Friday, November 30, 2012

Robben Island


Okay, I know most of you have watched the movie Invictus, so therefore you should kind of have a faint memory of what Robben Island is. Robben Island is a small island off the coast of Cape Town and used to be maximum security prison that held most or all of the black political leaders during the apartheid era. It is mainly famous for once imprisoning Nelson Mandela for 18 years. You can imagine how excited I was to go see this place where the previous president of South Africa and a man of struggle was held. I studied about his life before he became president and the fight he gave towards the government during apartheid, and it was incredible to finally be able to visit the place where he was imprisoned.


This is Nelson Mandela's cell, where he slept and studied every book he could get his hands on. He was and still is a brilliant man who was on a mission to get his people freedom. When we got in front of his cell, we all lingered around just for a while to even try and get a glimpse into what it might have felt like to live here for 18 years day in and day out. They were not allowed to socialize with others and they were forced to eat foods that were often times not even edible. The only way Mandela could communicate with others was when they all were able to go to the bathroom, working in the limestone quarries, and by secret letters hidden within small objects. Nelson Mandela is a hero to his people, especially because he never gave up on them for more than 27 years.


It was a tad bit windy on the island, but nevertheless it was a interesting experience Hopefully next time we can get a guide where we could understand more of what he was saying, welp TIA.

Always, Allex

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