Sunday 27th November 2022
It seemed to rain throughout the night and I kept hearing different sounds in my bnb but I slept well. I woke early and planned to visit a cemetery and a museum before I returned to Johannesburg. My 8am check out time was the earliest I've had but it kick-started me out the door and the resident dogs said a friendly goodbye.
The Concentration Camp memorial park was a very somber place particularly for this Brit, looking at the headstones and names of hundreds of children killed during the Boer war. I've always tried to avoid war stories but I found myself apologising and saying a prayer as I walked through the lovely gardens. It's harrowing to think that us humans are still fighting each other after all this collective pain. I was glad to get back to my car.
The Jan Smuts museum was a 6 minute drive so I stopped by the small shopping center in the daylight to take some photos. There were a few cyclists having a breakfast coffee but I decided to rather go to the restaurant at the museum.
There was a 'Santa Paws' market on at the museum grounds and literally every man(and woman) and their dog was there. It was a lovely morning and the air seemed clean after the rain and fortunately the pathways weren't too muddy. My bnb host had told me to take a walk up to the top of the hill for a viewpoint so I headed off. The dogs were on the pathway which came to a 10km split and warnings to be mindful of route choices. I continued with most of the dogs on the shorter route but then saw a sign for the Koppie.
It was a fairly steep climb and I had moments of realising that it wasn't the 'doef-doef" of the music but my own heartbeat in my ears. So I slowed down and took in the view. The rain has made everything green and lush. The views at the top were worth it next to the Jan Smuts memorial and it was only a 3km distance after all.
The museum was interesting although not free entry like I thought but only £2.50 ( R50). Jan Smuts bought the house which had been a military house in Middleburg and had previously come from India. It was self assembled on the farm which Jan's wife, Ouma Isie, basically took over while Jan did his politics, warring and writing. The Royal family visited with a young Princess Margaret and her future Queen sister, Elizabeth while King George V1 and Queen's mother took interest in the General Smuts. Photos were prohibited inside and I wandered through the house feeling grateful for my modern equipment of my life. (I had to try recreate the royal photo, lol!)
After a quick milkshake at the Ouma Isie Cafe I drove back to Johannesburg in time for a friend to visit.
A busy, enjoyable weekend all in all.
Comments