Tourist in my own town

Basotho Cultural Village, Free State.

So not exactly my own town. Considering my town now is Spokane (where I often pretend to be a tourist anyway) and that my old town used to be Jo'burg, about a 2 and a half hour drive from the cultural village. So really, the title is a lie. 

I've visited the Golden Gate Highland Park many times before, drove past the Basotho Cultural Village a few times and always thought "Hmmm looks interesting, I should totally go there" and then never did. That was until I left the country. So on my first visit back I wanted to do everything I could possibly think of, everything that I always thought would be 'just around the corner for me'.

What you need to know about the Cultural village is that it's not an actual village. It's built with the intent of showing how the Bashoto people used to live over the last 400 years to the present. It's educational, and it's also a lot of fun. I can recommend you stop by the next time you're in the area.  You'll learn so much, drink traditional beer with the chief, play dress up with the first wife, listen to traditional jam sessions and get decor inspiration for sure. You should go.

Cost: R 75 per person. (About 7USD)
Included: A personal tour guide, with traditional foods and drinks to try and a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate park.

 

"The Free State landscape gladdens my heart, no matter what my mood. When I am here I feel that nothing can shut me in, that my thoughts can roam as far as the horizons.”

 -Nelson Mandela wrote in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.

Don't feel sorry for me, I went to Clarens

So, yesterday I made homemade Mayo, like I've made before, and it totally failed. Boo. I've been diving into the job market and the most enticing  offer was "best dolphin impersonation gets the job". Friday and Monday are not public holidays like they are in South Africa this week. Aaaand it's raining.

However, you can't really feel sorry for me when I spent a whole day walking around Clarens in the Free State just the other day. Hand in hand with my favorite, looking at art, shopping for home made jam, spending a good part of the afternoon at the local craft brewery, smelling this tiny town after the rain. I just can't complain about many things with memories like these still fresh in my mind. 

Quick Free State Roadtrip: a Photo review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing a few photos for you to see how lovely this part of my country is and for me to recognize just how amazingly fortunate I was to go there.

It's no secret how much we love road-trips, mountains, meat, wine, South Africa and being together.