Death and destruction? That's a very strange title for a Blog post about a holiday in South Africa I can hear people cry. Well yes it is and tonight's dispatch is both serious and sad and contains nothing at all of a funny nature. I make no apologies for that because the first of two topics covered is about the daily tragedies on the roads of this country, one of which was experienced by Paul and I in the last couple of days.
The N2 which travels from Cape Town to Durban, is regularly included in the list of the world's most dangerous roads and I can understand why. You need your wits about you at all times particularly when the country is blighted by a plague of drunk and speeding drivers. The death toll on this particular road is horrendous.
We had to change our hire car which necessitated a drive along the N2 to Cape Town Airport, normally a 20 minute journey. On this particular day, motorway signs advised us of an accident ahead and it wasn't long before we were in the queue and could see the blue flashing lights of emergency vehicles in the distance. It wasn't long before we reached the carnage but everyone appeared to be safe and out of their cars. However, a hundred yards further ahead, we could see the cause of the accident. A totally destroyed car laying against the central reservation. But, on the side of the road was a white bundle and drawing alongside, we shockingly realised that this was a body, lifeless and with one arm and two feet sticking out from the briefest of white sheets!
We didn't know if the victim was male or female. What we did know was that it was a daughter, a son, a brother, a sister, a mum or a dad. We also knew that lives on that day had been changed for ever. It was a dreadful experience and caused us to contrast how this incident would have been handled back home. Very differently and there is absolutely no way that the traffic flow would have been allowed to continue and pass within 10 feet of a deceased person. Perhaps life is treated rather more cheaply in South Africa.
Following on from this, Somerset West where we are staying, has been hit by a series of wild fires which have caused extensive damage to land and property locally. We are fine by the way. It was incredible how things developed because we spotted a small wild fire on the hills in the distance and before we knew it, the fire had taken hold. It was 36 hours before any sort of control was established by which time a pall of smoke hung over a huge area giving the impression that the end of the world was nigh!
I can report that the situation on Thursday evening has drastically improved although flare ups are expected with strong winds and hot temperatures prevailing as I write.
Hopefully, my next post will be a little lighter and certainly more uplifting.
The End of the World
Beautiful Blue Skies Disappearing
A Blood Red Sun Through Smoke
A Ghostly Scene
The N2 which travels from Cape Town to Durban, is regularly included in the list of the world's most dangerous roads and I can understand why. You need your wits about you at all times particularly when the country is blighted by a plague of drunk and speeding drivers. The death toll on this particular road is horrendous.
We had to change our hire car which necessitated a drive along the N2 to Cape Town Airport, normally a 20 minute journey. On this particular day, motorway signs advised us of an accident ahead and it wasn't long before we were in the queue and could see the blue flashing lights of emergency vehicles in the distance. It wasn't long before we reached the carnage but everyone appeared to be safe and out of their cars. However, a hundred yards further ahead, we could see the cause of the accident. A totally destroyed car laying against the central reservation. But, on the side of the road was a white bundle and drawing alongside, we shockingly realised that this was a body, lifeless and with one arm and two feet sticking out from the briefest of white sheets!
We didn't know if the victim was male or female. What we did know was that it was a daughter, a son, a brother, a sister, a mum or a dad. We also knew that lives on that day had been changed for ever. It was a dreadful experience and caused us to contrast how this incident would have been handled back home. Very differently and there is absolutely no way that the traffic flow would have been allowed to continue and pass within 10 feet of a deceased person. Perhaps life is treated rather more cheaply in South Africa.
Following on from this, Somerset West where we are staying, has been hit by a series of wild fires which have caused extensive damage to land and property locally. We are fine by the way. It was incredible how things developed because we spotted a small wild fire on the hills in the distance and before we knew it, the fire had taken hold. It was 36 hours before any sort of control was established by which time a pall of smoke hung over a huge area giving the impression that the end of the world was nigh!
I can report that the situation on Thursday evening has drastically improved although flare ups are expected with strong winds and hot temperatures prevailing as I write.
Hopefully, my next post will be a little lighter and certainly more uplifting.
Unfortunately Alistair it's all too familiar in South Africa, on both counts.
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