Whew! What a great way to see the country, but man, those were three VEEEERRRYYY long days of driving! Arrived here in Durban, being hosted here by the family of someone my parents know back home. OMG their house is amazing, and they've been so generous. Ok, last couple days:
Wow, its been a crazy three days of driving. 9 hours, 8 hours and about 7 hours, all in a row. but we did get to see a lot of the country! Tsitsikamma is AMAZING! Our cabin was right on the water. Huge crashing waves, got to see my first rock daisies (OMG they're so cute!). Passed a lot of beautiful farmland on the way there. Reminded us a lot of Europe. After a hike to the suspension bridge, and lots of talking to the daisies, we head off to our next stop, Butterworth.
After Tsitsikamma the land started to become more arid. As the day went on, it became less and less lush farmland, more and more scrub and poorer houses. Butterworth was.....a bit overwhelming at first! It's in an area formerly called the Trans-Kei...95% black, and quite poor. We arrived at 5:00 on a Friday....huge masses of people all over the road, we had barely seen anyone in a day...overwhelming. By the guest house was fine, and the people lovely. Had a fabulous breakfast and then off for another day of driving! There's really been no stopping along the way...
Arrived in Durban, and mom wanted to go see the main square in Durban. Okaaaaay, we have no map of Durban, but mom asked some random guy and he gives us directions. Actually quite easy to find. However...our directions to where we're staying tonight were not from the center of town (Durban is SA's third largest city), but rather from the main highway. We have NO idea how to get anywhere.
Then I notice across the street from us is a SWAT team car, so mom goes over to ask for directions. She's over there a long time. Dad jokes that ha-ha mom's going to get them to take us there. OMG guess what??? Evidently they were shocked that we had no cell phone, no GPS and no map...they decide to escort us. OMG, we're being escorted on our way by the SWAT team!!!! :) I mean, who else other than the vanEijsnbergens would get an escort like that through town! :) hee hee.
Tomorrow we're going to check out the beach, then it's off to the airport to meet the others coming in this week along with us. Then a 3 hour drive to Thanda, and we're off and running! Hope I'm able to update often...but not sure what the Internet access will be.
Wow, its been a crazy three days of driving. 9 hours, 8 hours and about 7 hours, all in a row. but we did get to see a lot of the country! Tsitsikamma is AMAZING! Our cabin was right on the water. Huge crashing waves, got to see my first rock daisies (OMG they're so cute!). Passed a lot of beautiful farmland on the way there. Reminded us a lot of Europe. After a hike to the suspension bridge, and lots of talking to the daisies, we head off to our next stop, Butterworth.
After Tsitsikamma the land started to become more arid. As the day went on, it became less and less lush farmland, more and more scrub and poorer houses. Butterworth was.....a bit overwhelming at first! It's in an area formerly called the Trans-Kei...95% black, and quite poor. We arrived at 5:00 on a Friday....huge masses of people all over the road, we had barely seen anyone in a day...overwhelming. By the guest house was fine, and the people lovely. Had a fabulous breakfast and then off for another day of driving! There's really been no stopping along the way...
Arrived in Durban, and mom wanted to go see the main square in Durban. Okaaaaay, we have no map of Durban, but mom asked some random guy and he gives us directions. Actually quite easy to find. However...our directions to where we're staying tonight were not from the center of town (Durban is SA's third largest city), but rather from the main highway. We have NO idea how to get anywhere.
Then I notice across the street from us is a SWAT team car, so mom goes over to ask for directions. She's over there a long time. Dad jokes that ha-ha mom's going to get them to take us there. OMG guess what??? Evidently they were shocked that we had no cell phone, no GPS and no map...they decide to escort us. OMG, we're being escorted on our way by the SWAT team!!!! :) I mean, who else other than the vanEijsnbergens would get an escort like that through town! :) hee hee.
Tomorrow we're going to check out the beach, then it's off to the airport to meet the others coming in this week along with us. Then a 3 hour drive to Thanda, and we're off and running! Hope I'm able to update often...but not sure what the Internet access will be.
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