Robben Island

Very early on the morning of Monday 15th August the Cooke family set off into Cape Town to catch the 9am ferry to Robben Island, made famous by its prison and more so by one inmate Nelson Mandela.

The island is more than just a prison however, and its long histroy is explained by guides on your arrival. It has been a leper colony, a sea defence site with massive guns set to protect Cape Town's approaches, its being a criminal prison and the famous political prison. It is a home th many African penquins, and the final resting place for many ships, it has also provided the stone from its quarries to build Cape Towns castle, as well as its own prisons. It also has a lighthouse which unusually is placed just about in the centre of the island and the furtherst place from the sea, the reason being that that is the highest point on this almost pancake flat island.

Nelson Mandela's cell

The showers in Nelson Mandela's block

Nelson was prisoner 466/64 and today he use's that number, 46664, to spearhead his most important charity, the fight against HIV / AIDs. Nelson once said of Robben Island, 'the long, lonely wasted years'

Not much to look at, but this is Nelson Manelda's garden in his exercise yard. It was in this gaden that he hid the manuscripts of 'The Long Walk To Freedom'

The exercise yard used by Nelson Mandela and the othetr high risk political prisoners. Nelson's cell was to the right and his garden to the left foreground, just out of shot.

The lime stone quarry a short walk from the prison. It was here that Nelson Mandela and his comrades worked and due to the bright sun and the white of the lime stone many of them suffered from eye injuries due to strain. Nelson was one who suffered and for many years after his release would have to wear sunglasses.

The tempting view of Cape Town and freedom from Robben Island.

Robben Island light house, almost the furthest point from the sea as possible.

Clare, Kate and Oisin aboard the boat taking them back to Cape Town. This is a modern fast boat, they also use an old boat to ferry visitors out to the island during peak times. That boat is considerably slower and older, it was the boat that took the prisoners to and from Robben Island, and no doubt took Nelson Mandela there and bought him back 17 years later.

A poster in Robben Island harbour showing the old boat, the Blouberg, and its passengers made up of released prisoners taking their long walk to freedom.

The Cooke's spectacular view of Table Mountain as they return to Cape Town harbour from Robben Island.

Cape Town's Water Front area, the Victoria and Aflred Docks are now a major tourist attraction with clubs, bars, restaurants and shops. It also has its own musicians that work the dockside walk ways.

One of the popular singing groups that can be found in the Water Front area. The dancing of this group thrilled Katie so much she felt compelled to join in, the singing captivated the Cooke's that much they bought the CD.

Oisin gets to grips with some art work on the Water Front, this particular item is about putting an end to gun crime, not something you would want to remind tourists about as they stroll around this mecca to spending money and having fun.

It's all been a bit of a long day for Katie.

The final words of this thought provoking visit, should go to Nelson Mandela.

'There is no easy walk to freedom'

(in a speech when he was 37 years old)

'Only free men can negotiate'

There is no such thing as part freedom'

'A man who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred'

(Spoken as Nelson Mandela stepped foot out of Victor Verster Prison at 4.16pm on the 11th February 1990 and started his own walk to freedom, he was 71 years old and had spent a total of 27 years in prison.

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