Out of Touch (Maybe)

Just to let you know that I am heading to Kruger National Park tomorrow. I may not have internet for the next few days. I will be back by the latest Wednesday, Aug 3.

Gerry

Soweto and the Apartheid Museum

The Weather today is a much better than yesterday. The sun is shining and it is beginning to warm up. At 8:00 AM, we met our guide, Phineas, who was taking us for a tour of Soweto. Soweto actually means South West Township. I always thought it was an African name.

We began our tour by going through Johannesburg. Phineas wanted to show us that Johannesburg was a safe place except for the neighborhood of Hillsborough. This was a pretty rough place. Many apartments had broken windows and most of the people are immigrants from other African nations. There was garbage everywhere and the streets were teaming with people. He also took us through the neighborhood of Houghton. This is where the real money lives. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have homes here. We also saw the DeBiers (diamonds) family home. The area was stunning. Phineas said that many of the very wealthy blacks own homes here but still maintain homes in Soweto to stay in during the day.

From here we made our way to Soweto. When we first approached it, it looked like many homes were very middle class. The Mandela home and that of his former wife, Winnie, were very upscale. We saw homes belonging to business men and lawyers. It was really quite nice. Then, it hit us. We were now taken to what we would describe as the project. Electricity was provided by stealing off of make shift lines from electrical poles. There was a pump at the end of each row of houses where people got their water and washed their clothes. The toilets were outhouses. It appeared pretty grim but people seemed to be happy. They smiled and waved at us and children gathered around to get treats and small coins. In a way it was pretty uplifting.

Our next stop was the Hector Pietersen Museum. Hector Pietersen was a 13 year old student who was the first person killed in the student protests of June 16, 1976. The students were protesting the government making Afrikaans the official language of instruction in schools. There were 600 students killed and even more hurt over a 2 day period by the police. There is a famous photo of a another student running with hector in his arms. It was a very moving experience.

After the museum, we had a traditional African lunch. It was chicken, mutton, acorn squash, corn, tomato sauce, beets and rice. We were then on our way to the Apartheid Museum. Although it was a very confusing layout, the museum gave us great insight into the history of South Africa, the gold mines and apartheid. Apartheid was declared but the ruling Dutch or Afrikaans government in the early 20^th Century. It separated Blacks, Whites and Coloureds. They had originally set out to categorize the different backgrounds of the population but, the leadership finally said that it was a waste of resources and time. So they just put people in the 3 categories. Townships were set up to house blacks and coloureds and a class system was created which included salary and job classification. This was maintained until 1994 when the African National Congress (ANC- Nelson Mandela) and the South African Government (F.W. deKlerk) reached agreement to end apartheid and hold open democratic elections. This ended 20 year of fighting, bombing and killing. Thousands of people had lost their lives to stop apartheid. It was finally world pressure and boycotts of South African businesses that finally brought the government to the table. This was also a very moving experience with lots of video footage of actual events.

This was a very good day. We said goodbye to Phineas and we got ready for dinner. Tomorrow we head for Kruger National Park.

Mandela's Home

Washing clothes in Soweto

Children of Soweto

Waiting for a small coin

Cutting up a cow's head

Standing where Mandela stood at Regina Mundi

Pietersen Museum

Mandela

The Falls again on the Zimbabwe side

  

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume!

OMG! The last 2 days have been unbelievable. Yesterday did not start out very well. I could not and still cannot find my yellow fever immunization record which I may or may not (according to Geoffrey McAllister of the South African Immigration) need. I was originally planning on not going as I did not want to get shipped back to Zambia or be quarantined in South Africa for 10 days. At whatever peril, I choose to continue the journey. The rest of the traveling went “pretty much” without a hitch.

We arrived in Livingstone at about 1 PM. We left immigration about 2 PM. We bought double entry visas and Kerry got all 5 visas in her passport. (Saves on paper and ink.) We were met by a guide from Wild Horizon Tours and were brought to the Zambezi Sun Resort. There was a group of “natives’ waiting to welcome us. The place is expansive and much better than I had heard. I have not seen a single cockroach and the staff has been very pleasant (New management?). (I am sitting at the pool and a security guard is shooting a sling shot at a monkey in a tree.) I should mention that there are animals in the property-monkeys, springbok, crocs, warthogs, zebra and giraffe. I have only seen lots of monkeys. Today at lunch one came up to a family eating lunch and took a piece of pizza.

