19/0/2009 continued... PORT ELIZABETH

After bein picked u by the Baz Bus we had t endure a long and boring drive in the dark, arriving in Port Elizabeth (P.E) at around 9.30pm. Unfortunately there was nobody waiting when we arrived at Kings Beach, and we were told that the manager had nipped out on a quick errand. This turned into a 50min wait upon which he strolled in drunk, gave us a room key and disappeared! Not a great start!

20/10/2009

We were up early the next day for a tour that was part of our Baz Bus ticket and the manager was clearly eager to make up for last night. After breakfast and a trip to the shops we were picked up by Monga of Gabalash Tours for our tour, only 2 other people we taking part with us.

The first part of the tour involved a drive around the historic centre of P.E, visiting a fort and monument to the lady after who the city got its name. We then drove out of the city to visit some of the poorer areas used by the less fortunate residents of the city.

After this we were taken into a Township were we visited a school (literally 40 children in a shed!) and passed through a residential area before the customary stop at a shop (where Nicole bought some beautiful earrings). The Township was an eye opener, but the tour itself perhaps a bit zoolike.

We were then taken to a large school were the headteacher escorted us around (in 1 class the children broke into an impromptu song and dance much to the dismay of their teacher)

The tour ended with us being dropped back at the hostel and we spent the afternon at a nearby aquarium named Bayworld where we watched seals and penquins perform!

Tea was supplied by the local Spar and we enjoyed a relaxed evening reading and listening to music.

21/10/2009

Not to much of note today. We spent the majority of the day by the sea enjoying ice cream.

The main event came early on. After a long walk we arrived at the South End Museum, which tells the story of forced removals in P.E during the apartheid era. The place was quite similar to the District 6 museum in Cape Town but was fascinating in its own right.

The evening was spent back at the hostel enjoying another tea supplied by the fabulous Spar and packing up for an early pick-up the next morning to go onwards to Cintsa.