Since our arrival in the vast metropolis of Johannesburg we have been busy 'settling in'. First duty was to rent a cell phone (they are ubiquitious in this part of the world) and a vehicle to get around. Then began the more arduous task of identifying a place to live. We talked to numerous realtors and made 16 visits before we confirmed a place. Yesterday we finalized the deal and this week will move into 22 Victoria Square on Harris Road in Edenglen, Guateng.
Guateng is the province comprised of Johannesburg, Pretoria and surrounding areas with a total estimated population in the neighbourhood of 10 million people. Roadway insfrastructue is way behind the vehicular demand even though there are already 4 lane highways in both directions in and around the city!
We live near the Karaglen Mall which has all we need for day to day living: Supermarkets, coffee shops, banks, a Virgin Active gym, flower and vegetable markets as well as a multitude of street hawkers who will sell you what you want from you car window while you wait for the light to turn green.
By Friday of this week (this is Monday eve) we need to have enough furniture in our flat to move in as our time at the Baptist Guest House is running out. How to get the best deal in a city you don't know at places you don't know with appliances you don't know???
We have met a lot of interesting people. The security guards at the guest house come from the Congo so Bruno has been speaking Kituba to them. When we meet someone from Lesotho or Sotho speaking areas we can greet them in their native tongue. It is lovely to see the smile on their faces when we greet people in their own language.
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