Article / Content Title:

Synopsis /  Author Bio

Hugeaux aka Hugo R. Miller is an artist/photographer living in the USA

Author's Name

Hugeaux

Phone

none

Web Site

www.hugeaux.com

Email

CLICK HERE

9:45am Johannesburg, South Africa
I am writing this entry while sitting at Platform #11 at the Johannesburg Park Station waiting on the Metrorail to Pretoria. I am told by the personel that it is a 2 hour trip, however it cost me only 9 rand ($1.50). Rand is the money currency of South Africa. Johannesburg is beautiful. I got off the Rea Vaya and walked the long way to Park Station to photograph more of downtown Johannesburg. I bought a little souvenirs from some of the vendors. As always vendors and music has blanketed the “City of Egoli”. I hope to take some scenic pictures of Pretoria as the fog has lifted and the sun has arrived. Everywhere you turn there seems to be men gathered in Zulu jovial counsel. You can feel that these friendships were from childhood. There is a strong bond among the men here, a fraternity. This is a proud Zulu Nation.

11:00am Train to Pretoria, South Africa.
I am writing this entry on the train to Pretoria. As we leave Johannesburg, we are entering the county’s industrial areas. There are many nuclear power plants in the area. Many vendors are walking between the train cars selling merchandise from candy, cakes to cool ice drinks. I bought the cold ice bar. We are passing many small towns, however not rural. We are passing a lot of the iron mines which are now being covered over by nature. The refineries appear decrepit and abandoned. (Town of Knight). There are many nuclear plants in Isando. A total of 8, I could see. A vendor caught everyone’s attention when he started producing the tribal click from his mouth that got our attention. We all looked to see what he was selling. It is beautiful. The people are riding with the doors open, gathering the cool fresh African air as the train rushes along. The sun is basking their red tone skin. Oakmoor seems like a very beautiful town to visit. We passed a huge iron mine, still in production outside Irene.

1:45pm Pretoria, South Africa
I am writing this entry at Pretoria City Hall. In front of the entrance of Pretoria City Hall sit’s a large bronze stature of a Chief Tshwane from The Tshwane royal house. Some mistake it as a stature of King Shaka of the Zulu Nation. I walked in and was totally captivated by the interior. A Zulu worker noticed me and gave me the grand tour. He let me photograph in all the rooms. Pretoria City Hall is a palace of dark woods. The wood< I think is mahogany and ebony, filled my nostrils. There is mahogany / ebony and marble everywhere. We talked much as I photographed. I am to hungry for lunch in Pretoria as my appetite is to see more. I must continue to walk and photograph. I have 2 and one half hours left.

3:30pm Pretoria “The City of Tshwane”, South Africa.
Pronounced “Shwa - nee”
I stopped after walking around Pretoria to have a late lunch at a Fish n Chips restaurant. Pretoria is a vibrant small city, but not as large as Johannesburg. The people are the same as there are many vendors on the streets. The air is not full of music as in Johannesburg. Everywhere you turn the Zulu nation is bustling. My train from Johannesburg leaves in 40 minutes and I must make my way back to the Pretoria Tran Station. I overheard a conversation that South African is going to change the name of Pretoria to the City of Tshwane …Right On!! Well I am headed back to Johannesburg and maybe I can photograph more of Johannesburg before the sun goes down. Tomorrow I shall want to visit Sharpville.