South Africa Day 9: My First Impression Of The Capitol
Jo'burg looked nothing like Durban or Cape Town...
My 1st view of Jo'berg from the coach.
It is the metropolitan powerhouse of the country, as it is where 10% of the GDP of all Africa is accounted for. However, there was a flip side to this cosmopolitan sovereign; while a white minority gloated in their gorgeous homes, the country's starkest urban poverty existed in hopelessly destitute townships. Millions lived in shacks without electricity and running water. And the crime problem is unreal! As the coach drove down the six lane freeway, which separated the rich from the poor, I was struck by the dramatic difference.
We did not do much on this day, as the rest of the trip was jampacked with work, lectures, events, and sightseeing. It was actually really nice to have a down day. Up until this point I had been existing on about 3-5 hours of sleep per night, plus emotional experiences that shook me to the core.
My 1st view of Jo'berg from the coach.
It is the metropolitan powerhouse of the country, as it is where 10% of the GDP of all Africa is accounted for. However, there was a flip side to this cosmopolitan sovereign; while a white minority gloated in their gorgeous homes, the country's starkest urban poverty existed in hopelessly destitute townships. Millions lived in shacks without electricity and running water. And the crime problem is unreal! As the coach drove down the six lane freeway, which separated the rich from the poor, I was struck by the dramatic difference.
We did not do much on this day, as the rest of the trip was jampacked with work, lectures, events, and sightseeing. It was actually really nice to have a down day. Up until this point I had been existing on about 3-5 hours of sleep per night, plus emotional experiences that shook me to the core.
10% of ALL OF AFRICA?!?! Holy crap.
I always learn something interesting when I stop by your blog!
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