March 29,

Last night we finally were able to get together with the Kruegers - Audray and Kirk and their two sons, Byron and Kyle, the pilot to be.  They have been dear friends of Holly and Will and the family since they first came to SA. Audray and Holly get together often to study God's Word. Byron and Lex are very good friends. Byron wants to be a chef and cooks for the school  nearby. Sometimes Lex has helped.  We had dinner with them at a restaurant called "The Other Side" which is on Monaghan Farms property but on the complete other side from Krueger's house. We first went to their house and we got a tour - wow, it is so unique and ultra modern. I loved the art they designed in the home which looks out over the entire property since it was built on a hill.

Krueger's beautiful home open to nature

From left to right, Kyle, Kirk, Audray and Byron

Lex and Byron with Byron's two girls, Lily and 

Audray and Holly



Today we put on a skit for the Gruvers and we think they enjoyed it. It was  fun because we pretend to be "Regina and Reginald" on a trip to see their children and run into all kinds of glitches along the way:

March 28th,


Last night was a special dinner out just with Will and Holly at the exclusive Saxton Hotel in Sandton/Westcliff area  - at the Qunu Grill.

Shann's steak Diane flaming

March 28th,

Only three more days and we leave this most amazing country and our dear children and grandchildren and now that I am so acclimated here, I am not ready to leave , but I must.  Today, after a beautiful evening with Holly and Will, I went with Les while he played one more game of 9 holes of golf at Blair Atholl.  I took pictures along the way and saw monkeys, snapping turtle, springbok, and all kinds of birds and beautiful scenery.   Tonight we will be meeting the Kruegers - Lex's friend, Byron's family - for dinner at The Other Side restaurant.  We are going to their home first in Monaghan Farms which is next to where Holly and Will live.


Before golf, Les and I went to get our hair cut at Jeauval Hair Salon and Bronwen Haagman cut my hair again . She had colored, highlighted and cut and styled my hair before but I wanted her to give it one more touch up before leaving. I so enjoyed her and she is Holly's hair stylist.

Vervet Monkey

Snapping Turtle

Springbok

Victor, Les's Caddie, and Les

March 27th,


Last night was just such a wonderful evening and Will, Holly, Les and I went down to Soweto and met Tibeso, the Campus Pastor at University of Joburg, Murendeni, the music minister there and two of their friends for a Chisa Nyama dinner in Soweto ( Diepkloof area) . Actually Soweto, we learned, is made up of many areas which includes Diepkloof but also, Orlando West which is where Mandelas house is (8115 Ngakane Street); Orlando East, Moroka, Pimville, Jabavu,Dube, Meadowlands. Soweto stands for SOuth nWEstern TOwnship and it was developed in 1963. As far as I can tell, Kliptown , also known once as Klipspruit is part of Soweto and is where the Freedom Charter is housed and the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication is located.  Anyway, the traditional African dinner was so interesting and delicious. Everyone eats with their fingers, using a big bowl of very hot water to wash in to begin with. Then we were introduced to POP -  a white substance like mashed potatoes but thicker which is very nutritious and is used to pick up the minced carrot dish and bean dish (chaka laka)

that goes with the highly seasoned grilled chicken , steak and sausages.  Conversation went until close to midnight as the 8 of us sat around a big table and began to understand each other, appreciate each other and learn from each other . The atmosphere was filled with lots of laughter and admiration and love. I was suprised to learn that one of the friends of Tibeso really had never spent time with a white person and was very nervous and not sure what to say or do. But before long, Les and I had become good friends and were asked to please come back and spend time with them.  It would be truly an honor to do so.  It breaks my heart to think these beautiful loving people could be so beat down by whites and yet so willing to be a friend when we show them we don't see a difference between them and us. I told them when I look at a person I do not see color - I see a person - a person that God created just like he created me. I told them that no other man in my lifetime has affected me more than Nelson Mandela because he forgave all and longed for peace among his people.

March 26th,

Today we awoke at 6 am to leave at 7 am to travel through Hartbeespoort  crossing along the Dam and heading to SUN CITY, for a day at the Palace Hotel. Wow!!! "Reginald" Les is dressed to help guide on our adventure. We stopped for breakfast at "Pick a Pancake" -

 Along the way we saw examples of African arts and crafts, the mining industry, the sunflower fields and the beautiful mountainous landscape.

 Finally, Will said those hills in front of us that we see now will soon lead us to Sun City , the Pilanesberg area of SA.

 We soon entered the entrance to this "lost city" which houses  the great Palace Hotel and what a grand entrance that surrounds the hotel.

Upon entering the hotel we look up at a glorious ceiling of color and a lovely arrangement of flowers encased in glass in front of us.

The first thing we did was head for the pool, swam, had smoothies, and then walked around and shopped until High Tea in the dining area - When shopping we toured the hallways seeing sculptures, paintings, tunnels and waterfalls. It was amazing because everything used to create this palace was made from materials that came from Africa. 

Les bought Shann a beautiful necklace and earrings here made out of Tanzanite, a rare gem that turns blue when polished and can only be found at the base of Kilimanjaro.

Here we found Shaka, the famous Zulu warrior

"Reginald" Les, explains the Pith hat to the help at the Palace

The wonderful high tea in the Palace dining area:

Shann tried the Lapsong tea and at first it was fine but had to change later as felt a bit overcome by it.

Shann tried the Green Pear later and it was fine!!

At this point, Les decided to go pick up my beautiful gift from him, the tanzanite jewelry and he had me open it at the tea and put it on - lots of pictures were taken and I was so overwhelmed.

Then flowers were delivered to all the ladies at the table. It was a fairy tale day and evening.

Everything was scrumptious except for the menacing bees

And soon we are off to explore the area in our cars and do a self guided safaris through a nearby park.