. Our average cost is less than $50 Canadian dollars a night, and by staying a week in most places, we not only get a discount on that, but we can buy groceries and make our own meals. Eating out is incredibly cheap in South Africa, so I have already made reservations at some of the finest restaurants in the country. I look forward too, to eating some new and interesting things. I am also looking forward to touring wine country and sampling some great South African wines.
South Africa has a great system of roads and highways. From what I have heard, the roads are far superior to Canada, and renting a car there is only costing us about $15 Canadian a day. We do have to drive on the other side of the road however, and I know from experience that is challenging.In some of the big cities (Cape Town and Johannesburg), we will not drive but rather use Uber, which apparently is the most reliable and safest way to get around there. We will also use several of the hop on hop off busses. These have become one of my favorite things to do - especially early on when arriving somewhere. They stop at all the major sights, and along the way you get a great commentary. It is a great way to get an overview of the city so you can then decide where you want to go back and spend more time.
While I enjoy seeing the major tourist sights, especially the UNESCO World Heritage Sights, I can honestly say my most memorable experiences are still those where interaction with local people and new cultures has taken place. South Africa, in particular, has had a very interesting, and at times, tumultuous history, and its challenges to overcome prejudiced in a post apartheid world is easier said than done. Even today, there are rumblings of extremism from both the Afrikaans population, and the black population. Disparity there is great - and I refuse to stay in the white tourist bubble. It is important for me to see and hear from black South Africans.
I have started to read some books about South African history in the hopes that it will shed light on what I am seeing, and bring more meaning to our trip. I love knowing the story of a place. In fact, there is one place in particular that should hold some special meaning: Grahamstown, now called Makhanda, where my great, great, great grandfather Thomas Murray is from. The town's name changed from Grahamstown to Makhanda on 29 June 2018 in memory of Xhosa warrior and prophet Makhanda ka Nxele.
I wonder, what role did my ancestors play in South African history, and what role will I play in my great, great, great Grandchildren's history?
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