Sunday, March 14, 2010

Mandela's prison cell



This is the furniture inside Nelson Mandela's cell in the Robbin Island prison. To the left is a toilet bucket. Next to the toilet bucket a table / chair and eating utensils. To the right of that a bed roll. Due to international pressure the bed roll was eventually replaced with a simple bunk style bed.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Robbin Island Prison


The entrance to the Robbin Island prison complex.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Table Mountain from Robbin Island



This is Table Mountain as seen from Robbin Island. It must have added to the feeling of being banned from society, having to see this every day but not being allowed to be there.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Robbin Island



This is the harbor at Robbin Island where Nelson Mandela was jailed for 18 years. The prison itself is in good condition but it is sad to see how the rest of the island is slowly deteriorating. The house where the first leader of the ANC Youth League was held is overgrown by weeds. During the war the island was used as base to defend the waters around the cape. Significant block houses housing some of the biggest guns used were built on the island. These are in a sad state of repair. Previously the island also housed a leper colony. Their grave yard is in a sad state of repair.

Probably the result of nepotism and political interference. Maybe one of the instances of about ½ the staff employed on the island actually “working” on the island.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Bus-truck



This half bus half truck is in the railway transport museum in George. Interesting concept. It must have worked in days gone by - when there were less people, longer distances, and a need for a transport service along the bus route.

Friday, February 12, 2010

1939 Dodge

What a car should be. Simple strong, reliable.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

19950Studebaker Champion



This is the grill of a 1950 Studebaker Champion. It must have made a statement back in the 1950's - given the boxy look that was more or less standard at the time. I wonder if it was at all inspired by jet engines that were then still fairly new and at the edge of engineering achievement.