12 May to 26 May 2019

I got back from AfrikaBurn feeling exhausted.  I had no regrets leaving before the finale weekend. After bringing all my gear inside, I cleaned it as best I could. Everything was covered in sand, including me.

Cape Town had experienced a severe drought and was only recently recovering. Water use was still strictly limited.  I guiltily showered under a cascade of delicious hot water, a minute, or two, longer than I should have. I watched as the desert  I’d taken back with me disappeared down the drain. That night as I got into my clean comfortable bed, I couldn’t recall the last time a bed felt that good.

I still had a few weeks in South Africa. I took another few days to relax and then began thinking of touring the Garden Route.

The Garden Route is one of South Africa’s major tourist attractions. It encompasses about 300 kms (190 miles) of beautiful coastline, a range of mountains, and many small towns.

The best way to explore the Garden Route is with ones own vehicle. But driving on the left and shifting gears with my left hand was a daunting prospect. I wasn’t sure I was up for the challenge. However, options were few. The few travelers I met with the same idea were planning the same route in less than a week, I wanted twice that, and a “hop-on, hop-off” tourist bus did not offer much freedom.

Leading up to my departure I sat directly behind the Uber drivers and mentally practiced the manuevers I would be doing on my own. It helped. And like most things, the anticipation was worse than the reality. It didn’t take me long to adjust to driving on the opposite side of the road, although I kept a mantra of “Keep Left” at the ready.

Leaving Cape Town I passed the multitude of million dollar homes perched on the hills of neighborhoods like Clifton and Camps Bay. And was soon encountering Mitchell Plains, a sprawling township with shacks of corrugated tin with incongruously pretty pastel accents, sitting atop windswept dunes, visible from the road. Once again, the extreme disparity of wealth, along racial lines, was unsettling.

I continued along  the coast and a haze lifted.  The sea emerged from a palette of grays to those of brilliant blues. The rocky shoreline was dazzling.

Unsure of how my first day behind the wheel would be, I’d booked a place in Pringle Bay, only a two hour’s drive from Cape Town.
The town was barely that with a few shops and restaurants. I managed to grab lunch before a recommended spot was closing for the day.

The host of my AirBnb, Kirsten, had settled here from Germany decades ago and as of late was making her living selling her paintings. The fact that she’d only begun to paint a few years prior was particularly remarkable. Her work was decorative and easy on the eyes. I understood her success.

I looked forward to walking along the beach, but coming from Cape Town, I was wary.  But the only warning I received was to insure all windows and doors of the apartment were carefully locked before leaving home. Thieves of the human kind were not the concern. Baboons roamed the area in large numbers and although they were not known to attack anyone, they would rampage a house in search of food if given the slightest opportunity. And although extremely thorough they were anything but cautious and tidy. Kristen showed me a baboon’s hand print left from one such visit still on her wall as she described the disastrous state her apartment was in.

As a rule, I didn’t stay many places more than one night. Fortunately, there wasn’t much distance to cover  between towns so I usually had ample time to explore.

The terrain changed markedly.  Open flat expanses abutted beaches with adjoined mountains and forests. Each day offered a rush of beauty.

I largely relied on Google Maps for directions and often found myself on back, gravel roads that seemed to go on forever. Much of the land was hilly and I felt like I was driving on top of a roller coaster.  I would pass, on occasion, workers tending to huge tracts of lands. Otherwise there would be no one around for miles.

One road I took stopped dead before a wide river.  A ferry powered by the strength of three men was there to take me across.

I headed to Cape Agulhas considered to be the southernmost tip of the African mainland. I was rewarded with a climb up the lighthouse, an opportunity to see where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, and see the remains of the Meisho Maru shipwreck. The coast is treacherous and maps indicate the hundreds of ship wrecks that occurred here through the centuries.

I headed further east to the De Hoop Nature Reserve for a night and booked an early morning, 7 a.m. guided tour with a naturalist.  I was the only participant.  Despite the early wake up, it was a great way to begin a day.

Still Bay offered a glimpse of the independent fishermen carrying on the tradition of their forebears.

Two nights spent in a luxurious treetop with only the sound of birds was divine, but I missed the sea.

The Tsitsikamma National Park offered cabins on the sea. I got an unexpected thrill to see a whale jump from the waters. The area offered beautiful trails and some tourist attractions.

Monkey Land and Bird of Eden were perfect destinations for a rainy day.

Reportedly the Bloukrans Bridge is the third highest bungee jump in the world at 216 meters. I was satisfied to watch others take the dive and impressed with their courage.

I decided to return to Cape Town by the inland route, along Route 62. It offered a very different, but no less stunning landscape through lush and arid mountains.

The Garden Route is renowned for its vineyards. I only visited one winery where I was given two complimentary glasses of wine, in addition to the one I ordered, at lunch. Everything I tasted was delicious, but it took me a few hours to sober up. Luckily I had walked there from my B and B.

Ronnies Sex Shop is a popular tourist stop along Route 62. It began as a joke with friends of the owner when they added “Sex” to the original sign and created a popular tourist destination. It was a welcoming place to stretch my legs.

As I traveled the Garden Route, I understood its appeal. Beauty is found at every turn.

The two weeks passed quickly. I was back in Cape Town and my flight to Namibia was in two days.

To be continued…

29 April to 3 May 2019

My reason for going to Cape Town was to stay put for a month or so, hike, read, and relax after a few months of steady travel. Things didn’t work out exactly as planned. The locals I met, besides infecting me with an unpleasant dose of paranoia with their frequent warnings, kept mentioning AfrikaBurn which I had never heard of. My curiosity was piqued.

The promise of artistic and personal freedom with a heavy dose of hedonism, epitomized by the “Burning Man” extravaganza launched in 1986, has since created international, annual, franchises of sorts.

AfrikaBurn is one of them and follows the same principles: radical self-expression, communal effort, self-reliance, freedom, and leaving no trace, to name a few. Which,  I would learn, offers attendees an opportunity to express themselves and do things they likely couldn’t, shouldn’t, or wouldn’t do elsewhere.

For one week “Burners” display their creativity in the forms of their extraordinary, functional, “mutant vehicles”, large wooden structures/art pieces (to be ceremoniously burned), colorful attire or none at all, and engage in mostly drug-induced revelry, while inviting the fierce wind/sand storms to strip away any remaining inhibitions.

Since I am no fan of crowds, using drugs, wearing costumes, and wild partying it would seem obvious to most that AfrikaBurn may not have been an ideal event for me. Yet I found the creative environment very appealing.

Usually people spend an entire year preparing for AfrikaBurn, where they will converge in the requisite barren, isolated, desert location, Tankwa, Karoo. Despite its starting date in a mere ten days, I decided, if at all possible, to go.

Getting a ticket, transportation there and back, and supplies would be difficult. The 13,000 tickets are strictly limited and were already sold out, rides were organized months in advance, and I had no camping equipment of my own.

The event is expressly designed for participants only, not spectators, and any options to join a project this late were extremely limited.  However, the official website stated an ongoing need for volunteers. This proved to be the open door I’d been looking for.

I contacted Sarah, in charge of coordinating volunteers, and expressed my interest in lending a hand despite my lack of a ticket, transportation, equipment, and a camp to join (Complete self-reliance would be difficult given the harsh environment.). She was sympathetic to my plight, if not overly optimistic, and suggested I use Facebook as a resource. My experience with social media is limited, but using various online venues I managed to find rather quickly a ticket and a one-way ride (I figured getting back to Cape Town would be easy enough with 13,000 attendees). All I now needed was a camp to join. Those I knew of were already full.

I decided to check out Couchsurfing and found the “Burning Couch” camp listed.  Lydon the organizer, from Cape Town, was friendly but made it clear that free-loaders were not welcome. I convinced him of my sincerity and soon a flurry of WhatsApp messages connected me to our group. Menus were planned, shopping trips were organized, and meetings were attended.

The people I continued to meet in Cape Town uncannily fell in one of three categories: they were going to AfrikaBurn, they wished they were going to AfrikaBurn, or they’d already been to AfrikaBurn. They all expressed delight that I was going, but kept focusing on the subject of costumes. Costumes? I was still lacking a sleeping bag, a tent, and even the most basic camping supplies. My concerns for survival seemed markedly out-of-place.

