Johannesburg - October 2005

I was in Johannesburg, South Africa, in October for a work-related conference. Though I spent most of my time sequestered to a remote hotel, I did get to go on a couple outings.

I visited a lion park where I got to play with some lion cubs. Unfortunately, they slept through most of it. But aren't they just too cute spooning like that!?!


On another day, I spent an afternoon in Soweto, one of the townships (ghettos) that was a flashpoint in the uprisings during Apartheid. Did you know that Soweto is just a shortened form of south (so) west (we) township (to)? That's kind of disappointing when you have always thought that is was a cool African name. And I always pictured it as a depressed, run-down place, but it's really not. Though it is still has its share of hardship, it is really quite a positive atmosphere. Regardless, it was interesting to visit the places where so much modern African history took place. Read the posting below to hear more about some of the things I learned about Apartheid during my visit.