South Africa-First World or Third World?

South Africa cannot be considered a first world country…Far too many citizens are impoverished and illiterate; millions lack jobs or sufficient housing, sewerage or running water; and the vast majority of citizens are not trained for anything but menial blue collar jobs."

Anthony Ginsberg, South Africa's Future

The story of the townships can only be truly appreciated by a visit. It was devastating to be arbitrarily uprooted and moved, a common occurrence under Apartheid before 1994. The strength of the human spirit enabling one to survive under incredibly primitive conditions even today cannot be fully understood until visiting a township. With 60% unemployment in the townships and average white income ten times black income the future is uncertain.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, can surpass sunrise over Table Mountain Cape Town, South Africa. The weathergods smiled upon us. Sea lions and penguins frolicked around the ship. The entire ship was awake and at the rails by 6 AM inhaling Mother Nature at her best.

Cape Town, South Africa at the foot of Table Mountain at dawn

Table Mountain-Abode of the Gods

No visit to South Africa would be complete without climbing Table Mountain. Mountaintops are magic places especially early in the morning or at dusk. I was off the ship at 6AM and in a taxi to the base of Platteklip Gorge with a super friendly driver who packed a .44 magnum loaded with hollow tip bullets. He only was forced to use it once when local thugs shot up his cab. I started up at 6:20AM and summited at 8:05AM. It was fantastic to watch the sun spill over the mountain onto the city of Cape Town and Robben Island, the site of Nelson Mandela's incarceration for 18 years.

View from the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town(foreground) and Robbin Island(background)