I kept Sarah abreast of my progress and remaining obstacles. She graciously gave me the number of a friend willing to lend me AfrikaBurn essentials like a 25 liter container for water, cooking and eating utensils, lamps, parasol, and “fairylights” generally used to decorate Christmas trees and patios, but worn at night to avoid getting run over by mutant vehicles. I went out and bought a tent, a goose-down sleeping bag to ward off the night-time temperatures, and enough food (none requiring refrigeration) to ensure I would not go hungry.

It took me several days to obtain, organize, and pack my gear, but now, the day before departure, I was ready (the AfrikaBurn website was excellent and in addition to many tips provided a list of “survival” items each of which I had dutifully crossed off upon acquisition.) I had goggles for the sandstorms, multiple scarves, also for the sandstorms, and a range of clothing for the variable desert temperatures. But still no costumes. I figured I’d wear my regular attire with some creative flourish and fit in well enough.

Marcos from Uruguay, and his British friend, Victoria, both in their early thirties, had flown in from their respective home towns the day before, specifically to attend AfrikaBurn. They picked me up punctually at 5am in front of my apartment. The plan was to arrive at the gates when they opened at 9am. We had exchanged many messages back and forth after our initial contact on Facebook, but it was our first meeting. I was impressed with their reliability and relaxed, friendly manner. Marcos’ mother was Brazilian, his dad was from Argentina, his grandparents came from both Portugal and Italy. He possessed five passports and was in the process of obtaining a sixth. Our conversations largely pertained to travel, but a comfortable silence filled the time too.The last stretch prior to reaching Tankwa, on rough gravel roads, was notorious for flat tires. Fortunately, we were spared and the drive went smoothly, despite Marcos deciding that this was the perfect occasion to drink and drive for the first time in his life.

Entering AfrikaBurn was like entering a parallel universe inspired with ample doses of Peter Max, Mad Max, and Victoria’s Secret (despite the scorching African sun, there was no shortage of exposed flesh). The atmosphere was festive.

Marcos and Victoria dropped me off at my camp and we wished each other well. They were giddy at their much-anticipated, now finally here, days of non-stop drinking and dancing.

My fellow “Burning Couch” campers came from all over the world, were mostly traveling on their own, and in their twenties and thirties. Our number grew with each day. Apparently Lydon had difficulty turning anyone away. Amongst the dozens, there was: Jose, a chef, with large portraits of Einstein and Dali tattooed on each calf. He twirled his Daliesque moustache while tirelessly assisting anyone attempting to cook with the finicky propane stove.
Linda, a self-professed stoner. It was only a matter of seconds after she awoke before her stash of marijuana appeared and a joint was passed around. Yet, she always managed to have a cup of tea ready for anyone tired, thirsty, or in need of some comforting conversation.
Bernalee, nineteen, from South Africa, had been nervous about AfrikaBurn’s reputation for drug use and relaxed mores, but decided to go anyway. My initial impression of her being overly sheltered, and fragile was shattered when she told me of traveling to the U.S. to bicycle from New York to Florida, by herself, only weeks after learning how to ride one, and her hitchhiking through Honduras and El Salvador alone. Bernalee’s aversion toward drugs was never an issue. (Neither was my lack of interest.) The atmosphere was refreshingly non-judgmental and once her concerns were allayed she relaxed.
Johan, an exchange student from Amsterdam, was quiet but clearly wise and extremely thoughtful. He was instrumental in helping me drive heavy stakes for my tent into the concrete-hard ground–crucial given the strong winds–a grueling, painful task. He had an oversized thumb, not from hammering, I presume he was born that way, which in no way hampered his agility, but immediately brought to my mind the protagonist in “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.”

Everyone in our camp was remarkably easy-going, helpful, generous, and kind. Time was spent as we chose, but all were encouraged to participate in a rotating preparation of dinner and eat together. And we did.

During the heat of the day many of the “Burners” sought shade under a tarp or visited one of the many theme camps. They were marked on a map, with opening hours, and catered to virtually every interest, need, desire, and fantasy. While some people were dancing to the electronic waves of sound, others were finding their inner spiritual animal, freeing their sexual inhibitions (so I was told), getting intentionally “bad advice”, charging their cell phones with solar power, sipping Ethiopian teas beneath a bedouin tent, or learning how to repair a bicycle. Some were opting to take showers with the washing done by hands other than ones own. For the modest, private showering was available elsewhere. Others were sipping pink bubbly from long-stemmed glasses in the cozy “Marilyn Bar”, complete with swivel stools, decorated with larger-than-life posters of, naturally, Marilyn Monroe. Some spent their time driving around in mutant vehicles. And everything was free, except the ice.

Night time most people sought wild revelry, and I sought my tent for sleep. My efforts, I would quickly learn, were futile. The incessant, deafening, pounding sounds, calling it music would be a stretch, started around 10pm and continued until 7am. The bass beat thumped through my torso and echoed like a jack hammer inside my head. I managed to sleep at most a few hours each night. My mood each morning was less than cheery. Those who had chosen to have a sleepless night with the aid of mushrooms, who knows what, and youthful energy were appallingly good-humored and would remain that way for the duration. I politely hid my crankiness as best I could. Drinking very strong coffee helped.

The slot I had chosen to fill as a volunteer “Greeter” coincided perfectly with a blinding sandstorm. I stood on a road completely exposed to the elements welcoming newly arrived Burners with my best smile hidden between large plastic goggles (similar to those I wore on lab days in high school) and sheaths of fabric to keep the sand out of my mouth, nose, and ears. Fortunately, people’s delight in finally arriving to AfrikaBurn bolstered my enthusiasm. I offered them hugs and danced a Chaplinesque two-step for several hours. Fighting the relentless wind and sand was exhausting. After my shift, I headed directly to my tent where I didn’t budge until dinner, fours hours later.

Camps ran the gamut in size and creature-comforts. Some consisted of elaborate dwellings complete with gazebos, couches, dining tables, and chandeliers, others, like the one I joined, were basic camping experiences with a tarp covered eating area and a propane stove.

Toilet facilities were shared by the entire AfrikaBurn community and called “loos with a view”. They were seats atop huge tanks that required some stairs to reach. When one sat just a head and depending on how tall the person was, some shoulders, would be visible. The seats faced out in the direction of the surrounding expansive desert, thus the “view.”

The climax of AfrikaBurn is aptly, the ceremonial burning of the towering wooden art pieces. A large audience gathers and a solemn silence fills the air while the carefully monitored flames begin to roar, and some courageous souls run naked around the periphery. After the fire reduces the piece to ashes, spectators wander off into the darkness.

Despite AfrikaBurn’s guiding principle of participation, admittedly, I engaged in only a few workshops suited for the less adventurous, like the Ethiopian tea tasting. My participatory role was my stint at volunteering, taking photographs, always welcomed, and my many conversations, which included reassuring two teen-age boys that their fear of LSD was not something they should be ashamed of. My wanderings were never dull.

But after four sleep-deprived nights, with a stream of events and people–no matter how lovely they were–and hearing that the approaching weekend would be when the real partying began, I began looking for a ride back to Cape Town.

I found one with a woman rabbi from Toronto.

12 April to 29 April 2019

I. Joburg to Cape Town

Taking the train from Johannesburg to Cape Town is not a popular option. Those who can afford to, fly and those who can’t, prefer taking the bus. But being partial to train travel, I found the twenty-six hour train trip appealing and booked a berth on the Shosholoza Meyl train.

Before embarking at the Joburg station, I met a British couple and their extremely articulate, poised teenage daughter Estelle. Later, the daughter revealed her sleepless nights fearing the world’s end, in precisely twelve years, if the effects of global warming were not halted. Her fifteen-year-old shoulders were far too young to be carrying such an enormous weight.

A sixtyish woman with bleached blonde hair and nose ring shared my compartment for several hours. When she wasn’t complaining about the delays and calling her son with constant updates, she was sharing the sordid details of her husband’s murder by his lover and her husband, because, according to her, ” He wouldn’t divorce me to marry her.” She described the slaying, completely unsolicited, as if she were describing the interior of a kitchen she was remodeling. I headed to the dining area soon after and stayed there until I was certain the woman reached her destination.

