Tuesday 7th March 2023
I woke up feeling so much better today plus my knee pain has eased a bit. Perhaps I just needed to let go of some tears, much like the sky tonight. It's full moon but with big clouds and lots of thunder so I won't see the whole of the moon tonight...( song there somewhere)
In spite of my Smart car mechanic checking the oil after the 1000km and him giving me the news that the 'rings must have collapsed' I didn't fall apart. He suggests oil every 500km because what is probably needed is an engine overhaul. He proceeded to talk 'motor' for the next 10 minutes while my brain turned it all around and asked if it would be okay till May. I came up with that solution and of course, it drove like a dream on my return trip.
I stopped in at the Russian Orthodox Church which was only 5km away. This golden domed building had been a point of curiosity for years. I'd seen it shining in the distance on a run in Midrand in 2010 and always promised myself I'd find it. There was one car in the parking as I drove up but it seemed all closed up. I got out of my car and took some pics when a second car pulled in the gate and a security guard appeared and growled at me to come in. I think the Russian personality has rubbed off on him, haha da.
My next mood lifter stop was the Nizamiye Mosque, 10 minutes closer to Joburg. I'd visited before but not had a tour, so I asked if there was anyone to help me. A young lad appeared and he showed me around. He realised that he had a keen ear, which sadly started fading after 40 minutes and a huge hot flush later. I excused myself and refused a cup of tea, which is so rude of me but I needed to leave.
The mosque is 11 years old and is a smaller replica of one in Turkey. All the tiles, lights and marble are imported from Turkey and the roof murals are hand painted. It's truly a beautiful building and really worth a visit. They are very welcoming to outsiders and I'd planned ahead and remembered a head scarf to cover my head. It was tartan, mind you, but it did the job.
A busier and healthier day than yesterday and I am full of gratitude again. Yey!
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