Jo'burg from the Casino to Soweto

(Elke) So, what can I tell you about today? The contrast with the other days really could have not been any bigger. Today, we experienced the real city life of the second largest city in Africa after Cairo, namely Johannesburg. The city has played a predominant role in the history of the whole country. It all began with the seeking of gold at the end of the nineteenth century. Before that, this city was nothing more then a collection of a few farmlands. It explains why the city center is not having any historical center at all. It contains mainly modern buildings. But when you think of Johannesburg, you usually don't think about the city center, but you associate it also with its role in the abolition of the Apartheid regime. The visit of the Apartheid museum gave us the right background to understand more the steps in that whole process. Our visit to the Constitution Hill with the visit to the old black male prison and the women prison was a symbol of that Apartheid museum. But at the very same place, you have the Constitutional Law, a symbol of the rainbow nation South Africa with prospects for a better future. This country is really full of contrasts. This makes it sometimes hard to live, but also so beautiful. Our contrast day could have not ended better than in Soweto. I usually thought this was a suburb of Johannesburg, but in fact they have about 4 million people living there officially. If you see their living conditions, it could be many more. The poverty is shocking to see but at the same time it is impressive to see how quickly it is changing and how many efforts are done. The people really have the hope and the pride their Soweto will be really beautiful in a few years from now.

(Francesco) What to say. I have already expressed my view on my experience in Alexandria and the museum. I was pleased to see that despite being not all new to me ... it still touched me just like Elke. One thing she forgot ... we visited a place where they have all sort of things for tribal rituals from roots to dead (dried?!) chickens!!! Brrrr!!!