I began speaking with Terrance, who managed the dining car, during his free time. He always had a book in hand and had read every self-help book he could acquire. He’d come from abject poverty, but his mother instilled in him a passion for learning. He was fortunate. Many of his friends were dead or in jail.

For the rest of the voyage I alternated my time between the dining car for conversation and dining, and stretching out on my berth reading the inexplicably engrossing second volume of Karl Ove Knausgard’s My Struggle.

Before leaving Joburg, while still on the train platform, I briefly met a young girl of six or so who spontaneously reached up to hug me. I told her it was one of the best hugs I’d ever had. She and her mother were traveling on the same train to Cape Town. I told them I would see them later.

But, I didn’t. That evening I took a walk through the cars. I hadn’t realized that the dining car that I’d been enjoying for meals, conversation, and relaxing, divided the train into two parts. Passengers with reserved berths, were the only ones with access to the dining car and the entire train.

When I stepped into the first car past the dining car, it only had seats. There were no compartments nor berths. The car was crowded, unlike the section of the train I’d been traveling in. Women were busy tending to their children or trying to sleep sitting up. The few men were engaged in a game of poker or sneaking a smoke between cars. Large parcels, which presumably contained in part water and provisions to last the trip, were positioned throughout the car. There was no place for the adults to recline. Babies and small children, nestled together and slept on clothes and blankets carefully arranged on the floor. All the passengers were black. Where I was enjoying the comfort of berths and separate compartments, all the passengers were white.

As I went from car to car looking for the girl, I was met with looks of surprise, apparently few tourists ventured to this part of the train, but my smile and greeting was received with warmth. A few curious passengers asked where I was from.

A few cars later, I saw the girl sitting next to her mother. “I found you.” I said unable to contain a big smile. The girl once again outstretched her arms and we embraced. Once again her hug with its warmth and innocence instantly touched my heart. After some moments chatting together I wished her and her mother a good evening and made my way back through the many cars of seated passengers to my berth.

Coming from a family of modest means, I did not grow up being one of the “Haves” in a land of “Have-Nots.” Here it was inescapable and unsettling.

The twenty-six hour train trip stretched into thirty-two. Along the way we stopped at a small community for fifteen minutes. I got out to stretch my legs, breath in some fresh air, and take a few photographs. Others went out for a smoke and some picture taking too. Children were playing nearby with some wheels and a stick. The community was poor and the homes were very basic. Within minutes a camera was snatched from the hands of an older German tourist. The thief ran off and quickly disappeared. A Swiss, well-built man did his best to follow, but came back empty-handed. We had been given no warnings from the crew, but the deftness of the offender undoubtedly came from practice.

My own experience with theft was less dramatic. Back at the Joburg station I’d bought some drinks and snacks for the trip at a small supermarket. I didn’t buy much, and didn’t pay much attention to the price given in the local currency. But after buying a drink on the train, I questioned the amount I’d paid and looked at my receipt. The cashier, while scanning my items, also scanned an expensive package of imported prosciutto. I suspect any misgivings she may have had would not taint the taste of the delicacy.

The train ride continued peacefully and uneventfully. The enjoyment of the generally unchanging, but nonetheless picturesque plains of the “Karoo,” allowed time to pass pleasantly by.

I had planned on arriving at my rented apartment in the daylight hours, but with the delay it was nearing 10 pm. After the many warnings I’d received about the crime rate in Cape Town, something I would hear over and over again, seeking out a taxi ride at the station was something I’d hoped to avoid. When I overheard a fellow passenger calling for one, I asked if she could arrange a pickup for me as well. She made this trip often and knew many of the drivers by name. She arranged for one of them to meet me upon arrival.

II. Arriving in Cape Town

As we disembarked at Cape Town’s central station, I looked for the young girl and her mother once again to say goodbye,  but did not see them. They and most of the other passengers had inevitably gotten off at the previous station on the outskirts of town where the townships are.

I invited the British family to join me and we all walked from the train to the taxi area. The large station was nearly empty and quiet, but not, as I had expected, intimidating. There were no hustlers nor hawkers in sight. Just a few tired travelers, like us, heading toward their destinations with bags in tow. An “Excite” taxi was waiting at the exit. After dropping off the family at their hotel I asked the driver if we could make a quick stop at a store so I could buy some food. I hadn’t bothered to eat dinner on the train expecting an arrival at every moment and dining in a restaurant at that hour did not appeal to me. Despite doing little and having ample time to stretch out and relax during the long journey, I was tired and wished only for a quiet evening alone at home. The driver graciously obliged.

The beauty of Cape Town that I had heard so much about, was obscured by the busy four-lane road we drove on dotted with a few fast food joints and large, nondescript buildings. The driver pulled up to a service station and I dashed in. The pickings were slim, but I found some bread, cheese, and yogurt with unfamiliar brand names to sate my hunger.

The apartment I’d rented had a metal electric gate, as most of the residents in this rather upscale neighborhood did. I used the code I’d been given and the gate swung open, but finding the correct door to my apartment was more challenging. There were many apartments to choose from and the instructions I’d received offered no clear guidance. As I tried the key in several doors, I hoped no one would mistake me for an intruder. Armed response security notices, like in Joburg, were prominently displayed.

I eventually found, without incident, the apartment in the very back of the building. It was a stylish, small duplex with a private enclosed patio. I settled in quickly, prepared a small meal, and went upstairs to the bedroom, grateful to have a clean, comfortable, quiet place to call home.

III. Cape Town Life

My original plans of strolling and hiking freely in Cape Town were short-lived. The parameters of what was deemed safe by the people I spoke to, all white, were oppressively narrow. I was told to avoid many areas during the day and not to walk anywhere after dark- the sun set around 6pm.  It was difficult to access whether they were paranoid or prudent and I was too new in town to trust my own instincts.

The admonishments to take Ubers, which I dutifully if unhappily did, to go even short distances in the evening had an upside. Many of the drivers came from Zimbabwe and were usually listening to music from their country. I would ask them about the upbeat, rhythmic guitar driven tunes and learned of the late, great Oliver Mtukudzi. His music, and that of other Zimbabwean music makers, was a great improvement over the pop/easy listening muzak I politely endured with other drivers.

The days were passing quickly and I was still blind to the city’s appeal, I sought to lift the shroud cast by the pervasive fear and glaring racial inequity. Admittedly, beauty abounds in Cape Town. The coastal drive, mountains, and nearby beaches are stunning.

Penguins at Boulder Beach are delightful.

Lion’s head and Table Mountain offer breathtaking views.

The V & A Waterfront, despite its large shopping malls, still has remnants of its fishing industry.

Kirstenbosch Gardens, once owned by Cecil John Rhodes, are gorgeous.

Colorful Bo-Kaap displays a thriving neighborhood with a fragile history and future.

Historic Company Gardens offers a taste of the colonial past. The museums offer excellent collections of art.

There is jaw-dropping architecture, namely the multi-level Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art built from abandoned grain silos.

And the powerful and beautifully designed District 6 Museum which focuses on Apartheid’s devastating effect on communities and individual lives.

The hip, once marginal, neighborhoods of Woodstock and Observatory  offer a taste of the gentrification to come ( for better and for worse) with cozy cafes, cute shops, art galleries, and award-winning restaurants.

And nearby towns offer different perspectives and  experiences.

Some chance encounters in Cape Town led to invitations for dinner at some exquisite abodes worthy of House and Garden covers, including a Passover Seder where the guests were mostly Christian. Their high fences, security alarms, and car culture creates an allegedly safe, yet insular lifestyle. My hosts were kind, welcoming, educated, interesting, and white. My discomfort with the country’s skewed social order, not that my own country is exempt, was usually best kept to myself.

While my strolling around Cape Town increased with time, the warnings remained steady.

In an effort to stay on the “safe” streets during my heavily curtailed precious moments on foot, I asked people, en route, the best way to get somewhere. Conversations would begin and coincidentally many of the people I spoke with were planning on attending AfrikaBurn. “AfrikaBurn?” I asked. I’d never heard of it.

