Furrowed brows and frivolity

One of our plans for the day, the Robben Island tour, cancelled due to weather conditions, but my word did we learn a lot today.  How the human spirit overturns injustice, how the swans can scrape a draw from the jaws of defeat, and how a parkrun PB can be achieved when miles away from home.

(Carys)

Another good night of rest, but I woke with a nervous feel in my stomach, in anticipation for parkrun. We got dressed tiredly, and got a taxi to Greenpoint Stadium.

anticipation of run, where are the toilets?

The run was lovely, with a low heat and soft breeze roaming the air. My lace was undone for most of it and I didn't want to stop, but I didn't mind. All-in-all, a nice course and nice day.

We managed to find a taxi to take back to the hotel, and had a late breakfast. Once again, very tasty. We all had showers and set off on our walk to the waterfront.

After having a little turn on some peculiar spinning chairs, we strolled to the Robben Island Museum. We were devastated to find out that 'due to bad weather' our boat trip was cancelled. We spent the next hour or so looking around the museum and reading about the interesting past of 'Rights For Black People In South Africa.'

spinning top

Once we'd finished, we got a drink, watched some street dancing and walked through lots of different market areas. We also saw a dog rescue centre advertisement stall, where there were lots of dogs you could play with!

We also looked around a large food market, and I was so desperate to buy some fudge that we got two chunks - white chocolate (My favourite), and strawberries & cream. Very rich and sugary, but purely delicious.

spot the teenager

In search of a place to watch the football, we visited two bars - the first a balcony bar overlooking the gorgeous harbor, and another bar that felt just like we were in a British one back home. The second bar did have football, which made the boys happy.

contemplation, a moving afternoon

The whole of V&A Harbour is simply stunning. It feels like France, London and Africa all pulled into one. I really enjoyed spending the day there.

To avoid to incoming darkness, we got a taxi back to the hotel, I changed and went out for our last dinner of the holiday. We ate in a tasty Indian, where I had a medium spice Chicken Tikka Masala, and we made the most of our last night in South Africa.

contemplation, what to eat next

(Lloyd)

6am alarm call to get ourselves right and ready for parkrun down at Greenpoint stadium.  The Stellenbosch mosquitoes had done their worst and the antihistamines kicked in, perhaps performance enhancing drugs?  Lovely morning for a run, perfect temperatures, and a very flat, paved course, and without focusing on a PB (by getting too near the front so a slow first .5 mile) I only went and got a PB!!  Albeit 2 seconds off my best parkrun time but a PB is a PB is a PB.  Chatted to a few of the welcoming locals and a nice fella from Pegasus running club in Cardiff.  He had been out here doing the 2 oceans marathon, he mentioned his tour to Robben Island that afternoon had been cancelled, a warning shot across the bow if ever I heard one.

Lliswerry on tour

family parkrunners

Taxi back to Holiday Inn Express for breakfast, and then a stroll down to the Harbourside through town.  Not the most walkable city but made good tracks and were at the Robben Island museum to be told our tour had also been cancelled due to sea conditions.  The museum itself though had some fascinating insights from the prisoners in the form of written testimonies and an exhibition recounting the history of appartheid.  Must confess to have not fully understood the scope of human rights abuse that existed for so many years in this country, just looking at some of the legislation, even before the cultural discrimination.  Guessing these kinds of entrenched views do not change overnight, but some of the quotes from Mandela and others show the intellectual challenge that was going on alongside the more brutal protests emerging from the townships and beyond.  The cultural and sporting isolation being the only real pressure I was aware of in my youth from the international community, was now put into some context by the information and moving historical accounts showcased in the museum.  Haven't read Long Walk to Freedom but will be purchasing to read immediately on my return home.

the main man

thousands of other activists

Some time of reflection at the harbourside as we moved slowly back into tourist mode.  The Victoria and Albert Dock is a lively area of street entertainers, art work, sculptures, food and of course bars.  Having done our wandering and wondering the afternoon of course took a more frivolous turn.  Lots of table mountain backdrop photos, a drink overlooking the harbour, then a quick google as to which bars might show premier league football.  Found one  https://mitchells-ale-house.com/, ushered upstairs where we were royally looked after, provided our own TV and stream of drinks to watch the Swans scrape a draw and keep their heads above water in the Premier League relegation battle.  Taxi back to the town centre, where beer and football were complemented with a curry to end the day, and a very nice one at that.  A final night cap at the hotel, and fell asleep quite quickly drunk on life, love and erm .. drink?

tammy abraham

come on the swans

our host

our toilet

our curry