November 8, 2021 - Robben Island

 This morning we had a more leisurely start to the day and were on the road by 9:30 a.m.  We went to Robben (which means seal in dutch) Island where prisoners were held, both in the beginning times of the colony of Cape Town and in more recent times during Apartheid.  Nelson Mandela was a prisoner there from 1964 until 1982 when he was moved to a different prison.  He was not released until 1990.  The travel there was by catamaran ferry which cut through the water very smoothly, but the swells were quite large and we felt them.  Especially on the way back to the mainland.  We then loaded on tour buses and were guided around the island by really well-informed tour guides.  We then were dropped off at the prison itself and our guide was a former prisoner.  He was imprisoned when he was just in high school for political protesting.  He was there for 6 years.  It was a really interesting day.  We also saw some nice wildlife, like seals, a penguin and a rare pheasant.  

Afterward, we had a light lunch on an outside patio and then returned to our house.  Cornelius and Lizette did not accompany us today as they had family commitments.  We had a short hike on the bottom of table mountain and then had bbq supper at the house.  The hydro was off from 2 to 4  and 6 to 8 p.m. today, so we started supper in candlelight.  These hydro blackouts are pretty much every day, but not too much of an inconvenience.  








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