I’m about to leave South Africa for a few weeks, which always makes me feel weird. I woke up in a strange, sad mood today, mourning everything about the state of the world. I recognize the feeling now — it’s pre-transit melancholy. (Although there really are a lot of crappy things happening in the world right now, too.)
This is going to be a momentous trip for a variety of reasons and I’ll be blogging about those reasons along the way. But before I go, I thought I’d throw out some momentous Jozi photos that I took earlier this month.
I tagged along with some friends on a tour of Hillbrow and Berea with Dlala Nje, an organization based in Ponte City. I’ve blogged about Hillbrow, Berea, and Ponte City on many occasions but these places never get old.
Dlala Nje has an apartment on the top floor of Ponte City. This is the view through the window of that apartment.
Hillbrow has an incredible concentration of satellite dishes.
Ponte City (the tallest residential building in Africa) has a hollow core. Here’s the view from inside the core, one of the most spectacular sights in Joburg.
Sorry, one more.
Fiver sketches inside the Ponte core.
Out on the streets, this is the Hillbrow version of Gumtree. People in Hillbrow and Berea use this wall to advertise apartments for rent, rooms for rent, even beds for rent. They often sit around the wall after they put up their signs, waiting for others to find their advertisements. It’s a great place to people-watch.
School’s out on Pretoria Street.
Sonnyboy’s Mini Market, the shop that sells everything from sardines to hubby bubbly.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for updates from the Western Hemisphere. And not to worry, the #Gauteng52 series will continue uninterrupted during my travels.
Always great see your pics of JHB. Ponte – that building has so many stories to tell, some of them urban legends no doubt. Thanks. R
Undoubtedly. But I think a lot of them are also true 🙂
Safe travels, enjoy, overdo the Aunty mode and looking forward to seeing you when you return.
Safe travels! Ponte never gets old. 🙂
I’m glad you agree. It’s the craziest building.
Wishing you a great trip!
Thanks.
I’m South African, born in Umlazi Township in Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal and I live in Johannesburg with mom..
That’s awesome. Thanks for the comment 🙂