Africa Round #2 - JoBurg

Johannesburg.... aka JoBurg... aka Josie. No matter what you call it, this is a sprawling city of remarkable contrast. 

Flying into JoBurg yesterday from the west, our fight pattern took us low over Soweto. Miles of tiny (really tiny) homes packed in together. Narrow (really narrow) streets, many of which didn't appear to be paved. I didn't see sidewalks, grass or trees anywhere. Entirely impoverished, yet strangely, laid out streets and identical houses. Like a gigantic housing project - which of course, is how it came about. 

That is Soweto, meaning South West Townships. During apartheid, Black Africans were relocated from all other parts of the city to these settlements. They had to have official passes to go into any other parts of the city. Nelson Mandela lived there until he become President. 

Our hotel, on the other hand, 54 on Bath, is 5 star, sits on a beautiful street lined with sycamore trees, flowering shrubs, wide sidewalks.  Shopping areas are just a few steps away, with lively outdoor restaurants. We are in the area called Rosebank. Our Hop On Hop Off tour this morning took us past stately home after home that would look perfectly fine on Kiawah.  

What an amazing contrast. Not surprisingly, security concerns evidently abound. We have probably been warned a dozen times, "Don't take your cell phone out while you are walking."

But far more telling is the electrified fencing around  EVERYTHING. 

And in the Rosebank area, these homes also have electronic gates, and some have guards. In some cases there are whole neighborhoods deemed "security zones".

The wait staff in restaurants,  the hotel staff,  the security people, all travel miles from their own homes (Soweto?) to get to work in this wealthy area. Our breakfast waiter said he travels an hour and a half, each way, by bus. Another staffer told me the same thing. We saw a large bus and train terminal to handle the movement every day.

JoBurg has about 10 million people. Largely the wealthy, or the poor. I'm sure it's much better since apartheid ended in 1990, and there is a growing middle class. But it feels like they have a long way to go. 

On a happier note, the people we have met are gracious and helpful. They are VERY hard to understand, tho. The restaurants have had good food and very friendly (tho often slow) service. The weather is sunny, breezy, and HOT. I'm guessing upper 80s. 

Oh yes, that's the other interesting thing. Electricity comes and goes.  Because we are in a rather ritzy area, places all have back up generators that come on within seconds of a power disruption. We probably experienced 4 or more last nite. 

This evening we meet up with our fellow safari group, and tomorrow that adventure begins.

So far... a very good trip.  Stay tuned for whatever happens next!