To be continued…

8 April to 12 April 2019

In the eighties I had a neighbor from South Africa. I remember being surprised when she told me how beautiful her country was. The ugly images of apartheid proved so potent that I never gave any thought to the terrain itself.  And the only positive images I had were of the people courageously fighting the injustices, and the music of Miriam Makeba, who as a child enthralled me with the clicks she made while singing Pata Pata.

In the nineties Nelson Mandela was freed, apartheid crumbled, international boycotts were lifted, and the people of South Africa, with devastating wounds, created a democracy. I followed these events while they made headlines, but as other events took precedence my attention went elsewhere, as did I when traveling.

Seeing Searching for Sugar Man in 2012 gave me my first real glimpse of South Africa and reminded me of my neighbor’s comment. What I saw was beautiful. Yet I continued to choose other destinations.

Recently I was looking to go somewhere new and settle in for a month or so. Cape Town came to mind.

I found a direct flight from Paris to Johannesburg and decided to stay four nights before taking a train south. I knew next to nothing about Johannesburg and sought a contact.

I found Mary online through Couchsurfing–an organization that brings travelers and residents throughout the world together. Her profile mentioned her passion for gardening. The idea of someone creating gardens in “Joburg” appealed to me. She was happy to meet, show me her gardens, and some of her city. I’d booked a guesthouse in Melville which turned out to be near her home. We made plans to meet the day after my arrival.

I arranged to be picked up at the airport. Mike, the driver, a white man in his forties, was standing at arrivals with my name printed boldly on a card. He was friendly and our discussion quickly led to my questions about post-apartheid South Africa. Race, he explained, remained a very sensitive subject and people generally do not feel comfortable discussing it. (The topic of race is impossible to ignore here. I found myself thinking about it more than ever before.) He assured me he had no problem addressing any questions I had. Being a foreigner, I’d learn, made my interest and inquiries less problematic.

After admitting my feelings of shame and sorrow at America’s own history and ongoing racial problems, Mike opened up. He revealed that he was far more comfortable with blacks and black culture than his own. Although he had grown up in a self-described “racist Afrikaan family” where he was taught “White is Right,” the music of black Africa and Bob Marley pulled his affinity elsewhere. ( After listening to some Afrikaans music later on, I could easily understand  why.) He was convinced, despite his light eyes, blonde hair and pale skin, that he had black blood. He hoped to have a DNA test one day to prove it.

The apartheid laws had four race categories (although based on appearance and background, some individuals were arbitrarily classified). Ones race defined ones rights and privileges or lack thereof: White (including the Japanese), Indian, Colored (people of mixed race, and the Chinese), and Black. Societies are rarely color-blind nor entirely harmonious, but these laws successfully stripped millions of their opportunities, livelihoods, and dignity.

The Agterplaas Guesthouse had been a farmhouse and sits prettily on a hill across from a nature reserve. I was welcomed warmly by the staff and invited “to have tea on the stoop.” A stoop to me are the stairs of an apartment building leading out to the street and a place where residents gather to chat or watch passersby. I looked at the stairs leading down to a large terrace and thought it quaint that I was invited to have my tea there. But “stoep”, I quickly learned is Afrikaans, derived from Dutch, for “veranda”.  No surprise, after all a part of Manhattan was called “New Amsterdam.”

I chose the guesthouse solely on its excellent reviews. I didn’t realise that its neighborhood was one of the more desirable places to stay. Melville is a tony suburb of Joburg with excellent restaurants, cute shops, and cafes. The stylish homes are often bordered with high gates and the signs stating “24-hour Armed Response” are prominently displayed. It also boasts being the home of artists and intellectuals.

The staff at the guesthouse said it was safe for me to walk the short distance to Melville’s center, but that it was best to stay on the main street, particularly after nightfall. While standing on the street  in front of a cafe, I took out my phone. A young male waiter quickly told me to put it away. “Phones get snatched if you’re not careful.”  I thanked him and made an effort to change my habits. Crime is a constant concern here; the subject of race is tied directly to it.

Despite South Africa having an overwhelmingly black population, the people I’d seen up to that point had been overwhelmingly white. So I was pleasantly surprised to see people of various colors in the cafes, restaurants, and shops of Melville. The day was lovely and “Poppy’s” outside tables looked inviting to have a leisurely lunch. After a mostly sleepless ten-hour overnight flight my plans for the day were not ambitious.

A stylish woman and man were deep in discussion a few tables away. The woman spoke with such eloquence and intelligence I couldn’t help but listen. Her ideas on religion, women’s rights, and race flowed with extraordinary fluidity. She sat confidently in her scarlet sweater. Her blonde hair accentuated her light brown skin. The man, wearing a natty dark blue suit, articulated his differing opinions intelligently, but his talent for the spoken word, although impressive, paled, like most of ours would, in comparison to her glorious talent.

I tried not to be rude, but since their topics were theoretical rather than personal I rationalized that listening in was not too inappropriate. Their banter continued as I ate. The woman never faltered for ideas. Her vocabulary was rich and nuanced. I was dazzled. So much so, that after finishing my meal I couldn’t resist getting up to take a closer table to hear them better. Their conversation involved various thoughts on the development of belief systems. They were amicably disagreeing and she said unaware of my eavesdropping,” It would be nice if we could hear others opinions on this.” I boldly asked if I could share my thoughts. “With pleasure!” she said. I quickly confessed my social transgression. “Why didn’t you join us earlier? I’m having to leave in a minute.” We chatted briefly before she said, “I really must run.” She jotted down her phone number on a piece of newspaper and gave it to me before dashing off.

The man upon her departure asked me where I was from. We began discussing travel and he mentioned, without bravado, an extensive list of all the places he had been throughout Africa, Europe, and the US. He was particularly knowledgeable about US affairs, even more so than the many foreigners I meet who impressively rattle off the names of US politicians and events. His family was Zulu and had lived in South Africa for generations. When I went to pay my bill the owner asked if I knew who I’d been speaking to. I didn’t. “She is Iman Rappetti, a well-known radio announcer and he is Thembisa Fakude. He works for Al Jazeera News.”

I would speak to Iman again by telephone, but unfortunately  our schedules did not permit us to continue the conversation we had begun.

Walking back that afternoon to the guesthouse I passed several men standing on the street corners, often in shabby attire, wearing neon green or orange vests. Depending on who I asked, these men were either car-guards who kept an eye on the vehicles for tips, or conspirators with the car-thieves themselves. The unemployment rate in South Africa is over 25%, roughly the same rate during the height of America’s Great Depression in the 1930’s. One study states the unemployment rate for people under thirty-five exceeds 50%. People are finding means to get by. Security guards are a common sight.

The following morning I took a Uber to Mary’s house. Although it was perhaps a twenty-minute walk I was advised to go by car. Her neighborhood was not quite as upscale as the one I was staying in, but lovely homes, also with high fences and signs, lined the streets. I arrived at a large wooden fence and rang the bell. Loud, deep barking came from the other side. Dog ownership is very high in the suburbs.

Mary opened a portal in the fence and assured me the two pit-bulls, a common breed here, were friendly. They were, but they were effectively intimidating. She and I knew very little about one another, but we fell into conversation easily. Mary is petite and wiry with short curly hair. She had on a tee-shirt, sweatshirt, and jeans with some holes–I presumed they were not a fashion statement. In my simple black pants and sweater I felt overdressed. She had moved into the cottage, at the back of her friend’s property, a few months before. I was invited in and offered some delicious homemade ginger Kombucha. We sat together on a sagging, but comfortable couch sharing aspects of our lives. Mary’d been traveling around South America, and elsewhere, for years, then settled on a kibbutz in Israel. After a long stay she decided to come back to Joburg where she’d grown up. She’d just recently returned and her passion for gardening was evolving into a small business, advising and helping homeowners create their own gardens. She’d started giving her services for free, but that soon became impractical. She strives to live virtually cash-free through self-sustenance and trade, but even that, she’s conceded, has its limits.

