Living in SA
18 December 2008
Friends and family seem to have been travelling around an awful lot during the past few months, so I've found myself at OR Tambo airport (what used to be called Johannesburg International) on what seems like a weekly basis. Apart from one surreal experience where I parked in newly opened and unsignposted parking and got so lost trying to find the terminal buildings that I joined a disconsolate band of fellow travellers on the same quest to find my way out, I am pretty impressed with the developments at the airport. (We were forced to ask one of the people directing traffic with those giant hands that people wear at cricket matches before we found our way out of the parking and into the terminal buildings, and I had resort to this again to find my car.)
OR Tambo airport now boasts new international arrivals terminals, a host of new shops, new information and help points, and more and more parking is being built. Parking has long been a problem at this busy airport; much more is now available, and event more is being built. Lights have been installed above each existing parking bay, red indicating that the bay is already taken, and green that it is free; blue is for disabled parking. The nightmare of finding parking here is now slowly receding.
Information point
Most impressive and exciting are the first signs of the long awaited Gautrain, a rapid transport rail system, one branch of which is to run from Sandton to OR Tambo. You can't miss the giant concrete pillars as you approach the airport on the highway, or as you enter the international section of the airport. Apparently once the train is running, you will be able to check in your luggage at Sandton station, and travel to the airport unencumbered with bags, and then retrieve your luggage at your final international destination. Sounds a bit too good to be true; but I love the idea.
OR Tambo airport now boasts new international arrivals terminals, a host of new shops, new information and help points, and more and more parking is being built. Parking has long been a problem at this busy airport; much more is now available, and event more is being built. Lights have been installed above each existing parking bay, red indicating that the bay is already taken, and green that it is free; blue is for disabled parking. The nightmare of finding parking here is now slowly receding.
One of the new arrivals terminals
New parking garage under construction
Information point
Most impressive and exciting are the first signs of the long awaited Gautrain, a rapid transport rail system, one branch of which is to run from Sandton to OR Tambo. You can't miss the giant concrete pillars as you approach the airport on the highway, or as you enter the international section of the airport. Apparently once the train is running, you will be able to check in your luggage at Sandton station, and travel to the airport unencumbered with bags, and then retrieve your luggage at your final international destination. Sounds a bit too good to be true; but I love the idea.
Gautrain construction as seen from the international terminal
Labels: Gautrain, Johannesburg airport, OR Tambo, OR Tambo airport
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14 December 2008
Some images of Christmas in South Africa:
Wire and bead Christmas tree and decorations at the Red Plate restaurant in Haenertsburg:
Luggage stacked up at the taxi rank at Komatipoort, near the Mozambican border, as people prepare to catch taxis home for Christmas:
Christmas light and ANC poster on a lamp post, Northern Province:
Wire and bead Christmas tree and decorations at the Red Plate restaurant in Haenertsburg:
Luggage stacked up at the taxi rank at Komatipoort, near the Mozambican border, as people prepare to catch taxis home for Christmas:
Christmas light and ANC poster on a lamp post, Northern Province:
Labels: Christmas, Red Plate restaurant
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04 December 2008
In the Cape: the Cape Peninsula
Some spots on the Cape PeninsulaI've been visiting lately:
Fish Hoek Beach
Kalk Bay Harbour
This is a small fishing harbour, with some great eating places (the Brass Bell where the sea spray hits the windows, the Olympia Cafe; to name only two); and a collection of small, interesting shops.
View from the window of The Brass Bell
The Olympia Cafe
Silvermine Wetlands Conservation area
Sophea Gallery and Tibetan Teahouse in Simon's Town
This teahouse has an amazing view and tasty and imaginative vegetarian food. Paintings and Tibetan items are on show and for sale.
Penguins on Boulders beach
Labels: Boulders Beach, Brass Bell, Cape, Cape peninsula, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, Olympia Cafe, penguins, Silvermine, Simon's Town, Tibetan Teahouse
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