There are some really beautiful old colonial style buildings around - but, as can be expected from a city that is barely 100 odd years old, there aren't too many of them around. While, some buildings like the City Hall are restored and still functioning, one of the buildings on the corner is as good as demolished, while the Old Post Office is being restored.
Perhaps, the most interesting part of the Jo'burg trip, was the small, but vocal, demonstration against the recent xenophobic attacks. I am however a bit confused by the demonstration itself. I picked up one of the flyers which criticise the government for doing nothing (and in some ways, of flaming the attacks); while the songs being sung by the guys on the truck praised the ANC and the freedom movement. In the morning, the demonstration was being held outside the Beyers Naude square, outside the library (another grand old building - should go inside sometime) and later on in the afternoon, it moved to outside the Home Affairs offices. The crowd numbers didn't seem to have grown in the meantime though.
Newtown, one of the oldest parts of Jo'burg, has been recently redeveloped as a cultural area. There are a number of theatres, and cultural activities - and is quite a beautiful area with parks and statues (such as one of Brenda Fassie outside Bassline) littering area. For example, streets in the Newtown area have funky decorations like the one below.
One thing that did strike me as odd, was that there weren't as many people as I thought there should be. And perhaps, it is to do with the fact that it is not really a family area - after all, while there are museums, it is not really a place where kids can hang out - it is almost too much focus on the adults (theatres, clubs). That said, Newtown is fascinating, and I think more people should visit it.
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