The furnishings of her home were simple and sparse, but it was cozy and welcoming. Plants were lining the short hallway and elsewhere. A few were destined to be planted at the GreenHouse Project in town, where we would be going. Her own garden was punctuated with small, pretty paths, and neatly planted rows of greenery were beginning to flourish. It was hard to imagine that a short time ago this yard had been overgrown and neglected.

I’d asked her about some current events and she said she made a point not to read newspapers or follow the news. Her goal was to live in her immediate world and make positive changes to it where and when she could.

Mary had made an appointment at the GreenHouse Project to trade one of her plants for seeds. The Project is a grassroots effort to renovate a greenhouse in the middle of Joburg and create a viable green space for planting, and educating people about the environment and ecology,  She asked if I minded taking a local taxi to get there, even if it might mean some crowding inside. I let her know I was happy to follow her lead. The taxi stand was about a ten minute walk away. I was pleased to be walking. The streets were virtually empty except for a few men and women, mostly black, carrying groceries, or garden tools, and the occasional white jogger.

We stood by the side of a busy road and she extended a hand with one outstretched finger. Her other hand held the plant she would be trading. The number of fingers extended indicate the desired destination; a single finger meant downtown. When a mini-van pulled up I was surprised. We got in. I’d ridden in similar vehicles throughout the world, and in Brooklyn, but never called them “taxis”. I then understood why she’d asked about the crowding. We found two seats together in the back. Our money was passed forward to the driver via the other passengers and our change was returned in the same manner. The system was universal. The fare was six rands, about forty cents. Like elsewhere, this was the cheapest means of public transportation. As more passengers got in, the seating did get crowded, but everyone politely shifted to make room. Mary and I engaged in conversation while I enjoyed a taste of local life. The man sitting to my left wore a suit and frequently looked down at his watch, teenagers in school uniform lively chatted together, but most of the passengers sat quietly until signaling the driver to be let off. There was little of note except the wide, heavily trafficked highways outside the window, and that we were the only white passengers.

Mary discovered the GreenHouse Project by chance. I can’t imagine a better fit.

Once the taxi dropped us off, we made the rest of the way there on foot through the crowded downtown streets lined with small shops and makeshift stands. People were selling everything from fruit, vegetables, electronics, and clothing, to shoelaces, pots, and pans. Once again our fair skins stood out.

Like Mary’s garden, the greenhouse and its surrounding gardens had been neglected, but there was ample evidence of wonderful things to come. As I walked around, Mary waited for her “contact.” She chuckled that the swap of plant for seeds had felt like an illicit drug deal, but she was thrilled. She’d acquired artichoke seeds.

I was introduced to a few of her friends, Shane and Andrew, also born and raised in Joburg. As Mary dug into the earth, she gently reminded them as they worked nearby not to weed her area. They’d mistakenly uprooted months of her gardening efforts.

The sun was rising and with it the temperature. Its forceful rays didn’t seem to bother anyone as they toiled, except me, and I was just watching. I sought the nearby shade and enjoyed the calm of the urban oasis.  But I still hadn’t recovered fully from my long travels the day before and I was fading. As Mary and her friends tirelessly continued, I suggested we go for lunch sometime soon.

Not long after, we headed off. Andrew and Shane joined us. Andrew wore a haircut that looked as if his barber had been blind. It was notably jagged with seemingly no logic one could define. But he later revealed it had taken six years of trial and error in collaboration with his hair cutter to get this look “just right.” Andrew exuded an extraordinary gentleness and innocence, to the point where he seemed “simple.” When he wasn’t gardening he was doing street art and our discussions later revealed his markedly acute and creative mind. Shane worked professionally as a gardener and in local politics. He was concerned about the upcoming presidential elections and tired of the rampant corruption. The party of Nelson Mandela, the ANC, had freed him from apartheid’s oppression, but he conceded the leadership and values had gone astray.

We went to their favorite Ethiopian restaurant a short walk away. It was in a worn looking multi-level shopping center where all the products came from Ethiopia. Incense was burning and men gathered at small tables sipping coffee. Women stood behind the counters wearing traditional, elegant Ethiopian dresses and headscarves. The restaurant was basic, but clean, with circular tables and wooden benches. We were the only customers and chose a cozy corner by a window.

I asked the server where the ladies room was. Instead of indicating the direction she escorted me through several hallways, a few passages, and two flights down. A man standing at the entrance of the facilities asked me for two rand. The only cash I had was a fifty rand bill. He said he’d give me the change when I got out, but I sensed it was best to get my change then and there. Another man entering the men’s room just across the hall quickly offered to pay my entry. I suspected the two rand, about fourteen cents, was worth far more to him than me. I accepted his kind offer with gratitude. Heading out I noticed both men were gone, but the woman was waiting to escort me back to the restaurant.

While taking the delicious injera bread and assorted vegetables with our hands from the communal platter, the four of us talked about social programs promoting independence over dependence, art, and politics. It didn’t surprise me that our outlooks and opinions were similar. Our lunch was delicious. Including food and beverages, it came in total to ninety rand, just over six dollars.

We dashed over to the nearby Johannesburg Art Gallery, an art museum with an impressive, eclectic collection spanning several continents and centuries. It was soon closing for the night. Despite being the largest art gallery in Africa, it is relatively small, but our twenty minutes did not do it justice.

Downtown Joburg was bustling and crossing the street was an adventure. But my companions made sure my habits–South Africans drive on the left–did not jeopardize my safety.

We wandered over to Drill Hall which had been a military base in 1904, and later a courthouse where 156 anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela, were charged in the late 1950’s with high treason. It’s now a community center and home to one of Shane’s buddies who’d just gone on a four hundred kilometer bike trip.

Shane was hoping he’d already come back. His friend, Tarrence, a Rastafarian, came walking down the hall. Dreadlocks were piled high on his head under a purple head wrap–I couldn’t help but think wearing a bike helmet was out of the question. He greeted us warmly with the words “blessings” and put out a fist to be met gently in lieu of a handshake. The ride had gone well.

We were invited in to his art studio/home and took places seated on the floor in a circle. Tarrence’s sculptures and artwork, according to him “all works in progress” filled the space and decorated the walls. The sculptures were constructed from mannequins, gas masks, bicycle parts, wood, and fibers. The paintings were all painted on wood panels. Some of his friends soon joined him. It wasn’t long before a pipe was passed around and the small space was thick with fragrant smoke. Tarrence began recounting his bike trip to see his spiritual master, and the master’s golden aura.  He’d found it amusing that the sage had tired of his disciples crying and complaining for his help and said, ” It is your work, not mine. You need to meditate. I cannot do this for you!” The thought of this made us laugh.

We’d spent the day in downtown Johannesburg where white people generally do not go, yet Mary had no qualms shopping there alone.  Prices were much lower than in the suburbs. However, it was getting late and Mary made it a point to always be home before dark.

Admittedly, I felt safe throughout the day, but being flanked by locals at all times probably helped.  Andrew and Shane walked us to a taxi stand where Mary and I got into a crowded minivan back to her home. I let them all know how extraordinary the day had been and hoped to see them again. I picked up my bag from her house, where she’d suggested I leave it for safe keeping.

Visitors, after exploring the Apartheid Museum, are invited to walk the grounds outside. There are paths passing through open fields of tall grass where birds gather and sing, of wild flowers, and sturdy trees. I was grateful for this place of peace and beauty. The images on display and  the stories  told are not easy to shake.

I hoped to visit the Soweto Township, but was hesitant, to book one of the popular bike tours. And a brochure’s photo of a huge group of tourists did not entice me. But I called Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers for the following day and learned that only two people had signed up.

I was warned back at the guesthouse not to get a “wonky” bike, and was delighted to find, with some effort, the Rolls Royce of bicycles. It was supremely comfortable for the four-hour tour and rode like a charm up the long steep hills, and over the paved, and unpaved rough dirt roads.  The guide Chico had grown up in Soweto and was sensitive, informative, and enthusiastic.

Given Soweto’s size and our frequent stops, we saw only a small section of the township, but it was time enough to visit several neighborhoods, the home of Nelson Mandela, the more stately one of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, and the workers camps where families live in poverty.

