this just in from capetown

Well it’s been some time since I have blogged here. I have had an excellent week in capetown. Just yesterday Bruce and I climbed up lions head, which is a small mountain in the middle of capetown. It was quick upward climb and we chose the riskier path via “the chains.” The views of the city and of table mountain from the top were spectacular, Table mountain, which is the mountain that backdrops capetown had a lovely tablecloth of clouds covering it. It is a most beauteous site to see these clouds crawl over the top and sink into the valleys on the Cape Town side. Later that day bruce and I walked along the waterfront. I honestly cannot think of a more picturesque location for a city. With the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other I think this might be the most beautiful city in the world. Well, Portland still has better beers. As I walked along the ocean, I was shocked to see how many shells there were lying on the beach. It was not that they were merely spread throughout the beach, but at some points the beach was literally made of them. It is an odd sensation walking along and by no other choice actually crushing shells beneath your feet as you walk. I have never seen a more choice selection either. I have taken my token handful to carry Cape Town with me.
This past week I have also gone to the national gallery. (I would very much like to visit the gallery in Jo-burg, but it is in the middle of Joubert park, a place prone to stabbings and muggings). There was an exhibit there in honor of national women’s day. There were some striking pieces there, but the most impressive was a 24-paneled piece that had the faces of people in an aids clinic. The portraits were detailed and crisp. They were not made with paint or photos however, but with the smoke from a candle. Each of the images looked like they were about to be blown away.
How could I visit south Africa without visiting the wineries here. Bruce and I, on our way to cape point where the Indian and the atlantic ocean meet, just by chance stopped in at the Groot Constatia Winery. These wines were superb! Our guide, Jaques, toured us through 15 different wines. He was a most friendly and generous host. The other day we also toured over to stellenbasch where we sampled one other set of wines. While adequate, these did not meet the standard set by Groot. Stellenbasch is an old Afrikaans community also set against the mountains. It is quite beautiful and also quite wealthy. Driving between Capetown and Stellenbasch you can’t help but notice the kilometers of informal shack communities along the highway. There must have been near a thousand shacks set up. About half of them seemed to have electricy running to them. Living next to the universities I have not really had to confront the reality of poverty here.

Well it seems that all I am describing to you are the fringe benefits of the Watson fellowship. To be honest a large part of my work here in South Africa has been on the theoretical side of inculturation. There is a vast amount of literature available here. I have also met up with Jim Cochrane, one of Doug’s old University Chicago friends. We had an excellent conversation. While origionally schooled in theology, his own speciality these days is religion and public health. Here is one of his organizations websites: http://www.arhap.uct.ac.za/about.php . I am excited for my trip north of the limpopo river for a more physical study of inculturation. Well, I hope I haven’t bored you all to tears. Friends and family, I miss you and love you all.


PS- I promise photos by the end of the week