Israel and Africa

 It was cold to sleep in the stationary train room of Santos Express, so I put on all clothes I had. It was colder to walk from my room to the shared toilet, so I drank less to avoid going in the night.  After a big breakfast at the hostel, I walked to one of the most popular things in Mossel Bay:,visiting the Post Office Tree. Early Portuguese explorers used this ancient milkwood tree as a post office. It is located on the grounds of the Bartholomeu Dias Museum Complex on Market Street. I walked 2.6 miles to the golf course in order to access the St. Blaize Hiking Trail from another entry point. Unfortunately, the path was now in a gated private development, so I gave up then walked back to the the hostel. As the wind picked up and rain started again, I just waited in the hostel for Buz Bus pick up. I was picked up at Mossel Bay ( Saneto Express) 12:00 (1.5-hr early), since there was only one passenger from Cape Town to Knysna. We stopped by George for a 20-min lunch break, t...

L I started Garden Route today which is in the Western Cape and one of South Africa's main tourist attractions stretching from Mossel Bay to St Francis along the Indian ocean and also includes parts of the inland. I was picked up 6:30 am by Buz Bus, with my to-go breakfast by the hostel. Since I was the only passenger from Cape Town to mossel bay today, I arrived 3 hr earlier than the scheduled time. Luckily, the person to be picked up from mossel bay was ready by 11 am and he picked up for his next destination. I therefore requested Buz Bus to call me tomorrow at my SA phone number if the driver is early.  Mossel Bay is a small harbour town situated on the Garden Route in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. A favourite coastal and holiday destination. I immediately dropped my bags and started exploring the town. I stopped by Checker supermarket to see what they have then around town for sightseeing spots, such as the churches and Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse. Since the hostel...

Two Korean roommates left for 6 am flights and left me their shares of breakfast, so I made one order of pancake and two orders of burrito, and saved some for lunch. I had time to watch YouTube before the 11 am APARTHEID TO FREEDOM walking tour.  This tour guide talked about the history of apartheid in Cape Town, apartheid laws and their consequences, when walking by landmarks like St George’s Cathedral and Desmond Tutu, The Cape High Court, the “apartheid benches”, the District Six and the spot where Mandela made his first speech as a free man. Yet he repeated some of the Historical City Tour content.  After a lunch break, I walked to Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a huge shopping and entertainment area at the slopes of Table Mountain, next to the harbour.  The V&A has a rich and varied history that dates to 1654. I walked around to discover its 22 landmarks, such as Aquarium, the Marine Museum, the clock tower, etc. I was very lucky to visit there with 2-hr sunny w...