Even in the townships the disparity between the haves and have-nots is great. It felt awkward riding our bikes and touring the area, particularly the impoverished ones, but residents were friendly throughout. Many greeted us and a number of children gleefully ran by our sides deftly pushing along tires with sticks.

Soweto’s history is fraught with tragedy and suffering. Today there are signs of positive change.

We stopped at Lick’s Jazz-Inn for refreshments.

Lick himself was in attendance. He was joined by his friend, Justice. Their friendship had spanned over fifty years. His small club, he pointed out, catered only to the serious listener of jazz, and not to any riff-raff looking to get drunk and brawl. Pictures of Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Louie Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and other jazz greats hung on the walls. A sweet piano solo was coming from the speakers. As I sat sipping a cold glass of Ginger Beer, I saw a poster of Miriam Makeba and mentioned to Lick how much I loved her. He disappeared and a moment later Miriam Makeba’s singing of Pata Pata filled the room. Spontaneously I got up. Justice came over and took my hands. We danced and swirled and I heard Miriam Makeba say

Pata Pata is the name of the dance
We do down Johannesburg where
Everybody starts to move
As soon as Pata Pata starts to play

Visits of varying lengths between 2 January and 7 April 2019

Although I have made my home these past two years anywhere I spend the night, Paris, like New York, is where I have my favorite places and can arrive there without a map. It is where I can spend time with people very dear to me.

Paris is where I wander aimlessly through ancient streets and wide boulevards, sit near the Medici Fountain, and stroll in the Jardin Luxembourg, browse books sold by the bouquinists along the Seine, ride a bicycle along the Canal Saint-Martin to the Bassin de la Villette in the north of Paris and watch men play petanque , see a film, and enjoy the undulating rhythms of the day while sitting at a cafe.

Public life in Paris reveals a medley of humanity in all ages and attires: groups of children, wearing brightly colored vests, guided by their attentive guardians, walk in pairs, hand-in-hand; dog owners patiently wait for their beloved pets, sometimes in colorful attire, to sniff; aged men and women push walkers a few centimeters at a time across streets while concerned bystanders stop the traffic; lovers of all ages kiss; tourists take selfies against iconic backdrops; riders navigate skillfully, and not so skillfully, bicycles and scooters through the streets; a well-dressed woman wearing gold high-heels steps out from her sleeping bag on the sidewalk where she presumably spent the night.

I never tire of the frequent beauty surrounding me in Paris, or become immune to its charm.

22 February to 17 March 2019

If someone asked me which are the best months to visit New York, February and March would be lowest on my list. Snow storms, heavy rains, strong winds, and chilling temperatures are far more likely than sunny, pleasant days. The approaching of spring may be indicated on a calendar, but it is rarely indicated in the weather forecast.

Yet, as an informal anniversary of my departure in 2017, I’ve annually been back in New York at this time to see my loved ones.  It is a time to spend precious moments in the company of those who know me best, and whose company I cherish. Technology keeps me connected otherwise, but nothing compares to sharing moments face to face.

As with all dear friends, the previous distance and time that lay between us dissolves instantly. It is as though I had seen each of them moments before.

The pickings were slim, but I was able to find an apartment during my visit exactly where I’d hoped to: steps away from Prospect Park,

the Brooklyn Library, Brooklyn Museum,

the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens,and a relatively short distance from Coney Island.

Despite the many places I have been, found beautiful, enjoyed immensely, and felt at home in, these places, which I have known since my childhood, shared with my family, and lived walking distance to for many years, provide me with a unique sense of peace.

As I write this, thousands of miles away, I easily relive precious moments strolling through Prospect Park, the Botanic Gardens and Red Hook,visiting Coney Island and Brighton Beach, warming by a fireplace in Washington Square, shmoozing over oysters in Midtown, sharing a grilled cheese sandwich Downtown, heading to Long Island for a walk in a preserve, enjoying time in a game arcade on the Lower East Side, seeing exhibitions at two of my favorite museums, dining on foods I rarely find elsewhere, having sleep-overs, talking hour upon hour about everything and anything while breathing in the same air, hugging tightly, and laughing freely, with my dear friends and loved ones.

And even the weather gods were kind while visiting home, dispersing warm, sunny days between those with snowfall.

11 February to 18 February 2019

Before leaving Cordoba, I found a duplex apartment in Granada. It was larger than I needed, with two bedrooms and two baths, but the three terraces with views of the city and the Sierra Nevada mountains compelled me to book it.

The response from the host, Rafa, was unexpected. He had just returned from traveling and was not eager to leave again. Would I be willing to share the space–he was not only very quiet, but we would each have our own floor–and in return, he would be my personal guide? I thought, Sure. Why not?

Rafa asked me my interests, and what I would like to do. I told him about my desire to know local culture and the non-touristy Granada. The Alahambra being the obvious exception, and a day tour there was the only activity I’d planned.

We made arrangements for him to pick me up when I arrived in town via a BlaBla Car (think Uber meets Airbnb). His station wagon was packed with some chairs, a table, and an array of large knickknacks. After his studies he’d become a web developer for ten years, but tired of it. These last three he was making a go at selling antiques and curiosities. I immediately felt at ease with Rafa. He was responsible, considerate, and happy to speak only Spanish.

His apartment resembled a museum. After settling in he showed me, like a proud father, some of his finds. The stuffed armadillo and lava lamp didn’t wow me, but the vintage clocks, radios, record players, all working beautifully, and the 19th century stereoscope with images of Granada and the Sierra Nevada did. The views from the terraces did too.

Later I decided to do some exploring on my own and wandered up the steep, narrow, ancient streets to the Plaza de San Nicolas.

Kind locals, who lived in this maze of winding streets, helped me find the way. In the bustling plaza, tourists gathered for a splendid view of Alahambra, young folks in Haight-Ashbury circa-1967-style sold handmade jewelry with their docile dogs in tow, and men sang and strummed their guitars for offerings.

I didn’t linger long and found an outdoor cafe with an equally stunning view, minus the crowds and fragrant smoke. It was a great place to relax, write, and spend a few hours admiring my surroundings. I sipped a beer and slowly emptied an overflowing dish of olives. The sun’s rays were fierce, but an umbrella provided shade.

I’d passed a flyer announcing a Flamenco Jam that evening at 9pm. Despite an early start and long day I decided to go. As soon as the sun went down so did the temperature. I was reminded of the snow-covered mountains’ proximity. I wandered awhile then sat in a Middle Eastern Cafe to wait an hour and get warm, sipping fresh mint tea and eating baklava. The other customers indulged in kind or smoked shisha.

The theater housing the jam was small and informal. Wooden benches filled the narrow space down to the elevated stage. Most of the seats were filled. Some of the audience had brought instruments. A guitarist, piano player(rather novel I thought), and singer filled the intimate space, baring their souls, with passion and song . After an intermission these gifted pros invited younger musicians to jam.

The musicians found a place both physically and musically on the small stage. Each took a solo in turn. A young woman sat unobtrusively on the side of the stage wearing a tee-shirt and jeans beating the rhythm with her hands. And then she stood up and was instantaneously transformed. She embodied flamenco with her every breath and gesture. Her body twirled, swayed, and stomped while her hands moved like birds. Song flowed in rhythmic harmony while she danced. Each sound encouraged another. And then all too soon, she sat unobtrusively once more.

The concert was over at 1am. I was more energized than tired, but I’d made plans to go swimming around noon the following day and I was happy to go back home. But where was that exactly? I had no idea. I’d wandered most of the day without paying attention. And my phone’s battery had run down.

Fortunately I remembered the address and knew the apartment couldn’t be too far. I stopped into a bar explaining my plight and a woman working there wrote down directions from her phone. After some additional requests for assistance, all graciously heeded, I found home.

In the morning, while drinking my coffee, Rafa asked if he could join me in the living room. “Mi casa es tu casa.” I replied. I didn’t wish him to feel unwelcome in his own home. I’d been enjoying the images on his stereoscope and was gently reproached for not being up on the terrace to enjoy the morning view. Frankly, I’d forgotten about it. The top terrace with a 360 degree view of the town and mountains was a perfect way to start one’s day, particularly after the sun rose enough to warm the day.

