Finally left Atlanta and, once airborne, we got right to work figuring out all the electronics involving our seats and downing the first of many meals and snacks. It hadn't been dark too long and most of us stretched out and closed our eyes, some (like me) faring better than others with the sleeping. Sleeping greatly helped to pass the 15-hour flying time. No problems with customs or finding our shuttle sent from the hotel. "Lucky" was there waiting and after a quick stop at the Versatel for Rands, (South Africa is the only country in which we will not use US dollars) we headed for the car.
Seat belts were barely buckled when Lucky wanted to know in one sentence what we say to Nelson Mandela if he presented himself that minute. Oh - and we passed the acid test when he asked if we'd watched Mr. Mandela's funeral on TV. Thank God J. and L. had done so and, full disclosure, Ron and I let Lucky think it was a group response. Still, I really liked his question. My answer was, "Thank you, Mr. Mandela, for all you have done for humanity." I told Lucky I thought Mandela was one of a few persons in our time who has worked for peace and equality in a way that impacted the entire world. Lucky is a passionate young man who speaks 6 languages and is obviously trying to make a good path for himself in life.
Johannesburg is called "The City of Gold" and, now that it is combined with Pretoria, the capital, the population is over 10 million people. En route to our posh hotel, Lucky thought we needed to see where Mandela lived while he was president so we stopped there and looked around a bit but only from the street. It's lovely.
At the hotel, we were greeted like foreign dignitaries with hot towels and what looked like the whole staff lined up for our arrival. Our bags were in our rooms immediately and all the amenities nicely explained. Later, in the hotel dining room, we had fabulous yet simple food although we did wait 45 minutes for our main courses. All was done with a flourish - the silver domes came off our entrees all at once with anxious looks to see if we were pleased. Indeed.
Seat belts were barely buckled when Lucky wanted to know in one sentence what we say to Nelson Mandela if he presented himself that minute. Oh - and we passed the acid test when he asked if we'd watched Mr. Mandela's funeral on TV. Thank God J. and L. had done so and, full disclosure, Ron and I let Lucky think it was a group response. Still, I really liked his question. My answer was, "Thank you, Mr. Mandela, for all you have done for humanity." I told Lucky I thought Mandela was one of a few persons in our time who has worked for peace and equality in a way that impacted the entire world. Lucky is a passionate young man who speaks 6 languages and is obviously trying to make a good path for himself in life.
Johannesburg is called "The City of Gold" and, now that it is combined with Pretoria, the capital, the population is over 10 million people. En route to our posh hotel, Lucky thought we needed to see where Mandela lived while he was president so we stopped there and looked around a bit but only from the street. It's lovely.
At the hotel, we were greeted like foreign dignitaries with hot towels and what looked like the whole staff lined up for our arrival. Our bags were in our rooms immediately and all the amenities nicely explained. Later, in the hotel dining room, we had fabulous yet simple food although we did wait 45 minutes for our main courses. All was done with a flourish - the silver domes came off our entrees all at once with anxious looks to see if we were pleased. Indeed.
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