SOWETO

Seeing as SA is so much more than just football I followed my World Cup experience (which was amazing by the way, although I'm now missing a couple of ear drums) with a trip to Soweto to see Joburg's fastest developing township. It's actually a mass of townships- hence the name SOuth WEstern TOwnship. I visited the very shiny and very elegant Maponya Mall and then did a tour of the usual sights along Vilakazi St- Nelson Mandela's former house and of Desmond Tutu's current residences, Hector Petersen Square- the memorial site for one of the youngest casualties of the student uprising against Bantu education in 1976, and topped it off with a trip to the oldest pub in Soweto- Wandie's Place! Which was a fantastic establishment to catch one of the games in fine company. When I asked Wandie who was his favourite celebrity to ever have visited, and he has many famous former customers to choose from including Brad Pitt, Richard Branson, Bill Clinton... He responded ' I liked them all, they all came for the atmosphere and to relax, I like that!' When I asked who he'd pick to walk through the door next he said 'Everyone! That door is always open.'

Unfortunately I missed out on African Fashion Week which was being held in Sandton but good to hear there's still an exciting, burgeoning, home grown clothes industry. More on African clothing later in the week though. No cycling or exercise happening. Bad times...