Rafa and I made arrangements to meet later at the pool. I would be his guest. And then he mentioned that my planned visit to the Alahambra during the day would be wonderful, but it couldn’t compare to seeing it at night. He handed me a ticket for that evening.

After swimming an hour in the warm waters of a nearly empty pool I went home to change. Rafa had recommended a restaurant just down the street. It had a tapas bar, small round tables, and several large ones accommodating colleges coming from work. It was packed, understandably so. The ample three course lunch of the day: calamari, fish, and fresh pineapple was delicious and cost around eight dollars. Despite people waiting for seats, the wait staff had no issue with people lingering over their coffees. Interfering would be liking rushing someone through their prayers.

That afternoon I wandered again through the narrow streets to meet Rafa, fortunately taking a Uber part of the way up into the hills where Spain’s Gitano or Romani communities have been living in caves for centuries. The interiors of these dwellings stay nearly a constant temperature through hot summer days and cold winter nights. Recently the area has attracted those wishing to live off-grid. The homes, varying from simple to ornate, lack basic utilities, but have wonderful views. The steep, dirt and rocky, walking paths provide the only access.

Rafa introduced me to his friends, a couple, whose beautiful home, painstakingly decorated with carved wood, ceramics, glass, and plants, despite having no running water or indoor plumbing, belonged on the pages of House and Garden. They sell pizza , from their wood-burning oven, in the summer months to passersby, much to the irritation of their neighbor, who clearly cherished his privacy and solitude.  Rafa and I continued our stroll then sat and watched the sky turn red at dusk.

Soon after I hurried off on foot to the Alahambra in the near dark for the night visit. Visitors were beckoned to behold the wonders of architecture and design.

I walked slowly from room to room in awe of the prodigious craftmanship and beauty. The structure was artfully illuminated, but it was the moon glowing above the outside courtyards that stopped my breath.

The following day Rafa took me to a nearby bar. It had a counter, a few tables, and stools like in a 1950’s diner.  A pot-bellied man behind the counter greeted us, then attended to several men already seated at a table. There he introduced me to his friend Paco. It was around noon and Rafa and Paco ordered beer, I ordered coffee. We took our seats on the stools. Unlike Rafa, whose every word I understood, Paco spoke Spanish quickly and less distinctly. I had to make a considerable effort to catch his gist when he spoke. The owner/waiter/cook then placed a heaping plate of potatoes with a dozen quails eggs atop. We each took a fork and shared the food. Its simplicity was deceiving. The flavors were rich and complex.

Rafa, who’d be busy all day with appointments arranged my day to be spent with Paco who’d offered to introduce me to the local tapas culture of which Granada is renown.

After we finished eating Paco and I walked a short distance on the streets of the neighborhood. There was no view of our surroundings, except the four-story buildings tightly wedged together one after another: apartments are generally above with shops below. Each block looked identical. Unlike the serpentine roads in the ancient quarters, these streets all met at right angles. The entrances to the buildings open on to the road so there are no sidewalks, but traffic is scarce and vehicles usually go slowly.

Paco stopped in front of a nondescript door with opaque glass. There was no indication that anything lie beyond. But we stepped inside to find a lively, tiny space with a wrap around counter. A few barrels were set up like tables and six or seven stools edged up to the bar providing the only seating options. There were at least twenty people huddled in small groups engaging in animated discussions. I looked up and saw a sign indicating that the legal maximum capacity was fourteen.

Paco ordered us glasses of beer. Two plates of tuna and peppers with bread were placed in front of us. This pattern would continue for the next few hours, although I quickly switched over to sparkling water and apple soda, and each dish would be different. Paco continued drinking beer. Each time he placed a drink order, complimentary plates of food including artichokes, mussels, pork, olives, anchovies, and sausage were served. Although the fare was simple, it was all delicious. While Paco showed no signs of sating his thirst, or appetite, I drank up the atmosphere. He shared his philosophy on art restoration, one of his professions, owning an antiques shop was another, and working in the Alahambra, including doing restoration on the exquisite Court of Lions. While this miniscule bar was humming and tightly packed with customers, I did my best to imagine the Friday night dancing he described beneath the hoisted disco ball.

When Paco was ready to move on after drinking his ten beers, I had four assorted beverages, I paid the bill as a thank you. It came to fourteen Euros. Our tapas bar hopping would continue awhile longer. There was still gazpacho and other regional specialities to eat elsewhere.

That evening. Rafa had invited me to a highly coveted annual event with the company Gato Gordo whose speciality was “micro-theatre.” Their original pieces ran about thirty minutes in length for an audience of fifteen to twenty people. This evening had been sold out months ago, but Rafa was close friends to several of the members and he had managed to get my name on the guest list. In the past the evening consisted of four pieces performed in different rooms of the same building, but this year that building was unavailable. So friends opened their homes and shops throughout the neighborhood to the audience.

Rafa took me to a park where the lucky few of us gathered. There in costumes the performers sang, danced, and then calling roll call broke us up into separate groups. We followed our leaders who, outrageous and hilarious in manner and dress, led us through the streets to four unique “theatres” where a microplay would unfold.

First we took our places on the wooden floor of a crowded antique shop, Paco’s by the way, and watched a man lament to women about an assault he’d experienced. But instead of receiving understanding and assistance he was met with indifference, suspicion and blame; enduring a trauma not once, but twice. Then we squeezed into a small art gallery where a young woman sought guidance from two shaman to be free. Afterwards in a bookshop we huddled around a loquacious witch who cackled infectiously while telling her dark tales. And finally in an elegant apartment, we lounged on comfortable sofas while Edith Piaf’s voice emanated from a record player and a couple unsuccessfully struggled to find the love they had lost.

The next morning Rafa asked if I’d slept well. I had not. Images from the evening kept on weaving through my mind. Some of them prompted laughter and others tears. I was elated, exhausted, and enchanted.

It was the day I’d originally scheduled to tour the Alahambra. The night visit did not provide access to the gardens so I spent some hours during the day wandering the beautiful grounds and visiting the Alcazar. It was now the strong sun and not the moon rising overhead. I sought shelter from the rays and wandered through rooms I’d seen before, but previously unseen details continuously revealed themselves.

That afternoon I was to meet Rafa. He was taking me to have lunch up in the hills. I passed an artist market and once again head into Albaicin’s winding cobbled-streets up towards Sacromonte. Some of the streets began to look familiar and landmarks were helpful, but locals answering my questions were even more so.

After meeting up with Rafa, Paco joined us. He’d been out most of the night drinking and looked it. I asked him what time he’d woken up and he said. ” I haven’t, I’m still sleeping.” Our trio would soon include seven more. Friends, and friends of friends, including a young man from India who was studying architectural photography. We gathered at a home, one of the cave dwellings, where a woman outside was busily preparing paella. Her home was also her restaurant, not that there was any indications. It was simply luck or word of mouth that got you there.

Soon we would all be sitting around a long table feasting. I am no connoisseur, but the meal was divine. Many bottles of beer and wine were opened and quickly finished. I drank mostly water but felt no less festive. I soon found myself learning the basics of flamenco from the women who literally welcomed me into their open arms as they moved my hips to the music.

Singing and dancing filled the hours. Coffee was eventually served with a potent digestif. We chipped in for the feast and hugged and kissed our hosts goodbye.

By now it was around 6pm. We all walked back towards the town center, but ten minutes later we stopped at another cave dwelling. I’d mistakenly thought our socializing was nearing an end. A small woman in her eighties welcomed us in. She ran a drinking establishment, for those in the know, from her home. We each took a seat around a large table. Once again the sun’s warmth had faded and we were grateful to cover our legs with blankets and feel the warmth from a heater placed under the table.

Copious amounts of beer were served and drank. Laughter was frequent and although I couldn’t understand everything and said very little, it was impossible not to join in.  My not saying much caught the attention of our host. When she was told I came from New York her eyes widened. “That is very far away. They speak English there.” she said. “Now I understand why you are so quiet.” And warmly laughed.

