Sunday morning was the best time to take the Township tour in Cape Town. A small group of us rode in a minibus with our guide, Blackie (he has a twin brother called Whitey--I'm not kidding), who took us through two different "townships" or shanty communities just outside of Cape Town. He explained that during Apartheid the government decided where the laborers would live and under what conditions. They are appauling now and I can't imagine what they looked like with even less. More distressing is that half of Cape Town's population lives in these conditions. Despite the poverty, on Sunday morning the residents were all dressed for church. People were walking for as far as the eye can see to go to church.
We went to a Baptist Church service, and I was moved by the spirit. The service lasts three hours (10am-1pm) and everyone seems to have a part. The junior choir sung and signed a hymn and many lay people spoke. They spoke partially in English and partially in their native tongue. Our guide's father was the preacher and he lives behind the church with his family.
Those who weren't going to church were preparing BBQ on the mainstreets. We saw someone kill a sheep on the side of the rode and prepare it for Sunday lunch. Everything smelled so good I wanted to stop for Sunday dinner!
No comments:
Post a Comment