Was this where I was going to die!
When I told friends and neighbor’s I was going to South Africa everyone warned me how unsafe this idea was. I went anyway!
The first day I left my hotel room for breakfast in their lovely restaurant downstairs, I learned very quickly how continental South Africa really is.
I fit right in — that is until I said, “I would like two eggs over easy and a cup of coffee.” Heads not only turned, they spun around in my direction!
Ah! What part of America are you from? Everyone wanted to know. When I answered, San Francisco you would have thought I was a celebrity of sorts.
Have you seen our country? Was the next question. No, I just arrived, and this is my first day in this hotel.
Would you like to see the Kimberly Mines? Absolutely! In my mind I was thinking each time I accepted a day trip with the locals it saved my funds for a longer stay.
Soon, I learned to recognize the different accents, British, German, Afrikaans and American’s —or so I thought!
One morning a group of people entered the restaurant, all wearing Bermuda shorts. I listened intently and could not decide their origin. I asked the waiter, who looked at the group, then looked at me and said, They’re from America! A group of tennis players.
I was more than a little surprised I did not recognize my fellow countryman!
When one of the men in the group began a conversation with someone close to my table, I caught his eye and asked what part of America he was from?
He stepped forward with his hand out and said, “My name is Warren Simmons and I am from San Francisco!” (Omg).
This is the man who developed Pier 39 in San Francisco!
Although I had followed his story from the beginning, we never met — until I am half-way around the world having breakfast in a Hotel in South Africa!
We had a wonderful chat — since we had mutual friends in San Francisco, several of whom had already told him about me. (?).
Weeks passed. I met many wonderful people, traveled around South Africa, Underground at the Kimberly Mines, Cape Town, Table Mountain, Stellenbausch Vineyards, The famous Blue Train, Sun City, and many wonderful adventures.
Then, one very warm day as I was walking the short distance from my hotel to a friend’s office, I came upon a construction site. From what I could see beyond the hedges, they were busy remodeling a home.
A young, blond kid offered me a ride because of the heat. I declined as I was almost to my destination. He countered by asking if I had been to this beach — No! In fact, I had never heard of it — however when I think the beach, I was thinking of the beaches in Durban with strolling food carts, kiosks for refreshments, and lots of people.
I agreed to go the following day.
He picked me up in his Pickup! (should have been my first warning). We drove over half an hour, chatting all the way. He was 20 years old, born in Durban, worked for his Fathers construction company.
When we arrived — the beach was completely empty. No people, no kiosks, nothing!
I followed him dutifully to waters edge — noticing it was low tide and followed him from the first rock outcropping to the next. As he hesitated before making the leap to the next set of jetting rocks, I told him I was going back to the beach to get some sun.
It was beginning to feel like he was searching for a place to dump a body!
I spread my blanket on the sandy beach and waited. Was this how my life was going to end?
Maybe, I should have listened to my friends back home, who warned me South Africa is unsafe! But, a young, blond, British kid?
Tic-toc time passed.
Twenty minutes seemed like a century before he joined me on the blanket.
Not sure how the conversation began– my mind was a bit out of sequence. He started telling me he liked to wear lady’s clothes. I made a mental note of the few items of clothing I was wearing — shorts, tank top and undies. Not a great selection and nothing in his size.
Instead of acting surprised, I asked him what his favorites were. He began with the bra and mentioned other favorites. As I kept him engaged in his favorites he seemed to relax.
After running out of words — I asked if we could go back because I was hungry? How I was unaware the beach did not have snacks, or I would have brought something.
I never saw him again! Nor did I pass by the construction site again.
South Africa is still the most beautiful place on the planet — including the People! (most of them).