Her neighbor, a shaman, sat with us and occasionally shared some insight about our pasts or futures. The shaman did not seek payment. He genuinely wished others to benefit from his gift. And a young woman was eager to know if the man she was with was the right man for her: it was obvious to everyone in the room that they were completely smitten with each other. The shaman’s private comment was not shared, but she seemed no less content than when she arrived.

Usually I’m a sceptic, but suddenly I wanted to know what he saw in me too. As we were saying our goodbyes, the shaman approached and looked at me intently. “You have a grandmother who is ill.” His unsolicited words surprised me. I was silent for a moment then replied, “She’s passed away.”  I didn’t have the heart to tell him that both of my grandmothers had passed away ages ago. Admittedly, I was flattered that he thought I could have a grandmother still alive, but any faith in his gift that I might have mustered quickly faded.

As our group walked toward the center of town we gave each other big hugs and said our goodbyes before heading off elsewhere. I was invited to meet with them again, but that would have to wait. I was leaving Granada very early the following morning.

Rafa and I walked on awhile longer. I had some last-minute errands to take care of and he exhausted from his exuberant gallivanting was off to bed. We strolled comfortably in our silence like old friends. Then, before turning toward our destinations, I thanked him as I had numerous times before, and we wished each other well.

22 January to 2 February 2019

The last time I visited Berlin was 1988, one year before the fall of the Wall. I had the good fortune of meeting some fun-loving, night-clubbing artists there. The West Berlin they showed me was a non-stop party of art, music, film, and dance. Going into East Berlin, through Checkpoint Charlie, was like leaving the Technicolor scenes of “The Wizard of Oz” behind and waking up with Dorothy in black and white.

I’d considered going to the united Berlin several times, but somehow never got there. However, while in Egypt one of the guides mentioned the iconic Nefertiti bust on display in Berlin’s Neues Museum. It was the incentive I needed for a visit. And, by chance, the Australian couple from the Nile cruise would be in Berlin too.

In planning my stay I sought information on the city. It was helpful that a website compared the neighborhoods to those in Brooklyn. I chose an apartment in Prenzlauerberg, the “Park Slope of Berlin.” It was a great choice. Neighborhoods, like this one, previously in East Berlin, have retained much of the prewar architecture, cobble-stoned streets, and ornate buildings from the beginning of the 20th century. It was quiet, yet had an abundance of charm, cafes, restaurants, and a cultural center nearby.

People said I wouldn’t recognize Berlin. “So much has changed.”

Whether it was all the changes, the long time lapsed, or both,  I’m not sure. But it was true, I didn’t recognize much.

Coming from Switzerland I was prepared for the low temperatures. But I wasn’t prepared for a bone-chilling rain during a city bike tour in which a flat tire prolonged my time in the cold. Fortunately a cozy cafe with hot chocolate and ridiculously good fruit pie restored my spirit. And I got an overview of the city.

The cold weather was admittedly an incentive to spend some hours indoors with paper and paint, listening to Amy Winehouse, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, and S***Town( yes, the asterisked letters are “h-i-t” ) an engrossing, aka perfect for bingeing podcast, recommended to me by the Australian. He’d told me, ” I haven’t been reading much since I got hooked on it.” After getting hooked myself, I saw his point. However, my craving for books, and my discomfort for getting tied up too long with any series proved stronger.

I went back to reading Marco Polo’s Travels. Admittedly it’s not particularly well-written, despite the wonderful potential. While Polo was imprisoned by pirates for years, a writer he met there listened to his tales of world travel and unfortunately penned them in a repetitive, lackluster style. This, however is offset by the described wonders and should not dissuade anyone from reading it.

Berlin boldly displays its past in memorials, sidewalk markers, statues, public exhibits, and museums. It does not shy from the injustices and sufferings nor the horrors of its recent history. I cannot think of many other places that have made a comparable effort in confronting their own shameful chapters.

The weather made it challenging, but not prohibitive for long leisurely strolls, and ideal for visiting the city’s many outstanding museums.

These institutions prompted an array of emotions: joy and awe seeing masterful works of art; outrage and sorrow confronting the anguish and murder of millions.

Seeing the Nefertiti bust in Egypt, where most agree it rightfully belongs, would have been ideal, but controversy aside, I was spellbound by the ancient sculpture and its classic beauty.

There were no all-night dance parties this time, but time flowed easily in the company of my Australian pals, charming locals, and expats–friends of friends–discussing translating, filmmaking, travel, and seeing firsthand the transformation of a derelict building, which came with a cellar of dead rats, with herculean efforts, into a wonderful, welcoming home.

The initially confusing walking, tram, and metro routes quickly became familiar, as did the landmarks. I eased into local life, with few challenges, except at the supermarket, and at a local pool, where there was nary a word spoken or written that I could understand.

I tried some local cuisine–the spätzle was delicious.  But my cravings for Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean food won out. I’d missed them terribly these past months in countries that lack Asian cuisine entirely or offer disappointing ersatz versions. I indulged in the excellent ramen, sushi, bibimbap, Thai curry, and other delights, as often as I could.

Despite my extensive wanderings in Berlin, there was still so much I didn’t see or do, but I’ll be cherishing the many memories I’ve gathered here.

 

 

19 December 2018 – 22 January 2019

Going from Egypt with its share of chaos, to Switzerland with an abundance of order felt like stepping out of an “I Love Lucy” episode into “The Stepford Wives.”

Crossing streets in Egypt meant relying on your instincts, and moving quickly and carefully when the coast was clear. In Switzerland people wait for the signal to be green, even when no cars are coming,

I needed some time to adjust. And to appreciate the difference.

A friend had invited me to spend the holidays in her hometown, not far from Bern. I was very touched. Here I could catch my breath, share time with her and her family, and visit a country I had seen little of in the past.

Defining Swiss culture eludes me, but what is apparent is the national passion for skiing and spas.

Despite the winter months, snow in my friend’s hometown was scarce. But this did not stop people from skiing, they simply sought higher ground. Practically everyone in the smaller towns was geared up, carrying helmets and skis, and walking stiffly in their ski boots.

My friend, knowing my passion for swimming, treated me to several visits at a neighboring town’s pool complex with both indoor and outdoor pools. While she was busy with work, I welcomed the chance to swim–indoors, but the thought of going to the outside pool in my bathing suit is not in my DNA. Afterall it was winter. Admittedly, the dozens of people on the other side of the huge glass wall looked relaxed and happy.

On my second visit I got bold and walked through a thick plastic curtain cut in vertical strips, down some steps into the warm water of the outside pool. The design was perfect. Although the outside temperature was cold, I didn’t feel the slightest chill.

As the day eased into night, the clouds became pink, the sky darkened illuminating the stars, and the moon rose above the surrounding jagged mountains. My exposed face felt cool to the touch, but my submerged body was warm as I lay on a curved surface with headrest and jets of water massaged me. I admired the view and became giddy with delight.

My appreciation for Switzerland quickly soared. But cultural distinctions could not be overlooked,  like assuming the women’s shower accessed directly to the women’s locker room. I did some very quick maneuvering of my towel when I realized it was unisex.

My friends go to their mountain cottage as often as possible. I had the good fortune to go with them. The simple wooden cabin, with lovely furnishings and decorations offered complete comfort and a wood burning stove to keep us warm. At night, stars filled the sky and the silence of the mountains could make one forget that the rest of the world lay just beyond.

I cherish the boundless warmth and generosity my dear friend and family showed me, and the delightful time spent in their company.

There was also the opportunity to discover other regions.

A few of the many highlights:

Bern: When the clock tower strikes the hour, some figures begin to move and enchant the spectators.

Basel: I felt uneasy seeing magnificent creatures confined in a zoo, albeit looking very well-cared for, but also privileged to be in their proximity.

There are far too many museums in Basel to see them all in a short visit, but the art I did see was a treat.

Montreux: The picturesque city on Lake Geneva

Susch: A tiny town is receiving world attention with a newly opened private museum.

Vals: Home to a otherwordly spa and part of an extraordinary landscape.

The World Heritage transalpine railroad passed through a  winter wonderland to Tirano Italy:

It hadn’t taken me long to adjust and appreciate this beautiful country after all.