Once we were in our rooms we were sent on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River in the African Queen. Unfortunately, Humphrey and Katherine were not with us. Ileen and Given were. They were our servers on this sojourn down the Zambezi. It was one of the most relaxing things I had done in a long time.  The river was smooth and the boat moved a very slow pace. Our first wildlife encounter was here. We saw elephants-a whole herd walking on the shore. One came down to drink from the river. Next we saw crocodiles swimming around, then some hippos. An elephant swam across the river. More hippos were bathing on the edge and birds were all over. What an experience! This was all culminated with a beautiful Zambezi sunset. After all this I was in bed by 9:30 PM.

Today was equally as thrilling. We began this morning with a tour of the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. The morning started off with me wishing I had my winter coat. It was cold. The sun quickly warmed the air. The falls were in walking distance from our hotel. The first look took my breath away. It was just awesome. Our guide, Joseph, fitted us with raincoats (although fitted was not the right word for mine). The thunderous sound of the water hitting the gorge, the mist and the most incredible rainbow crossing the Falls was just masterful and awe inspiring. We watched the Falls from several vantage points and, in spite of getting very wet, it was very beautiful. Moving from viewpoint to viewpoint we spent about an hour viewing at the Falls. Joseph agreed to bring Kerry and me to the border of Zimbabwe. And away we went.

The Zimbabwe side was much more panoramic and scenic. We walked through the Victorian Falls National Park for about 2 hours. Each viewpoint was more spectacular than the next. Some we did not spend much time at as the mist and spray was drenching. Once we had seen all the viewpoints and the David Livingstone statue. We headed for the border back into Zambia. All along the way we were “greeted” by venders selling just about anything.  They were even willing to trade my hat and/or my shirt. It was tempting but I kept both. (for now.) Walking back we crossed the bridge over a very, very deep gorge. People were bungee-jumping off the side. I chose to let it go until another time. We took one last look at the Falls and we crossed the border back into Zambia.

As I sit writing this, the air is cooling. It will be coat weather by sun down. You can hear the roar of the Falls in the distance. Life is Good!!!

After dinner tonight, I decided to take a walk around the complex. The hotel, the Zambezi Sun, is also part of the national park. As I was walking a herd of zebra was grazing on the lawn. They began to follow me back to my room. If I walked, they walked. if I stopped, they stopped. They grazed outside my building and moved on as I watched them from inside.

A morning rainbow over the Zambezi River

The Zambian Side

The very edge of the Falls

The hotel welcoming committee

A quick drink

A hippo family

A Zambezi sunset

Good Night! Pictures of the Zimabawe side tomorrow.

The Last Day of Congress

Before it gets too far behind me, I should just talk about the Congress. Much of the business got finished without dissention or discussion. The whole experience was not a very interesting time. Berlin was much livelier. To end the Congress, they honored outgoing officers, including Reg Weaver, and incoming officers, including Dennis van Roekel. Rather than sit through the whole experience, I chose to take the Red tour bus for and “of and on” tour of Cape Town. It was really pretty informative and as we got to one stop I remembered I had not picked up my laundry. I got off here, picked it up and joined the tour later. It was good.
The tour went by the Parliament Buildings which built by the British. Included in the complex is St. George's Chuch which is where Archbishop Desmond Tutu was rector. The tour also provided a lot of history and stories about Cape Town's development. I did learn that the V&A waterfront was not the Victoria and Albert Waterfront but the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Alfred was Queen Victoria's son who came to Cape Town to celebrate his mother's golden jubilee. In all it was very informative. It also went up Table Mountain for a panoramic view of the whole of Cape Town- Magnificent!
I spent the rest of the afternoon organizing and packing. At 5:30, a bus picked us up for an most elegant evening at the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay. It was a very lovely evening. Goodbye said, I was on the first bus back so that I could be up for that 3:30 M wake up.

Now the adventure really begins!

The congress in session

The Massachusetts group- Motely!

Students entertained at the end of the Congress

The Cape Town city hall

The view from Table Mountain

Let the Meetings Begin!

