Kristina, Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region

"I have never lived anywhere else like I have here, having fun and enjoying life!

And I won't let anyone spoil my pleasure!"

Kristina

DEFINITELY, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING PLACES IN THE WORLD!!!

For me, this is an undeniable truth! South Africa is beautiful! Magnificent!!!

But before I found out about this, I had to cover a huge distance, which apparently gives the right to call South Africa the "Edge of the World" (judging by its distance from our country and my city).

By airline — the one I flew with — it took a long, long time to get there! On the night of October 18th to 19th, 2008, I boarded a plane in Moscow, flight "Moscow—Doha". From Doha, I transferred to a flight to Johannesburg. And from there to Cape Town.

Only on the evening of October 20th did my feet touch the promised land, the most extraordinary place on earth, the oldest, most beautiful, and first city of the country!

I was tired of flying. Although the flight was amazing, and the plane was lovely (lots of free space, you can stretch your legs). Clean. The stewardesses were kind, constantly trying to give us something to drink or eat ???. And they did it about five times during the whole flight — I don't eat like that at home!!! So, for those who are hungry — you've come to the right place! I recommend choosing long flights — they will feed you!

At the airport, we were met by representatives of the host organization (SASTS). They helped with the luggage. They drove us in comfort to the so-called SASTS-house, which became my final destination in Cape Town. This is... let's say, such an unusual place. For everyone (judging by the different reviews of the guys I was moved in with), it can produce an absolutely polar first impression. And what about mine? Generally positive! But not without "surprises".

We had a good time on the first day. We had fun late into the night at the "ZULA" club, dancing. Hip-hop and rock were playing there. And nearby, from the restaurant side, the sounds of national South African songs could be heard, as we were told by the local guys we asked: "What is playing there?"

We returned to the hostel only at four in the morning. Tired. I fell into the sweetest sleep, intending to get a good night's sleep. But that's where the first "surprise" lay in wait for me.

After what seemed like a very short amount of time after I fell asleep, a noise reached my ears. First, the crash of a falling object. Then — even louder — a hissing stream of water!!! I jumped up, frightened. The girl on the neighboring bunk jumped up right after me.

And it turned out to be simple: in the room where I was settled, there is a working shower cabin. And one of the roommates (and there were four of us placed there on two bunk beds) decided to take a shower. For some reason, she felt the need to take it right in the room, even though there are three more showers on the floor! Wash yourself — you don't want to! Moreover, looking at the clock, we found that she decided to do this not earlier, not later, but at eight in the morning!!! We were in shock! We couldn't fall asleep again, we had to get up.

On Monday (the program is calculated so that it starts from the first day of the week), we were gathered at the SASTS office. They briefly told us about the country, the program under which each of us arrived and will be staying here for some time. And about what awaits us in this first week and later, when everyone scatters to different corners. By the way, from European countries, according to my observation, guys arrive more often as volunteers. Subsequently, they live in local families, work mainly as nannies, educators, or teachers. They don't have to worry about anything, they are fed and watered, but their work is unpaid. But they are 100% relaxed and enjoy life. And their programs, unlike ours, are designed for only three to four months.

In my group, besides me, there were only two people on the "Work in South Africa" work program (this is out of ten to fifteen people). It's no wonder: salaries here hardly differ from those in Nizhny Novgorod. We called ourselves the "three brave ones". Those were me, Ben the Canadian, and Sarah the Englishwoman (subsequently, my closest friends in South Africa). ???

After the meeting, we were given a mini-tour of the center, which initially gave me the false impression that Cape Town is a small city. It was only later that I learned that beyond the mountains and to the Cape of Good Hope, and in whichever direction you look, to the horizon — it's all Cape Town. But then it seemed small to me. We walked, and at times in the squares and near the park, I heard live music, and of different genres, in different languages. This immediately fascinated and attracted attention.

What was my first impression of the city? I won't say that I was immediately charmed. Cape Town undoubtedly has its own charm, but I didn't manage to grasp what it was or create an impression for myself right away. And I didn't even try! But I was impressed and intrigued!

Flying in the plane, looking out the porthole window, I assumed that perhaps it was almost a desert here? But that's not the case! There is rich nature here, and very much so! I would even say, colorful! The city is full of greenery. A multitude of palm trees and other trees that I had never encountered anywhere before! I was especially surprised by the bald tree — without bark, on the tips of the branches of which pink flowers grow in buds. In general, nature surprises me. And that's great! But the biggest impression was made by the ocean and the mountains!!!

