BANNERDAYS: Robben Island and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

I've been reading Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, so a highlight of our time in Cape Town was touring Robben Island, the prison where he spent 18 years in a very small cell. A former political prisoner took us through the cells, explaining what life was like there. Derrick Bosson was only eighteen-years-old when the system of apartheid was wreaking havoc on the lives of those condemned because of the color of their skin. He spent five years there and is a strong advocate for tolerance and acceptance of others despite differences. We all want the same things, he said; we are all God's children. Amen.

The view of Cape Town from Robben Island ---another San Francisco similarity.

Derrick

Bosson,

Freedom

Fighter

The limestone quarry where prisoners labored in the unforgiving sun. The small cave provided temporary relief. The 1200 stones in this pile near the entrance to the quarry were placed there by former prisoners. It reminded us of the stones placed on Jewish graves - a sign that the lost will not be forgotten.

The cell where Nelson Mandela

spent eighteen years of his life.

The gate where prisoners left the prison to return to their former lives - "The long walk to freedom" of Nelson Mandela's book.

The new soccer stadium, one of nine throughout the country of South Africa built for the 2010 World Cup.

Nobel Peace Plaza with statues of the four recipients of the Peace Prize from South Africa:

Albert Luthull, President of the ANC, African National Congress who won in 1960;

Desmond Tutu, Bishop of Johannesburg who won in the 1980s for his work against apartheid;

Nelson Mandela and FW DeKlerk who shared the prize in 1993.

The mountain peaks known as the Twelve Apostles.

The temperature was perfect as we strolled through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. We saw many plants and flowers that were familiar because we've seen them at UCSC's Arboretum which has an African garden. Now we know where to go when we want to remember our time in Cape Town, South Africa.