For the first day of the congress we were bused to the convention center and greeted by dancers as we walked in to the facility. I am not sure of the significance as it was not typical African dance.

The first day of the Education International Congress began with a full 2 1/2 hours of welcoming speeches. Just fascinating! We were welcomed by the Deputy President of South Africa, the Minister of the Cape Province, the Mayor of Cape Town, the presidents or general secretaries of each of the South African unions, the President of EI and a few more I am sure that I forgot. It was a great time to take a bit of a nap as the lights were out while the speakers talked.

Since we had 1 1/2 for lunch I had the time to walk over to the water front area. It is called the Victoria and Albert Waterfront or just V&A. It is very much like Quincy Market and the design looked just like the waterfront in Baltimore. Lots of expensive shops and a food court. There were street entertainers and lots of people walking around.

Back at the Congress, I got back just in time for the General Secretary, Fred Leuuwen, to give a 1 hour and 15 minute speech on the state of education around the world. Elections were held and NEA President, Dennis van Roekel, was elected vice president for North America. Then at 5:30 we broke for a reception with food and entertainment. There are delegates from 86 different countries. I got to speak with delegates from Pakistan and Botswana who I had met 4 years ago in Berlin. It was great to see familiar faces.

Day 2 was far more intereresting and moved along. We did changes to the constitution and the bylaws. A policy on education much like the one we have at NEA was passed by the Congress. There was much discussion and I was surprised at the things that people objected to. France is usually negative to most things. Go figure!

The weather changed for day 2 as well. It became colder and the winds are blowing at 50 to 60 mph. Walking is hard and it goes right through you. The event for the night was at an outdoor amusement park with not very African entertainment. It was difficult to get food so I managed a hot dog and I could not wait to get back to the hotel.

I am just beginning day 3. I have been to church at the Catherdral of St. Mary. Due to the wind, my walking tour this afternoon has been called off. I will catch up with the end of Paris tonight.

I wish more people would join the blog. I am not sure if anyone is reading it.

Dancer at the opening of Congress

Local students perform

South African Deputy President

V&A Waterfront

Cape Town from the waterfront

Street performers

The Cape of Good Hope, etc, etc, etc!

Thursday was my day to go to the Cape of Good Hope. I have taught about it all these years and I have finally seen it and stood on it. (Even though it is not the most southern spot in Africa and it is not the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.) It was another glorious day in Cape Town. It this is winter, I want some. The days get into the 70's and the nights cool to 50- Perfect in my book.

There were 4 of us on the tour and we were all from the NEA Conference. We began the morning with a stop at Camp Beach. The coast is a lot like Southern California with big waves, surfers and beautiful homes along the hill side. We continued down the coast driving through beautiful and very upscale beach towns. Our next stop was Haut Bay. Here we boarded a small boat for a 45 minute ride around the harbor.

The first thing we saw was seals along the wharf. There was a local there putting fish in his mouth and having a seal jump up and take the fish.  heading out just a short way we were treated to a show of dolphins jumping and swimming along the side of the boat. It was interesting that they only did it in the way out and not on the way back. Just a short distance from shore was a group of rocks that were covered with seals. They were sitting on the rocks sunning themselves. We circled a couple of times and back in we went. Great show!

As we went along the coast we saw a white foam on the ocean. I thought is was a foam from the crashing of the whales but our guide, whose name I never did get, said that it was salt. The coast road was a dramatic, winding road with spectacular scenery that had been cut out of the side of a mountain. What a drive! Up Chapman's Peak and then to Chapman's bay. Breathtaking!

Once in the Cape Point National Park, we went right to the Cape of Good Hope. After all I have said about it over the years, I never thought I would ever stand on it. This was just a thrill. Here were treated to wild ostriches on the beach. It was fun to watch them and even more fun to watch the Chinese tourist trying to touch them. Incidentally, a kick from an ostrich can kill you.

We, then,  went to Cape Point. Here, there is a lighthouse and a funicular to get  you most of the way up there. The views were unbelievable and it was not too crowded. We had lunch here over looking the harbor.
After lunch, we went right to the African Penguin Colony at the Boulders near Simon Town. No one really knows how they got there but they appeared and they stayed. There chicks were hatching and there were quite a few little ones looking for food.
To round off the day, not that it needed rounding, we stopped at the Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately, it was 5:00 pm and we only had 45 minutes plus it was getting dark. Next trip!

