Cape Town - part 2

Cape Town is a really pretty place - I think Jeff & I have decided that it was our fav place out of the entire trip - very different from Jo'burg in that it's more modern, it doesn't look old, it's quite clean, there are alot more things to see, it's more prettier (views at least) and there is a true vibe around the place.

Here are a few more views of the Waterfront.

We were walking through a little gallery of shops and noticed this creature made out of wire - it was so cool



Chloe's fav animal??  Who's scaring who?



Outside of the gallery of shops, there is a section that this groovy band was playing.  They are there consistantly there playing, selling CD's to the crowd, playing to the crowd watching - they were really cool too.

And these cool cats - talk about awesome.  We bought their CD - very cool.  And I got a discount just because I asked.

Jeff's idol - Nelson Mandella

Noble Square statues - The V&A Waterfront is the home of four bronze statues of four men who are part of a proud moment in South African history. Collectively they brought down a system of government that was faulty and inhumane in a peaceful manner with the minimum of bloodshed. These men each represent a sector of the society who supported them so in fact they stand as representatives of all the people who suffered hardships and some who lost their lives for the cause. These four men were all recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize for their achievements.

L-R:

Albert Luthuli

Albert Luthuli holds the honour of being the first African man to win the Nobel Peace prize, which he idid in 1961. He was the president of the ANC in 1952 and suffered many hardships when he was arrested, banned and charged on many occasions, as well as being imprisoned. At the base of his statue is inscribed:

"What is important is that we can build a homogeneous South Africa on the basis not of colour, but of human values."

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

This world renowned leader, Desmond Tutu, was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1984. He was always outspoken against the apartheid government but later became the biggest icon for reconciliation and was very active in this regard. He continues to be outspoken about aspects of the government that affect the poor and oppressed. The inscription on his statue is:

"A person is a person through other people." (which is the English version of the word Ubuntu). 

F.W. de Klerk

F.W. de Klerk was the last person to head the apartheid government and who chose the path to peaceful negotiation. He released Nelson Mandela and disbanded the ANC and worked together with Nelson Mandela to re-write the South African Constitution. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 together with Nelson Mandela in 1993.
At the base of his statue is inscribed the following:

"Our new Constitution is a powerful symbol of reconciliation, justice and of the ending of centuries of conflict."

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela gave 27 years if his life to see a free and peaceful South Africa and was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1993. Under Mandela’s statue, which is embossed with a pattern to emulate the colourful shirts he liked to wear, is written:

"Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will experience the oppression of one by another."