Sunday 13 June 2010
“Where to today boss?”
“A 45 minute trip out to the Tswaign Crater!”
Setting off at 8 am to go and see a crater, created by a meteorite about 220 000 to 52 000 years ago. We drove and we drove down the highway past a toll gate, looking at the gorgeous African landscape, that I love driving through, imagining it before modern man inhabited the continent, the wildlife that would roam the plains, then thinking to the original Koi-San (Bushmen) that lived here, to the tribes that drove them out of South Africa and then to the Dutch Voertrekkers or the Boers that moved up through this area to settle as they tried to evade the British that had taken control of the Cape. Thats where my mind goes on car trips.
We got to the crater and hiked up over the top to look out over the crater and then hiked down into it. There is a salt dam at the bottom. Despite the traditional story of a meteorite hitting the earth – who would believe that Justin and I used our logical sense to determine that the crater was infact created by the mother ship when it came down to earth to drop off the lasers for the building of the pyramids, yes South Africa is miles away from Egypt, but they were also using google maps to navigate, enough said!
Our next stop the Union Buildings. The gardens are beautiful and the architecture of the building is amazing, however you can’t go inside because the building is not open to members of the public. Justin and I got to meet Zakumi and take a photo with him, and according to Justin and his command of the Spanish language I had a few Mexican admirers. I should have paid more attention to my Spanish cd’s when I was living in the US. Ola!There is a central square in Pretoria modelled on Trafalgar with the coolest buildings around the square, the old architecture style is beautiful, and makes you feel like your in Europe. It’s inspiring to see heritage like this in a country where Europeans often feel that their heritage is something to be ashamed of.
Our final Pretoria stop was the Voortrekker Monument, my Oupa (grandfather) would bring me and my sister here. Its a monument dedicated to the Dutch that moved up from the Cape (to get away from the British) and find their own land in Africa. My fear of heights and uncertainty of the spiralling staircase forced us to take the elevator to the top. The Voortrekker Monument provides a great view of Pretoria. A small skylight in the roof allows a ray of light to shine down onto a tomb, once a year on December 16th, the sun illuminates the words We For You South Africa.
We finished our day off with a trip to Sandton City, crowded with soccer fans and insanely busy. We went to watch drumsticks, an interactive African Drum show. It was different to be able to play musical drums with the ‘cast’ I did however expect more but nevertheless it was still good.
Justin's version of events.
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