Weekend Update

First of all, I'm a bit disappointed that no one seemed to catch the reference of my last post's title. I know I've gotten a bit off track from song lyrics but I really thought that was a pretty easy one.

Ok, back to the travelogue. (I know you thought this was an infertility blog, right? Or at least I might visit somewhere OTHER than Cape Town).

Yesterday was a fab, fab day. Alex and I headed over to Casa Tertia and got to meet her whole clan. The babes are as adorable as you might imagine. Such sweet spirits and just divine. Rose is super nice and sweet. Marko is devastatingly handsome, besotted with his wonderful wife and so good with the babes. It was sheer heaven just meeting them all and seeing all that loving goodness.

Tertia took us to this lovely wine farm near her house and we had an amazing long, girly lunch. We defined Ladies Who Lunch. It was just so very civilized. As long as you didn't listen to closely to the conversation which got more than a bit ribald. But I'm not the kind of girl who lunches and tells so I'll just leave it at that.

Alex and her lovely husband were crazy enough to put up with me for the rest of the day/evening. Mr Infertile Gourmet even gave me my pio shot and he's a mighty fine shot giver indeed. Any of you infertiles in need of a well done shot, the line forms behind me. Ok, I suppose I'm behind Alex but whatever.

We headed out to Kalk Bay for dinner and ate overlooking crashing waves. So cool. Actually it was quite blustery as the winds had picked up tremendously. We talked and talked and talked. And ordered 3 desserts. Totally my kind of people. I was exhausted by the time I made it home to my little room.

This morning I went on a township tour. It's the one thing I didn't get to do on my last trip that was high on my list this time around. I chose Sunday morning because there's a gospel tour and you get to see things you don't the other days of the week.

I'm so very glad I took this tour. The tour operator is a woman from a township who started this business so she knows everyone and you don't have an icky, voyeuristic feeling that I was worried about. We went through several townships and made many stops. We met with a couple of familes that share an apartment in an unrenovated buidling. There were three bedrooms in the flat and 18 families lived there. Each family (2 adults and up to 5-6 kids) had one bed in a bedroom. Such tough conditions!

People chose to move from the flats to shanties or sheds because that was the only way they could have any privacy at all. Each shed houses one family. The government is now building new buildings with many flats to replace the sheds. The township folks are very excited to see that happen.

There are also very nice residential streets in the townships where doctors, lawyers, business people, and all sorts of other professional live. It's amazing how close the former hostels, sheds and houses all are to each other. We went first to Langu which is the first township built in Cape Town and was constructed in 1940. That's when the big move began and blacks and coloreds were forced into separate townships (we drove by the Cape Flats which is a large colored township but didn't go in there).

We stopped at a couple of memorial sites including one to Amy Biehl, the Fullbright scholar and Stanford grad who was killed in 1993 by militant members of the Pan African Congress student group as she was drivng coworkers home.

The last stop on our tour was a much more uplifting one. We went to most of a church service where we were warmly received. It was quite a large church (more than 800 people) and they seemed to have a great deal more fun at church than I've ever seen before. There was amazing gospel music combined with African dancing. I'd never seen line dancing at a church, much less break dancing by women in formal church clothes and heels. There was even a bit of a mosh pit. The minister gave many intructions to tell you neighbor this and that and indeed we were told. And hugged. And truly welcomed. They told us not to feel at home but be at home. I figured it was as good a way as any to spend part of my day before transfer. Can't hurt, right?

Now I'm feeling quite contemplative. I'm heading out for a long walk along the waterside. Maybe even some sushi. See how much better I'm feeling?

Comments

[chris]

Wow. Sounds wonderful.

[Roni]

Hey Millie - SO glad you're feeling better, and your day sounds like it was divine (minus the PIO shot, but what's bad about having a good man see your butt, even if he belongs to someone else??)

I'm glad you wrote about the township tour. We didn't take one for the very reason you were afraid to do so the first time. I'm glad we had a chance to hear about it from you, and I wish now in retrospect that we had done so.

Have a Schwepps lemonade for me- I'm so pissed we can't get them here!
Roni

[InSpring]

It sounds like you're creating a lot of love and good karma all around you. I feel so peaceful reading your post and peace for you in this hopeful time.

[fisher queen]

What an incredible trip you are having. SA sounds like an amazing place.

I got a huge kick out of the fact that Mr IG gave you your shot. We really are a little community...

[Jacqui]

Dropping by via Tertia. Just wanted to let you know that I am sending you positive vibes and I hope that when you leave that beautiful country you will have a baby firmly implanted in your womb. Love the description of your tour.

[Pamplemousse]

Millie, I am finally back and catching up on you. I have been thinking of you all week and I was just saying to Mr P that you would be in SA and getting ready for the FET. Of course, he thinks I am bonkers though lovely with it.

I am so excited that you are finally there, my friend. You had better make up for those lost meals quick. Smooches, sweetie.

[statia]

You sound so happy and content. I'm glad you're having such a good time. All of this happiness radiating from you should mean good things for tomorrow's transfer.

[daisy mae]

gosh - cape flats. i took a wrong turn on the highway trying to find my way back to my hotel. and ended up taking a little drive thru the cape flats.

i did an official soweto tour when i was in jobo. got to see nelsom mandela's house - he lived on the street with the doctors and lawyers as well.

thinking good thoughts for you. and as the original daisy mae would say find your "inner zen".

xoxoxo

~daisy mae

[thalia]

So glad you are so much better. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day before transfer. Hoping the upswing continues.

[Lut C.]

I'm just catching up on your last few posts. Alanis Morisette started playing in my mind when I read the previous post's title. :-)

I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.

[Kate]

That would have been "Ironic" Alannis Morisette. i didn't miss it. :oP

[Sparkle]

Sounds incredible, glad everything is going well.

[Paisley]

I am so glad you are feeling better, and had such a grand time with the girls. The township tour sounds incredible, and must help you to feel like you are beyond the usual turista path. Who am I kidding? You are already beyond the usual turista path! You sound just wonderful. I have been watching the clock all day, adding ten hours then figuring out how long until your FET. Does that make me a stalker? A stalker with nothing but hope for you I suppose.
*mwah*

[tracey]

I just love reading your posts. If it weren't for the fact that I've been thinking about you constantly, I'd have almost forgotten why you were in Cape Town -food and friends, right ? You sound great. And you got that bug out of your system and let another man see your behind - I'd say you are clear to go, girl.

Here's to a great transfer.

[Ornery]

The tour sounds so interesting. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Bonnie]

I got a big kick out of Mr. IG giving you your PIO shot, too:)