Cape Town day two began with a nice drive out to Camps Bay, on the other side of Table Mountain. We had actually seen the beach the day before from the top of Table Mountain, and it was even prettier up close. We scrambled over the rocks and enjoyed looking at the crystal clear water, and Laleinia spent some time looking for shells and a little bit of sea glass. It was a great way to spend the morning. Camps Bay is a very rich part of Cape Town, and the houses and apartments along the coast were really cool to look at. Another example of Cape Town being a world away from much of what we have seen in Africa.
We returned to the V&A Waterfront and boarded a boat bound for Robben Island. Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment at Robben Island. We were taken on a tour by a former inmate of the island, a political prisoner who was involved in the struggle with Mr. Mandela. His stories were fascinating. We spent a few hours on the island, and were able to visit Nelson Mandela's cell. It was cool to be at such a place.
A few months ago, we both read A Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela's autobiography, and so we appreciated our surroundings as we imagined what had happened in the cell, and who it held for so long. It is amazing to think of the amazing changes that have occurred since Mandela was released. It seems to us that South Africa still has a long way to go, but it is inspiring to think of the efforts that have been made and the success that has been gained thus far.
On the way back, the water was really choppy. We sat on a raised level of the boat, thinking we would have great views and be far away from the waves, but we were wrong. The views were great, but we got soaked! It was really fun, Laleinia was talking about how she is an explorer and we had a great laugh up there!