South Africa 2009: Part 5

Sunset from The Fortress

This might be a tad redundant after the above photo, but the sunsets here are ridiculous. We spent a full day climbing at Road Crew and The Fortress. We climbed so much, we forgot to take photos! Steve did point out the sunset and Lyn raced over to a good spot to take the picture.


Our Robben Island tour guide


Nelson Mendela's Cell, for part of his 27 year imprisonment

We went to Cape Town for the weekend and got a tour of the prison on Robben Island. This is the prison where the hardened criminals and the political prisoners were sent during apartheid. They intended to put these two groups together to break the spirit of the political prisoners, but they were having too much influence on the hardened criminals so they ended up separating the two groups!

Interestingly, the political prisoners referred to Robben Island as "The University", because they spent all their free time reading, learning, and debating politics.


Us with a view of Cape Town in the background


Cape Town from the harbor


Hanging out on the waterfront after the tour of Robben Island


The Aquarium

Our next day we checked out the aquarium, which was really cool. They had many crazy species and some very large tanks with sharks.



Rock art in the 8 Day Rain bouldering area


Randy trying his nemesis, The Shark


Alan on the big slab @ 8 Day Rain

Yesterday we bouldered at a newer area called 8 Day Rain. Randy had tried The Shark but it was hot and the holds sharp. It was cooler when we went back but the holds were still sharp! Justin, Randy or I didn't feel that bad about it because we had all sent Barracuda earlier.

At the end of day we all went down to the lower area to try the only slab in the Rocklands. Well, I guess I wasn't psyched to try it - so I took photos instead.

Today is a downpour so Cam and I are hanging out at the internet cafe in town. Lyn and the rest of the folks headed in to Cape Town for more excitement.

-Raza