RICHARDS BAY, South Africa

We are in Zululand, surrounded by game reserves and cultural villages. Most everyone on the ship went on short safari adventures today. We are saving our oohs and ahs for the game we hope to see on a three day safari next week, leaving after church on Sunday. So we took the bus to a nearby shopping center and have a number of observations...

South Africa is NOT Mozambique! The highways are well constructed and well landscaped. Pretty little housing clusters sit behind pretty walls BUT all the walls are topped with razor wire. When we arrived at the mall, the first shop we saw was called Security Services and was well stocked with every kind of gun. We had lunch at a Wimpy’s and when the waitress saw our credit card unprotected by a RIFD sleeve, she told us to get it wrapped right away. (Hope’s cheeseburger and Bill’s grilled cheese sandwich tasted pretty good after all our gourmet meals aboard ship.) Somehow we get the idea that it's not very safe here.

So back to the ship where the dock area was lined with local artisans beading necklaces and carving wood. We loved it all. You might see the salad servers and beaded giraffe in the photo if you pay a visit to Scarborough Street.

Tonight we are looking forward to a show of local dance and Qadasi and Maqhinga, whatever they are.