lets get lucky....

I want you to know the beauty too...


An interesting trait to South Africa, or Africa in general, is the chance of the power going out. It can come any time, any day, with or without warning (has happened 3 times and still have not been warned..) and that happened yesterday around 3:30. We prepay our electricity, so my first thought was that the electricity was out, but oh hello, it was time for the power to go out for another stretch, this time for an 18 hour stretch. Oh the joys. My biggest concern was not showering in the dark or being in total darkness in our huts, rather it was the food I had just bought! I think it will be ok though =)
Today we are lucky and the internet seems to be working well, so I'm going to try uploading some pics...

This first picture is from when I flew a couple weeks ago, looking down at one of the stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup taking place in cities across South Africa.
The pilot and I. I just wanted you to see what we flew in!

Me looking dorky on top of the mountain! I don't know if you can tell, but it was a great view! It was the weekend of our Frontier Farms where 10 varsity students went and we got up the mountain by riding in the back of pick ups- standing up.



Us girls and our new friends. This was an amazing restaurant we ate at in Stellenbosch (wine country) that one of our waitresses earlier in the trip suggested. We were greeted by people in traditional dress and guided through outside canopy and tree top seating. The menue was buffet, but the service first class. They came and painted our faces, performed the entire night then came over and sang us all a song in Xhosa. I tried ostrich meat, ox tail, dudu, lamb, venisen, springbok and cajun chicken, as well as three types of fish. ...Pretty sure I tried all the desserts ;)

This is us girls at the secret waterfall we canoed to in Wilderness. Beware... though it may look beautiful, there were secret tiny leeches when you touched the waterfall!



When we got into Cape Town we went on a township tour. It was last minute planning, but one of the most beneficial decisions we made. It changes your perception when you learn a lot about the past and history that makes up a nation from people who lived it. This Bed & Breakfast (in case you can't tell) was pioneered by a lady named Vicky who thought- why not have a bed and breakfast in the township? We got to talk to her and take a tour of the place.

This is Nelson Mandela's jail cell where he was locked up on Robben Island.

The Beautiful Greek Orthodox church that we stayed at one night. It was in Robertson, in between Oudtshoorn and after Mossel Bay, but before we headed on to Stellenbosch. Pastor Zacharius was amazing and we all loved staying there! It was one of the best nights sleep all trip.

These are the fresh water pools that we swam in when we went with mountain club. This is the first one we came to and we could even drink the water it was so fresh! We swam through about 10 on that hike. Such a good day!