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This is many people's favourite picture. There is something about capturing a private moment between mother and daughter I suppose. Relaxed and intimate. This was taken on a break on our bus tour of the island. I love the weathered rock and the old building. Mamy Cathy and Suzy are standing just over the Atlantic Ocean.  

Trapped

Imagine yourself a little ways back into the past. You inhabit that little house on the left by yourself for 18 years. The guards who patrol around your house are under orders not to talk to you. There is no electricity so when night comes you are clothed in darkness. Dogs, trained to kill you, are being housed right outside. (That is what you can see on the right side of this picture) What would happen to you? To your mind? And what was your crime? You were of the 'opposition party' you were black and you wanted change. After more than 10 years in here the prisoner started going a little crazy so they did permit a light and books and conversations with the guards were relaxed. But still. When the inhabitant (when I remember the name I will add it) got ill it was at a time when the world was looking at the Apartheid policies in not too nice of a way. To not have this person die on infamous Robbin Island they were moved to Pretoria where they died in prison there. Bloody politics hmm? 

Attraction is the wrong word

We thought that these buildings you see in the background looked sort of like 'ancient remnants' when in fact they were just unfinished guard buildings. The island is no longer used as a prison base and it's only function is as a tourist attraction. 

The end of their 'freedom'

Suzy her mom and I visited Robbin Island on our trip and here we were on the tour around the island. The building I'm leaning on is an old communications centre. Out in the water you can see lines of something sticking out. Those are kelp forests. 

Mandela's life

The oft taken picture of Mandela's cell on Robbin Island. Most of the people on the tour with us were not really tourists per se but locals and so this probably had a greater impact than usual. (Due to the fact that they got to see this man day after day and then now see where he was) 

The Story of the 4 pics (stupid no matter how you slice it)

History: Suzy and I had spent a long day exploring Cape Town's Muslim quarter. To wait for her uncle to pick us up we decided to meet at "our spot" The Golden Acre mall. The mall was closing and we usually go to Nando's restaurant but weren't feeling all that hungry. Instead we ended up at McDonald's (I know that is sick, but I'm just being honest) for a snack. (A McFlurry which interestingly is very small and only comes in 1 size - of course!)

The reason we go into the restaurants is to avoid the street kids. They are aggressive beggars. (Reaching into clothing at times, asking for any food left over, etc.) They do not let you just stand near them and not bug you. So when we saw two guys around our age just standing there taking pictures of them from 4 feet away we knew something was up. The two guys had the kids pose, pretend to huff ether or alcohol, drink and fight.

Pic 1 - The two camera men ran across the street and got into the car you see. The 5 kids immediately chased them. It appeared like the two guys were going to take off on them. (They probably promised them food or money if they let them take the pictures) The drivers door is open and the kids are talking loudly and gesturing grandly.

Pic 2 - You may be able to tell that more kids are in this pic now. Due to the noise the kids were making they attracted more. Now some of them are reaching into the car. They are trying to grab the kid in the front and are pulling at him and his seatbelt. There were probably about 10 kids there now. (These 2 punks fucked with the wrong streetkids.

Pic 3 - At every ABM I saw downtown there are security guards. ABSA bank had a terminal about 10 feet away from all of this. The guards quickly ran over after watching for a few minutes.

On the left of the pic you see a white guy wearing a baseball hat. That was one of the photographers. I never saw why he got out of the backseat but watched him get back in. On his immediate right you can see a streetkid huffing on a brown paper bag. That is reality. (The car door on the driver side is still open at this point)

Pic 4 - The security guards ended up seeming like they were giving a lecture to the guys in the car as well as the streetkids. Notice that 2 of the kids are now standing directly in front of the car. The driver door is still open and a kid is still leaning in. I never saw but he leaned in the whole time as if he was holding the steering wheel or the guy or his seatbelt.

About 10 seconds after we snapped this photo the guys in the car took off VERY fast. The almost ran the 2 kids in front of the car down and dragged the kid who was in the driver side for about 15 feet before he let go. They then took a quick right hand turn and blasted down the street. The guards gave chase but ended up coming back soon after.

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Note: We were told that at times the streetkids are picked up for begging but are only kept for one day before they return to the street.