Robben Island

Thursday A most interesting visit to the South African Jewish museum. I looked in vain for Kadden and Sherman in the lists of passengers arriving and those at the Jewish shelter in Cape Town. It was good to see Helen Suzman celebrated among many others. A big surprise was the reconstruction of a shetl from Eastern Europe and a wonderful collection of Japanese netsuke. The modern art did not appeal. The great synagogue is most impressive. I bought a rabbi fridge magnet and a guide book. We were back at the house in good time for our 12 o clock pickup. The driver finally appeared at 12.30 after long costly phone calls to Ecco Tours and even calling a cab which I cancelled. The ferry to Robben Island actually went late and was a good trip with video to watch. The bus guide took us to a wonderful viewpoint looking across to Cape Town and we saw a huge gun never fired in WW2. I would have liked to see the Mosque. Then a former political prisoner took us around the prison and we saw Mandela’s simple cell and the yard where he worked. The conditions were very poor at first. Sobukwe was kept in a house on his own for 9 years – no wonder he became mentally ill and died under house arrest. The injustice of it all!  It was worth going and there were unexpected elements e.g. the size and wildlife of the island and its long history. We went to a Mall for cash and flowers and set off for Bergvliet to visit David and Felicity Walker. We marvelled at her dolls’ house and had a nice pizza at Italian Kitchen. A most enjoyable evening.