Marist in Cape Town-Day 2-Cape Malay and more

The day started as we opened our windows to a pouring rainstorm that changed our plans but nonetheless, we were able to have an amazing and interesting day. Driving down to historical Cape Town, we saw great views of the mountains, made up of the oldest deposits on Earth. Touring Cape Town, we were able to visit the Company Garden and Parliament. The Company Garden, home to a variety of indigenous and non-indigenous plants, began with the contributions of many imperialistic settlers including the Dutch and the British. As these foreigners arrived in Cape Town, they brought plants from their native lands and took plants back to their own. By doing so, they were able to establish a garden with such great variety, now considered a monumental place of beauty, history, and remembrance.

Alongside the Company Garden, the Parliament Building sat overlooking the South African National Library. It was great to walk in such close proximity near the Parliament Building, much closer than we are allowed to in the United States. Although we did not enter the building today, we still felt the new democracy that the country prides itself on.

At the end of the Company Garden, there was a memorial erected for those affected by HIV/AIDS and another for all of the soldiers who died serving their country. Seeing these memorials made us realize the impact of HIV/AIDS and war in South Africa and even the world. Although both these issues are tragic, they still contribute to the history of the country.

Relating to history, our next destination was the Bo-Kaap area. In this area, there is a high concentration of Cape Malay people who practice the Muslim faith. Within this neighborhood, in the circumference of about a mile, there were ten mosques. This showed the survival of the Islamic faith, even through the apartheid regime. In addition to the mosques, there were many colorful houses reflecting the creativity and innovation of the residents. This district attracts many fashion photographers due to the beauty, climate, and economic efficiency. Even in this area, we saw the amazing mountain tops, notably Table Mountain, and Lion Head Mountain.

Moving forward, we visited the District Six Museum. This museum was a tribute to the people who previously lived in the neighborhood but who were forced out of their homes due to the Group Areas Act. The District Six area, a multi-racial community represented everything that the apartheid government disliked. Just imagine if you were displaced from your home and not given adequate reasons or resources to start a new life. In the museum, there were many artifacts depicting the stories of many of those exiled. Among the 42 sites which were removed, District Six was a direct result of apartheid policy. To this day, you still see the remnants of the apartheid regime through the overwhelming white population.

We ended the tour at the waterfront of Cape Town. There were a plethora of stores and restaurants. We saw many cultural vendors and high end stores—very similar to the United States. We completed our night at Ferrymans, a restaurant, bar, and grill that had a great selection of seafood. As we progress on our journey, we are confident that we will build on our experiences. We completed today and look forward to tomorrow.

Downtown Cape Town



AIDS Quit in St. Georges Church


Table Mountain


The group- Prof. Summers however, + Magdlene at the Company Gardens



Picture of the Cape Malay Quarters


Public Art in Cape Malay Quarters



Picture of the District 6 Museum


Cape Town


Picture of Trees in the Company Garden