We started the day with another fabulous breakfast buffet at our hotel, then we walked to the V&A Waterfront to get on the boat to Robben Island. For those of you who don't know, Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela and hundreds of other political prisoners were kept during South Africa's Apartheid Era. The island is 12 kilometers off the coast of Cape Town, and it was originally a leper colony before being converted to a maximum security prison facility. The prison is now a museum, with former prisoners giving the guided tours.
On the boat to Robben Island
When we arrived on the island, we were given a 45-minute bus tour. We saw the lime quarry where Mandela and other prisoners worked for 13 years. While they worked here, they also held many political discussions (while the guards weren't watching), and many say that this is where South Africa's new government was actually formed. There is a rock pile at the entrance of the quarry which was put there in 1995, four years after the last political prisoners were released from the island. At a reunion of thousands of political prisoners who had spent time there, Mandela placed a single rock on the ground. Without any previous planning or speaking a word, all the other reunion attendees followed suit and created the rock pile, which hasn't been touched since 1995.
rock pike at the quarry
Robben Island elementary school
At the prison, we were shown some of the larger cells where regular prisoners and political prisoners, who were considered less dangerous, were kept. These cells were large enough to hold 60 prisoners in one room with bunk beds, along with a separated room for showers and toilets. Our guide explained how only non-white prisoners were kept at Robben Island. The blacks were treated much worse than the Indian and Colored (mixed race) prisoners--this was one of the many ways the prison authorities tried to psychologically demoralize the prison population. Black prisoners were made to wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts, even in winter, while Indian and Colored prisoners got full-length pants, long-sleeved shirts, and jackets. Black prisoners also received smaller portions during meals, and their food was not as good.
We walked around to see a few other areas of the prison, including the tennis courts and football (soccer) field where the prisoners were allowed to exercise of Saturdays. Eventually we where taken to Block B, where Manela and other "dangerous" political prisoners were kept in solitary cells. We got to look inside Mandela's cell, which is approximately 6 feet deep and 6 feet wide, barely large enough to stretch out as one lays on his sleeping mat on the floor. The cell also had a bucket that the prisoner would use to relieve himself. Otherwise, the cell had no furnishing. In later years, prisoners were given a small table if they were permitted to study.
the inside of Nelson Mandela's prison cell
When we got back to the V&A Waterfront, we made a quick stop at Paulaner Brauhaus to taste a few of their beers. We each got the Taster Trio, 100 ml each of three of their homemade brews. Then we walked to the other side of the Waterfront to a restaurant called Cape Town Fish Market, where we had more sushi and some Kingklip fish for lunch.
After lunch, we stopped in a few of the stores along the Waterfront to shop for some traditional drum music and other souvenirs and gifts for our family and friends. We were pretty exhausted after today's activities, so we decided to catch the shuttle back to our hotel. When we got there, we took a quick nap and then packed our suitcases one last time before heading home. We managed to get everything into the suitcases (for now). We're hoping we won't have to redistribute again when we get to the airport--we're not sure what the checked bag and weight requirements are for our first flight to Johannesburg.
In the evening, we took a taxi to the other end of Long Street to check out some of the Cape Town night life. We got dropped off at an Irish pub called Dubliner, but their live music wouldn't be starting until 10:00. We decided to check out some of the other restaurants for dinner. After browsing a few different menus, we ended up at a place called the Long Street Cafe where each of us had a pizza. Next, we walked around the corner into a bar called Julep where two acoustic guitarists were performing. Of course, as soon as we walked in the door, they decided to go on a break.
From there we walked a few blocks to the Baghdad Cafe. We enjoyed a bit of hookah and a drink while talking to the bartender about how great Cape Town prices are compared to Los Angeles. We were the only customers in the bar, and as the bouncer slept on a couch, we continued to talk to the bartender about his music career and the other bars and clubs in the area.
Next we went upstairs to a bar called Zula. There was a rock band playing, and a very small old man dancing wildly to the music. The music was pretty decent, but the crowd seemed to enjoy the old man's dancing much more than the music. After a few songs we left and went back to the Julep. This time, the guitarists were playing and we sat right in front. There music was a blend of folk and rock, and it reminded us of Dave Matthews or The Barenaked Ladies. We really wished they had CDs for sale, but they didn't. The told us the name of their bands so we could try to find some of their music on Facebook.
It was midnight at this point, past our bedtimes, so we got into a taxi and went back to the hotel. We've had an excellent time in Cape Town, and we hope we have a chance to visit again some day.
This may be our last chance to post anything on the blog until we arrive back in Burbank, so don't expect any more updates for the next 48 hours.
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