From the very first days, my new friends and I started going to the beaches, to Camps Bay and Clifton. Light-colored sand, transparent blue water, and powerful waves! Sometimes even (thank God, this doesn't happen often) I don't risk going into the water — it will knock you down.

The water in the ocean is considered cold. But what is cold for an African is tolerable for a Russian. Am I telling the truth?!

And also, for me, living in close proximity to the ocean is happiness! The sight of waves crashing against huge, shapeless boulders fills me with delight!!! And the many-hour flight is well worth it to see all this!!!

At the end of October, the locals told me that real summer here would only arrive by December ???. And it would be even warmer! Can you imagine that? "Truly, I am in paradise on Earth!" I thought then.

After the orientation week and all the exciting excursions provided for us, the three of us, with Ben and Sarah, decided on a feat: to rent a car and go on a three-week trip along the coast, towards Durban. Ben and I have licenses, Sarah, as it turned out, turned out to be a first-class and exceptionally responsible navigator, having planned the trip along the Cape Town — Durban route back home in England and proposing it to us. She wrote out the whole plan for us, amazing us with the thoroughness of its preparation and approach to the matter!

Realizing that a second such chance in life might not present itself, we readily agreed. Financially, none of us had any problems. This, of course, would depend on how we vacationed... But we didn't splurge much. We bought and ate mainly products from supermarkets, where it is cheaper. We stayed overnight not in hotels, but in hostels. And we found information on where these hostels are located in the cities in the booklet that was handed to us at SASTS along with a pile of other interesting and useful things about the country and Cape Town.

Our trip left us with indelible impressions! Nature: the vegetation surrounding our path changed every 150-200 kilometers. In a few days on the road, we managed to see mountains, forests, and plains. Cliffs and dunes, oceans and lakes, rivers. I remember the variety of unusual cacti! We — representatives of Canada, England, and Russia — commented every now and then: "This landscape is quite Russian!"; "Oh, a piece of Canada, just like at home!"; "Look! It's like in England!"

As for the weather: here you can observe all four seasons in one day (well, three — for sure!) It is pleasing that summer prevails! So you wake up, outside the window there are thick clouds, it's about to rain, and you can see that it rained at night. But fifteen minutes pass, and the sun is already shining brightly.

The diversity of Africa cannot but amaze! I have verified from my own personal experience the prevailing opinion that "Africa is a world in one country". And the roads? Good!

Along them, you can always meet a mass of wild animals. Of course, not lions or elephants. We saw zebras, gazelles, wild boars, horses (it seemed to me that they were even mustangs), beavers (I don't know the real names of these animals; but they look like beavers), and a countless number of bird species! Pelicans, ostriches, and many others whose names I don't know! By the way, pigeons, sparrows, and magpies are also here, although maybe these are subspecies.

After returning to Cape Town, I took a map in my hands and suddenly discovered: in a month I managed to visit so many places that many Africans haven't visited in their entire lives!!! Here are the main ones of those cities: Stellenbosch, Hermanus, George, Wilderness, Knysna, Tsitsikamma, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban. I visited three national parks: Table Mountain, Tsitsikamma, and Wilderness National.

I conquered the peaks of Table Mountain, Signal Hill, and Lion’s Head, which left me with indelible impressions.

At some point, I realized that I hadn't left Russia that long ago. But subjectively, it felt like a year had passed. Life is so saturated that the sense of time was lost, and I forgot when and what happened, I only remember that it was great. And it continues! That's my rhythm of life: movement and change of scenery ???.

Looking back, I want to say that what I remember and loved most of all is the small town of Hermanus. Durban, on the contrary, did not stand out with anything remarkable, in my opinion. And we wanted to go there so much! But this did not dampen the impressions. That trip will be remembered by me for the rest of my life!

As for Hermanus — a small town — none of us knew about it before. And yet it is only an hour and a half to two hours' drive from Cape Town! To be honest, I was so impressed by the beauty of those places that I wanted, upon returning from our journey, to settle there and spend all the time I want to live in South Africa (I still haven't decided whether I will be here for half a year or a year).

However, everything turned out in such a way that in the end, I stayed in Cape Town.

In short, that's all. And what would I like to wish future travelers to these parts? Don't forget to enjoy life! South Africa is an amazing world! It is worth seeing and appreciating.