Quickie

Here's how our trip is wrapping up...

Today we went on a half-day tour of the Soweto area. Soweto stands for SouthWesternTownships and is South Africa's largest township (i.e. "underdeveloped community" consisting largely of government-funded and cookie-cutter housing and squatter camps of corrugated tin shacks). No worries, as we were safely ensconced in a van and our guide was thoroughly knowledgeable and savvy. On Vilakazi street we saw the home of Desmond Tutu and the former home of Nelson Mandela - we drove past his current digs in uberwealthy Howton earlier in the day. The Hector Pieterson museum gave us a peek into the Soweto uprisings of 1976 and is definitely worth a visit, as they've done a really nice job with it.

Tomorrow we plan to visit the Apartheid museum and perhaps try our luck at the slots at the casino next door (in moderation, of course!). There may or may not be a rollercoaster involved as well, since the complex also boasts a small amusement park...

We fly outta here in the wee hours of the 20th and much as I've enjoyed the vacation, I am excited to be home for the holidays. Hope you've got your shopping done!