Just returned from 10 days in South Africa

Anyone ever been there or live there? I lived there for a while as a kid and it has changed tremendously. Also, saw a show called AFRICAN FOOTPRINT that has toured the world for 6 years--it really should be in NYC.

---

I've only been to East Africa. Would love to get to South Africa one of these days. Africa is pure magic to me.

Tell us more about AFRICAN FOOTPRINT.

---

Glad to have you back, Grrrly.

---

glad you had a good time.

In the 80's I had friends from there....they could not take money out of the country, well...I mean large amounts, and they were quite rich, so they'd buy yachts and sail them to other countries, sell them to get their money.

Is it still the same?

---

i'm not sure africa has a rain forest per se, although i am no expert on central africa.
the political situation has changed tremendously over the last 15 years as you can imagine. i was invited to visit soweto which would not have happened during apartheid. it was extremely moving. i'm not informed on the up to date currency issues. it used to be that the rand wasn't worth much outside of south africa anyway, as countries refused to do business with the government under apartheid. i knew people who would put wads of US money in their luggage and buy diamonds with it at a reduced price -- and then the jeweler could spend the dollars in israel. the current rate of exchange is not so good - almost 7 rand to the dollar. when i was a kid it was about 2 bux to the rand. my little allowance bought twice as much candy in SA.
jo'burg is extremely dangerous. the place i used to live is completely walled off from the street as are all the other houses on the block. i wouldn't recommend visiting jo'berg w/out an escort. people from all over southern africa come to the city because of the industries, and unemployment is at about 40%, so there is a lot of desperation out there.

---