After our last amazing bush ride, we shower )ah... running water again), have breakfast and our drive has arrived early to take us. Back to Joburg, where we will stay the night at the same guest house as before. Not fancy, but 10 minutes from the airport and in a quiet residential neighborhood with a nice garden and pool to relax, and soft comfortable bed.
Our driver, a guide himself, is a mine of interesting information about the whole country, its history, as well as the local lore. We stop at Sun City en route back to be told this was in fact Sin City after apartheid. It was the place mixed race couples could go and meet safely. Now a big casino, it emulates Vegas with its SinCity name.
Next morning the shuttle drops us at the airport and 1.5 hours later we are back at Port Elizabeth, easily pick up a rental car with GPS but no cruise control! And easily find our way back along the Garden Route to Natures Valley and a warm welcome back from our friend Trish.
She is busily getting the house ready for an onslaught of visitors - 6 of them, all 3 bedrooms need to be ready so we are feeling a bit guilty at staying overnight. But I cook supper for her and we help with chores and spend one last evening together.
It is bittersweet for her to be closing up on her own without the partnership of her dear Arthur and her friends have rallied round to make it as seamless as possible for her.
It is a beautiful sunny drive and as we come down the hill towards the lagoon and beach at Natures Valley and we understand the deep love this family has for this little spot on earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment