Live, Laugh, Play, Learn!

Today we traveled into Johannesburg to Gold Reef City, an amusement park situated on the site of the Crown Gold Mine, which produced 1400 tons of gold from 1887-1975. The park combines historical displays and amusement rides – and is generally well done. We, of course, were there to see the gold displays and did not get time to enjoy on the amusement rides. On this ride, the car goes up the old mine and then plunges straight down (not on the angle). You can see it midway down. (This ride didn’t appeal to me at all!)
We went down into the mine for a tour. We only descended to the first of 14 mine shafts. The others have been abandoned since the mine closed in 1975 and are now filled with water. At the end of the tour, we were shown a gold brick worth about $300000.
While I was allowed to have my picture taken with it, the guards would no doubt have prevented me from putting it into my backpack! As I was leaving, I noticed that there was a decorated cow on the path – reminded me of Madison’s display.








We then went to the Apartheid Museum, a beautiful building that opened about 7 years ago and presents the history of apartheid in a very contemporary museum setting.
You enter the building through one of these doors and then wander through many different displays. All in all, it is a beautiful museum that presents a decidedly unpleasant aspect of South Africa’s history very well. It reminded me of the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.
Tonight we go to a South African Gala Dinner – it should be very entertaining. Last night’s awards dinner was very nice and I expect tonight will be so also - with the added feature of entertainment by local musicians.
My final picture today sums it all up- It was at the entrance to the amusement park. All the little icons on the bottom are those things that are forbidden. But I love the message.

P.S. Robyn- It has been much colder than I had anticipated. Phil has not worn shorts (that is the acid test). But while it is cold (frost) in the early morning and late at night, it is actually fairly pleasant during the day - a light jacket is fine. I hope it is a bit warmer in Namibia because we will be outside so much more. Might have to buy a fleece!