Mean Streets

(Preliminary aside-Whoops at falls in the morning both of us wearing togs at the falls as burkha clad Muslims came past...we felt exposed)

After a hair raising Zambian Airways Flight (where the pilot threw it round and climbed like he was avoiding surface to air missles) we had the stress of not finding our transfer at the airport for 40 minutes before embracing him in delight and being driven back to the nice people at the Mapungabwe Hotel in central Joberg, past the gunshops, barb wire and vibe of Harlem with a Hangover (not that Ive been to Harlem but I have had hangovers)

We had left some gear with them before doing Kruger and it was all safe and sound. Grrr tried for ages to call a NZ bank that night to check balances...fricking on hold endlessly!

Woke to the stirring sounds of sirens and attack dogs barking. We packed a box of things to send back to NZ to lighten our groaning backpacks and a somber Nigerian staff member offered to 'ride shotgun' or guard us as we went out into the streets to post it. We got there safe-bar the wandering hands of a gentleman behind Francoise in the queue accidently on purpose brushing her rump. So many security people everywhere on the streets hence the 'eye of the storm' feeling of safety. We used the gym after that at the hotel (so full of complimentary meals) then relaxed. I went for a solo stroll of downtown, trying to look as hard as I could ie I would run behind groups of locals pretending I was their friend. I got a bit too far into rundown shops (no book stores anyway! what am I supposed to do on the train!) and suspicious glances, so scampered back.

Lets hope the choo choo and the rumoured cesspool of JBerg Rail Station goes ok tomorrow

Manfred