Gardening, Classical Concert and Apartheid Museum.

The last few days have mainly gone with gardening around the property here in Pretoria. The other day I cut down a lot of bamboo-trees and yesterday I planted a couple of beautifull palm trees. Last night we went to a classical concert in Johannesburg. The concert hall was packed and we witnessed the symphony orchestra with a 24 year old soloist from Russia playing the piano. He played some parts of Beethoven and absolutely blew me away... he was so talented! '

Today I drove to Johannesburg to see the famous Apartheid Museum. Had heard so much about it and it didnt disappoint. It was really impressive!!! On arrival you see 7 high pillars standing outside the building. Its the pillars of the constitution which says " Equality" "Responsibility" "Democracy" "Diversity" "Respect" "Reconciliation" and "Freedom". Apartheid (as you know) was the system of segregation or discrimination on the grounds of race in force in South Africa from 1948-1991. The museum showed the isolation suffered by so many south africans as a result of racist legislation and as a visitor you were classified according to race from when you payed entrance and separated from others while being steered through the exibits that offered stark reminders of the desolation fostered by the apartheid laws. I spend 3 hours there but you could easily spend a day there.. So many things to read, films and photos to watch and radio from historical events to listen to..

Roundtrip of South Africa ahead! Tonight Im gonna go to the airport and pick up my good friend Andy from Manchester who will be joining me down here. And tomorrow morning we will then fly to Cape Town... Really looking forward to see that region of SA and some coastline. Having been inland all the time I havent seen ocean for a very long time...!