This is the end of touring for a couple of days the conference begins tomorrow. I went to Long Street for dinner. A very interesting place. Lots of inexpensive restaurants and lots of people to watch.
Catch you tomorrow with the EI Report.

Misty morning starting out

Dolphin show

Seals sunning themselves

Fish for Breakfast, UMMM Good!

View from Chapman's Peak

The Crew at the Cape of Good Hope

A walk on the beach

Cape Point

Walking down Cape Point

Nice Tuxedo!

A Whale of a Day

Hi,

Let me start with yesterday. We went on a tour to see the whales at Hermanus, a coastal town about 100 km from Cape Town. It was a magnificent drive. We went through mountains and beach communities. The views were sensational. We stopped several places along the way to look for whales. We did not see any whales but we did see a dassie, the closest living relative to the elephant.

When we got to Hermanus, our guide, Dale, was sure that we would finally see whales. No go. He decided to take us on tot the other side of the bay to look there. Still no whales but we did go to a great seaside restaurant for lunch where we sat out on the balcony. At lunch Dale discussed topics like apartheid and the current political issues with us. During the whole day he gave us historical insights and talked about current situations, like the townships and the difference between black and colored.

On the way back we stopped at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. Here we had an opportunity to see some of the indigenous plants. Protea is the national flower and there are many species. Some were in bloom. We did finally see a couple of whales just before we got back to Cape Town. It really topped of the day. What a great day.

Tomorrow is the first day of meetings. I will write about the trip to the Cape of Good Hope tomorrow.

Looking for Whales

Still no whales

A dassie- cousin fot the elephant Doesn't look like Dumbo to me!

Still no whales even at Hermanus

Relaxing at lunch

No whales yet!

The National Flower- Protea

Jackson Bush

Finally, A Whale!

A Parting Shot!

I Have Arrived and How This Will Change South Africa

I am here and it was truly worth the wait. I will get back to Paris and Rouen Cathedral tomorrow. Even though it took 26 hours to get to the TAJ Hotel it was worth it. The view from my room is magificent. I have linited internet time so I will post a couple of picturs and write and publish a post tomorrow.

View from my room

Movin' On! (Hopefully!)

Well, I am packed and ready to go to Mauritius and on to Johannesburg. I am checked in but not on to Cape Town. If I have to be delayed again I hope it is in Mauritius. This is a small vacation island in the Indian Ocean. I could get stuck in worse places.
Back to the Paris program:
On Friday we got a late start and headed for Versailles. We took the train and it took about a half hour to get there. Of course it was us and 50,000 other people. The crowds were worse than those in China at the Forbidden City and there is a billion people in China. The line at the tourist agency(at least what we thought was the Tourist information center) was very long. An opportunity to beat the line and buy a guided tour for a lot more money and we took it. Although it worked out fine, we found the real tourist desk around the corner with no line and this was just a travel agent. So be it!
When you first look at Versailles your eyes are drawn to a hideous modern sculpture. But looking beyond it you see why the French Revolution took place. The Chateau is absolutely stunning and opulent. The gilded gates and the entire facade were fit for a king!
We had a couple of hours before our tour of the interior so I walked through the gardens. I spent an hour walking through mazes and areas with scultures and fountains. None of the fountains were operating as they only are put on for special shows, for an additional fee, I might add.
At 3:30 we met our guide William. He was worth the price of admission. he should be on the stage and he had that distinctive Parisian accent which added to the show. He was great. The interior, especially the Hall of Mirrors was breathtaking. Although none of the original furniture remains, the marble, crystal chandeliers, and walls are original. The king and the queen's bedrooms were unbelievable. There were original portraits and even a Napoleon room from when he lived there. Along with William's stories, this was a great experience.
Another hilight of Versailles was the local Starbucks. Oh did that coffee taste good!

Below are some pictures at Versailles. Maybe later today I will get to work on Giverny and Rouen.

m i not right about the sculpture?

The Front Door

The back yard!

Imagine having to be the gardener!

Three statues

Some garden color

A view from the back door

We were not alone in the Hall of Mirrors

A view from above the crowd