it's still lekker, really lekker

so i left for Cape Town pride on saturday covered in face paint, sunscreen, water, jacket, money in my black bag. and i had an ingenious plan. i'd tie the strap of my camera to my bag with a lanyard. that way, if someone stuck their hand in my bag and tried to pull it out, i'd realize, and catch them and be a hero. well, i ended up home sans shoes, flipfops, water. and a lanyard tied to a camera strap that had been cut. argh. but, oh well. thats the kind of thing where you say 'shame' and then go back to the party anyway.

some good habits I've adopted and maybe some not so good ones:
- attending the summer concerts at Kirstenbosch. Goldfish was amazing. the venue is amazing. nough said.
- J-walking. look right. cross to center line. stay really skinny. look left. run like hell.
- shopping early. liquor stores close at 5. wow
- hiking partway up Devils Peak to Rhodes Memorial before class. its great to start your day with a beautiful view and hideous sweat stains
- buying produce from the guy who comes buy with a truck packed with veggies on tuesdays at 6pm. your total is either 35 or 40 rand, depending
- stopping at the student pub after class for a savannah dry with lemon, and maybe a rugby game, if it's on
- swimming between classes in the outdoor pool at the gym
- responding to 'sister' and 'baby', responding with 'love', 'bru' and a smile or two
- walking to class barefoot, but only when its cloudy

you haven't seen anything...

...until you've shared the love with Soweto Gospel Choir, danced, sang and celebrated in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens while the sun sets behind Devil's Peak. heartfelt, amazing, joyous. get your fix: http://www.sowetogospelchoir.com/VIDEO.html

the opening reggae band was equally fabulous. Devil's Peak and Table Mountain are in the background. mmm

Spaces

the land around Camps Bay used to belong to black Africans. During Apartheid residents were moved to townships as a part of the forced removal policies instated by the government

The 12 apostles keep watch over Camps Bay Beach and its wealthy residents

Tin shacks in the townships like this one sleep as many as four families at once.

wine, oysters and sunsets at Camps Bay

The main taxi station in central Cape Town--combi minibuses are by far the most convenient and cheapest form of transport

champagne, gourmet sandwiches, homemade pizza, sushi, handmade jewlery and white people at the Old Biscuit Mill farmers market

To get into the city from the townships blacks and coloureds road the trains to work during Apartheid. Most of them still do. I walk under the train tracks everyday on my way to class. Sometimes when the train stops whole cars of people will be singing hymns in Xhosa. Going to work has never been this beautiful.

sunset over Camps Bay Beach