Retracing Nelson Mandela's Footsteps in Cape Town
Travel & Leisure → Travel Spot
- Author Jane Thorne
- Published September 27, 2011
- Word count 559
So you have planned to spend your vacation in Cape Town. Everything has been well taken care of - your accommodations, tickets and your luggage, but you forgot to plan your activities during your stay. With all the historic sites and beautiful scenery, I'm quite certain that you will find lots of things to do. However, you may want to start off by reliving the life of Nelson Mandela.
Having reached the incredible age of 93 only last Monday, 18th July 2011, this living legend amazes us with his life's history. He was born 1918 in Transkei, Eastern Cape Town where in his early childhood he was called Rohilalah. It was a name the tribe gave him which literally means "troublemaker." He was later given the name Nelson, an English name, by his teacher when he finally went to school.
People say what made Nelson Mandela become the great leader that he is today are genes and the long period of incarceration he endured in Robben Island, more or less seven miles off the coast of Cape Town.
Mandela spent 18 years in prison. His cell was only 5 square meters and what made things worse is the inadequate clothing and horrible sleeping condition - he slept on a thin straw mat laid on the floor.
In the early 1970's however, things changed a bit for the better - prisoners were given the opportunity to study. Without second thought, Nelson Mandela took that opportunity not only for the purpose of learning but also to combat the feeling of being isolated away from family and the hard life he had to experience in prison. While in there however he demonstrated his leadership skills by exerting great effort in bridging the gap between jailers and prisoners.
You can go to Robben Island by riding a ferry at the Nelson Mandela Gateway located at the V&A Waterfront right in front of the Clocktower. It will be a wonderful blast-from-the-past experience for you crossing Table Bay and enjoying an emotionally heart-felt tour given by ex-political prisoners.
Surely, it is popular knowledge that Nelson Mandela became the first South African president elected in a democratic election. However, not quite as popular is how it all happened and the events that lead to that success. Strolling through Cape Town's historic streets will give you the chance to learn the city's early history from the Dutch and British settlers to the flowering of slavery and to the rise and fall of the apartheid era.
In 2010, the United Nations created the Mandela Day, which was celebrated once again last Monday during his 93rd birthday. South Africans all over the world embraced the day with much enthusiasm, taking the time to commemorate Mandela's extraordinary work since 1994.
The festivities began the previous weekend in Cape Town where an auction of a special piece of artwork was held. This artwork is made out handprints and autographs of 67 international celebrities. These handprints and photographs were creatively woven together to form the pattern and colours of the South African flag.
Nelson Mandela has spent 67 years serving not only his country and his community but also the world at large. And to commemorate this, at exactly 8:05 on Monday, July 18, South African were requested to participate in the singing of the Happy Birthday song and to dedicate 67 minutes of their time in doing something good for their community.
From all of us here at Come To Cape Town, we join you in wishing Nelson Mandela a joyous birthday and a peaceful and prosperous life for the coming years.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- What makes the city of Melbourne such a unique place?
- What can tourists do in Adelaide, South Australia?
- Vacation Guide to San Francisco
- 15 Best Free Things to Do in Oaxaca City, Mexico
- Top Breweries To Visit in Portland and Asheville
- "Unlock Your Tour's Potential: The Impact of Our Itinerary Plan"
- Day Trip to San Juan Islands | The Ultimate Guide
- 19 Must-Visit Attractions in Dubai 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
- Top 10 Must-See Destinations in Cape Town
- FISHING NEAR GAINESVILLE FL
- The History of the Old City of Semarang and the Future of Urban Planning
- 5 Breathtaking Places to Visit in South Korea
- 18 Most Popular Graffiti Alleys & Street Art Projects In The United States
- Hot Dog, Jumping Frog: Things to See and Do in Albuquerque
- What are the More Obscure Places to Visit in Sydney?
- What are the Best Places to Eat in Vienna?
- Some of the More Obscure Places to Visit in Los Angeles as a Tourist
- Miami Beach Wedding or Vow Renewal Private Ceremony
- Knowsley A Hidden Gem of Culture, Sports, and Community Spirit
- Amazing Sites of Croatia
- COMPLETE GUIDE OF THE TOP 100 OF THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS IN SINGAPORE
- Have you been to Healesville Sanctuary?
- European Holidays For Culture Vultures: A Guide To Summer 2022
- The Overland Train
- The History of Croydon, Victoria in Australia
- What countires make up the Caribbean?
- Have you been to Glasgow in Scotland?
- Which city is considered the sporting capital of the world?
- Have you been to Adelaide in Australia?
- Have you been to San Francisco?