Monday, February 21, 2005

South Africa


Has anyone been to South Africa? If so where did you go? What drew you there? And did it captivate you mind and imagination as it did to me? I visited Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa in February of 2001. Looking back on what was perhaps the most amazing vacation of my life I often realize the things that I didn't get to see or do because I was too worried about finding good American food or awestruck by the three story mall in Johannesburg. In Cape Town we were diligent in seeking out the most obvious tourist destinations including Table Mountain, Cape Point, and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. We did take a Sunday drive along Chapman's Peak, which apparently is pretty dangerous according to that link. However, our experience revolved around our first tastes of a first world country in about 14 months and it that regard it was well worth it. But as I mentioned before something captivated me while I was in South Africa. Maybe I realize the things we missed such as the wine country or the travesty of not actually going to Robben Island to see where Mandela struggled against aparteid or that we drove past Kirstenbosch and Stellenbosch almost everyday and failed to stop. I have since read numerous books about South Africa and it only continues to raise my curiosity and desire to return the Natals of South Africa.

Friday, January 28, 2005

History Lessons

So tonight I am going to brave the ice and sleet to go see Hotel Rwanda.
I must admit that at the age of 17 when this was occuring I had no idea what it meant or even where Rwanda was. Little did I know in a mere five years I would have the opportunity to live in that area and actually cross the border into Rwanda. I've heard many tales of adventure and compassion that took root in the volcanoes north of Rwanda in Zaire. But tonight I look forward to watching a movie about the human spirit and the incredible things it can endure in the face of tradegy. Paul Rusesabagina was a man who was capable to live for a cause greater than himself. How many of us are capable to look beyond our circumstances and impact the world? I'll be back with my review next week, but here's what others are saying....Roger Ebert's review and The New York Times.

This is a test...

And this is only a test. I am completely new to the world of blogging and I'm not even sure why I started one. I am unsure of how this blog will turn out or if anyone will actually read what I write. But at best I figured I do have an opinion on most everything, so I might as well write about it.