Route 67

Port Elizabeth is situated within the Nelson Mandela Bay Area, and is the only area of South Africa given the privilege of using his name.  When reading his autobiography, A Long Walk to Freedom (highly recommended), I was struck by how often the Port Elizabeth area was an epicenter of resistance to apartheid.  One reason people here give is that most of the black people of this area are Xhosa - of only one ethnic descent - so it was easier to communicate and unite.

Yesterday, we walked the newly opened Route 67.  Route 67 aims to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 67- year role in South African public life; its vision is to create a walking trail with 67 works of public art.   Ten are finished currently.

We walked from the historical city center of Port Elizabeth - where you can easily see the British and Dutch influence in the architecture - up a hill toward the area's original lighthouse.  This is the group of us under the South African flag.

My favorite work of art was at the top of the hill.  As you wound your way up the last incline, there is an artistic rendering of all the people waiting in line to vote in the first democratic election of 1994.  (Not that long ago.)  There were silhouettes of people being brought to the polls in wheelbarrows; kids playing in the dirt while their parents waited, and - based on dress - people of all different economic classes.

People of all hues

Everyone votes!

Brought in wheelbarrows

   I hope these pictures do the artist some justice...

It was very moving to me - as we often take our freedoms for granted, like the air we breathe.