Travel Log, November 2nd, Cape Town South Africa

It was dark and late when I arrived in Cape Town the night before...the first thing I noticed was lights, city, tall buildings, civilization.

It is amazing how you look at things when you've been in the wilderness for two months.

As I tried to lull myself to sleep, the noise although minimal seemed to pound in my ears compared to the crickets and toads singing from just the night before.

I woke up early and ready to conqour South Africa. At 7:30 AM, the city of traffic has started to emerge with a drizzle. I am dressed in a summer dress and flip flops, waiting to see the South Africa that is a heaven for most travelers.

As I depart the hostel, there are few pedestrians...all in winter coats. It does not take long for the drizzle to hit my bones and I wonder, where is Africa? In many respects it was left a few hours behind in Zambia and the differences are visible.

As I rush back to put on pants, layers of shirts and find my windbreaker....I note the people have also changed drastically. The tribes and dark skin of Africa is not apparhent in the pale faces of the Cape Town residents. The masses of Africans have left my sight as quickly as they came two months ago. I am sad to say that I am with "my people", where did the real people go?

Oh Cape Town, can it really be Africa?

As I start for my second stroll of the day warmly dressed, my eyes widen as I enter a grocery store with pristine isles, baked goods, selections of everything....lights. I see a row of banks and am amazed that ALL the ATM's are Cirrus friendly. I buy an English breakfast with wheat toast, marmelade capuccino and I savor every bite and sip of these luxuries. I go window shopping and note that all the displays are nicely decorated with crafts, antiques, modern technology and speciality items. It seems that Mastercard and Visa are accepted everywhere and I laugh.

I admit, I am like a kid in a candy store or like a grown up looking in the window at a past life of priviledge. As everyone hurries by me in their suits, I smile. I relax knowing that I have enjoyed the priviledges of their life, but with my messy wet hair, cargo pants, windbreaker and flip-flops, I am happy to be in no hurry.

The sun has come out in Capetown, the traffic has died down and the chill has gone. The ocean sits in front of me, a mountain is the backdrop and I sit reflecting of the beauty of the wild Africa and the modern Africa....the best of both worlds.

I am suprised to consider that if I had to pick, at this moment, which world I fit in...I would chose..the wild Africa.

The journey continues...