The First Day in South Africa

I am looking through my photos and trying to figure out if I had breakfast at the hotel when I woke up in South Africa. I doubt I would miss breakfast since it is my favorite meal. I think I went down to have breakfast, then returned to my room to check email etc. 

I later found out that my co-workers intended to pick me up for a meeting. They got stuck in traffic and ended up not coming to the hotel. This was serendipitous because I was not at the hotel. Around noon I went across the street to Sandton City, the big mall that encompasses Nelson Mandela Square. Nelson Mandela Square is the location of one of the Nelson Mandela Statues. The other is at the Government Buildings in Pretoria.

When I crossed the street from the hotel, there was a woman begging for money. I ended up giving her change. I must have had a quarter in their that annoyed her. When I went back to the hotel later she gave me back the quarter. When I tell this story people will talk about the exchange rate and the fact that it was actually worth R2.5. However when you take into account the fees the money changer will charge it is not really worth it and I understand her being annoyed. When she gave it back I thought she would want it for the novelty, I later came to learn that when you are trying to eke out a living real money is more important than a novelty.

Mandela Square with the great man on the right

Lots of people come to have their picture taken. One of the fun things to see are school children that come and sing and perform in front of the statue

Another attraction at Nelson Mandela Square is the Peacemakers Museum. This is a small store front dedicated to the four South African Nobel Peace Prize recipients. In 1960 Albert Lutuli was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the struggle against apartheid. In 1984 Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize again for the struggle against apartheid. In 1994 Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize for their roles in ending apartheid and making South Africa a free nation.

Sandton City has a food court and lots of restaurants. I was a little overwhelmed and was unsure where to eat. I ended up getting a pizza at Debonairs Pizza. I know a little odd to be in an exotic country and get something like pizza. I think I was so overwhelmed and feeling out of place, the easiest thing I could think of was just get a pizza. My co-workers and I were also planning on going to dinner later in the night so I did not want to fill up.

South African Pizza



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