We got up fairly early and after having had a very tasty and copious breakfast headed to Pretoria. Our first stop was South of Pretoria at a National Heritage site honouring the "Vortrekkers" who left the Cape colony between 1835 and 1854 to escape the British domination by venturing into unknown territory, having thus become the pioneers in the History of South Africa and the Afrikaner.
The Italian marble building structure, whose idea included elements such as water, fertility, eternity and magnitude looked like a cenotaph from the outside. Once inside the Hall of the Heroes what was most impressive for me personally were the marble friezes around its interior depicting the life of the pioneers and the multiple struggles they had to go through. They were beautiful and meticulously sculpted by well known South African artists.
In the underground gallery apart from the plaster moldes that later originated the marble friezes the various historical tapestries caught my attention, once more because of the meticulous work involved which at times gave the impression of being "alive", particularly the one regarding the battle of Blood River against the Zulus, which has given rise to a public holiday (the 16th of December) now called the Day of Reconciliation.
The battle of Blood river - December 1838
We still had time to briefly go up to the top in order to have a magnificent view of the whole surrounding area.
Historical residence of the Boer leader and President of the South African Rrepublis Paul Kruger.
We then took a look at the Union buildings in semi-circular shape with two wings representing the union of a formerly divided people highlighted by the twin-domed towers representing the two Languages - English and Afrikaans, as well as the clock chimes identical to those of the Big Ben.Once they are not open to the public we wandered about the beautiful amphitheatre gardens with the huge Nelson Mandela's statue. As we were admiring the beauty of the well tended gardens some tents called our attention. We soon found out some khoisans, the country's oldest nameable inhabitants, had settled down there for quite a few months silent and pacifically demonstrating.
We finished the morning venture by having a really good buffet-type lunch at a well decorated restaurant located in a spectacular and idyllic country setting with lush green gardens all around and a whole peaceful type of atmosphere.
(To be continued)
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