Robben Island Tour

Sunday we went to Robben Island (FINALLY, after it was postponed during Orientation Week back in early September).  We got on the ferry and had to wait about 10 minutes for three women who were late, even though it's usually a zero-tolerance policy where tardiness is concerned.  Shame!  Anyway, the ferry was called Sikhululekile, which is Xhosa for (insert deep meaning here... I forgot/can't find it online like I planned on doing... Sorry!).  It was a really nice boat, could hold 300 passengers, did not make me seasick (weird), and had a snazzy DVD playing the whole voyage to island.  It did, however, make me forget my PB & J sandwich on board in all its glory.  Darn!  No worries, because it was found later.  It shows that people are good at heart and won't steal your delicious snack.

After we did a bus tour of the island with a guide who was wicked funny/charming (memorable quotes include: "I know I am ugly, but I know a lot" and "the sun reflecting off the lime in the quarry can be quite strong - that is how I got this tan*"), we went to F block (I believe) to tour the old prison.  Our guide there, who is a former inmate, led us into what would have been sleeping quarters for the prisoners who were not in isolation.  He showed us a mat (pictured above) which would have constituted a bed pre-1980s.  I remember reading about them in Long Walk to Freedom and shuddering at the thought.  Both guides' knowledge was really impressive.  It's amazing how much anyone can commit to memory sometimes.
* He is African.

He also showed us a blown-up photo of a prison identity card.  In this photo, he is pointing to the rank (A, B, C, etc.).  You can also see his ID number, which is 69/64, meaning he was prisoner #69 in the year 1964.  Mandela's number was 466/64.  They sell metal bracelets with his ID imprinted in the gift shop.  It's curious.

 We left that area of the prison and made our way for the block where Madiba was imprisoned.  We looked through a peephole in a door and saw a rabbit.  Josiah took picture of it.  Josiah takes pictures of everything.  Thomas is only slightly amused.

In the courtyard of B block, the guide showed us some photos (which can also be found in the book) and gave us a history of the struggle on the island.

The courtyard, with Mandela's window (2nd or 3rd down from left).  It was a small area of land to spend 18 years on.

Above we see Mollie's lovely locks and Mandela's prison cell.  Photos honestly do not capture how small it is.  Think walk-in closet in an average home.  We doubted whether Thomas, at 6'5", could even lie down to sleep on the floor (maybe diagonally, we decided).

Josiah, causing a ruckus by pushing buttons.  Such a trouble-maker.

There were a few guns on the island supplied by Britain.  They are not currently used... I think...

After the 3-hour tour, we returned to the ferry for the return voyage.  The water was fairly calm and the sun had started to creep out a bit.  It made for a sleepy journey back to Cape Town (of which we got a gorgeous view). 

Back on land, Sarah and I got way too ecstatic about some SEA LIONS (!!) just chillin' near the docks at the Waterfront.  It was an awesome end to an eventful weekend, mostly when they started barking as we came up.  I wonder how they got there and if they cared or not.  I've decided this is their Sunday siesta place.  Very nice.