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Tuesday, July 4th, Randburg, Johannesburg, SA. 16:40 Local, 10:40 EST: Everything arrives safely, after our 26 hours since leaving home and 17 hours of enclosure on out 747. We have 9 bags, - 4 on board, 5 as baggage, 2 kids, 2 passports - 3 months multiple entry tourist visas. We begin our adventure. Jill meets us at the exit from customs & immigration - still very Brit with Green & Red exits. We both note that neither of us appear changed by the intervening 20 years. We head off to the parking lot. Immediately you notice the incredible underlying stink of wood smoke - even in the arrivals lounge. Toronto smog has absolutely NOTHING on this - cooking fires, no wind to speak of, all contribute to a truly obnoxious choking sensation. Traffic - we have to go around the ring road to the other side of Jo'burg, is reminiscent of what we just left behind, 3 lane expressways, several accidents on the way we hear, are indicative of the "first world roads, third world driving", favoured by the populace. Always keep your doors locked, windows shut, DON'T STOP!. Speed limits are 120KPH, 140 KPH plus seems to be the order of the day. We arrive at Jills. Many changes since I was last here. Every house in the suburb has barred gates, some with intercoms, most with dogs. All advertise how fast the "instant armed response" team will be there if there is an alarm. A kind of "can you steal (rape, murder dissembowel etc) what you want to in this time and get away, or you're dead?" A different version of the game of chicken maybe. This appears to be an urban war zone. At the house, locks everywhere, 3 to get into the house, (not counting the front gate), security system, more locks. Jill has been burgled 4 times before the system went in - she was lucky, she was not home any of these times that the thieves called! After some catching up - Jill & I go back to Jo'burg in 1975, and some sage security recommendations, we're out for a pretty good meal at the local Beef & Lobster restaurant. Five of us, steaks, seafood, bottle of wine, R280 about $CAN65. Not bad a little less than Canada maybe. I use the credit card to make sure VISA knows I'm actually down here and will not refuse credit sometime in the future when I really need it. Surprisingly, none of us are badly jet lagged, we all had some form of sleep on the flight, and even the extra 6 hours, have not kicked in. Still, we try to adjust to the daylight saving time, and retire, slightly drunk, but happy that we have successfully begun our trip, with all of our bodies, goods, faculties and humour intact. Tomorrow is another day, and Southern and Eastern Africa awaits us. |