The last two days, just like the rest have flown by! I worked Monday, and Grandpa and Grandma went on a township tour. Although the township tour was described by both as depressing, they both enjoyed it for the value of seeing and understanding the history and struggle of the people living in the townships.
In the township, Grandpa and Grandma visited a home and a daycare. The kids were very cute (4 and under) and sang the national anthem for them. The national anthem is composed of the 11 different official languages. There was one little boy who stared at them the whole time they were there, with a worried look on his face. Grandma thought he was as cute as can be and wanted to put him in her pocket and take him home. I saw a picture of him and agreed. He was a jolly looking little fellow, dressed up like a little business man with a round serious face.
While the living conditions of the people in the township were cramped and basic, Grandma and Grandpa reported that the people were very clean and happy. The children were dressed in neat, clean uniforms, and Grandma was impressed how clean all the clothes were hanging on the clothing lines. What did stand out to them in regards to negative aspects of the township, was how much litter there was around. There was trash everywhere. Grandma and Grandpa discussed that if everyone went out and picked up 5 pieces of trash, the township would be so much cleaner. The tour guide reported that a challenge that the townships face in regards to litter is that the construction companies come out to the townships to dump their waste, which is absolutely appalling.
In the evening we went out for fish and chips. I had fried fish and calamari with rice, Grandma had fish and chips, and Grandpa snoek (game fish) with jelly, chips and coleslaw.
Yesterday (Tuesday), I had another day off. We went to the South African Air Force Museum in the morning. There were a variety of planes to look at, as well as artifacts and art. My favorite display was over the rescue vessel and supplies a pilot would have if his plane went down in the ocean. It was interesting to see the how a person would manage while lost at sea. For lunch we went to the Ethiopian restaurant that is tucked behind the convenience store in the Central area. While we almost didn't find the restaurant, because it is tucked away in a convenience store, we eventually found it and had an enjoyable lunch. Beverages for the meal are purchased in front, in the convenience store. Lunch was quite the feast and very filling. We had a lamb dish, a beef dish, 3 different kinds of lentils/peas, salad, cooked cabbage, potatoes and carrots and homemade cheese. The homemade cheese was Grandma's favorite part of the meal. The cook/waitress/owner(?) is a very sweet lady, who talked about her hopes of expanding the restaurant into a venue that was more restaurant like. I reassurred her that the food makes up for the venue!
After lunch we visited the library, which is like something out of a movie. The front of the library is dramatic, a gothic feel of architecture. Inside the library, the walls are lined floor to ceiling with books. On the second floor of the library, which seems to be the main area, there are balconies off the main floor with floor to ceiling books. The windows are stained glass, as well as the dome in the ceiling. After visiting the library and walking around for a bit, we headed back to the B&B and then Grandma and I picked up my friend Ethelyn and headed down to the beach for some shell hunting. After the beach, we went back to the B&B for a dinner of our Ethiopian leftovers and bread pudding with custard.
Today, once I am done with my halfday of work, we will be going to the Nelson Mandela Art Museum. We are taking in the last of the sights here in Port Elizabeth, because we leave for Capetown on Friday!
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