Flight arrived at 04:35 this morning from Santiago, Chile and we made our way through customs as our luggage was checked all the way through to Johannesburg, we only had backpacks so could go and explore the city for the day. We climbed on a free shuttle and went to the incorrect place, caught another and ended up correctly in the Metro station.
We bought two tickets and armed with a map of the different lines set off for Lux station with a changeover to Brasa. All went according to plan except for the mountain of people on the train. Can not believe that the pictures of people with faces pressed against the windows is a reality. Everyone trying to get to work on time. The trains are so full that everyone squashed out and then we squashed in. The world disappeared and I fell through the gap between the train and the side of the platform. More scary for Michael as one minute I was there and next minute gone. Four strangers hands gripped my shoulders and pulled me out. I was very very lucky. Such a stupid thing to do but with the mass of people, I did not know the gap existed. Anyway a bit banged up though my thick long pants took the brunt of the punishment. Anyway we continued and successfully navigated our way out of the door to the station. We went to see a Cemetery and then a beautiful Catholic where we lit candles for Volvo, Aunty June, Aunty Val and Rita. A quick prayer to give thanks for all our blessing and thank you for looking after every one and everything. We walk and sit on a bench watching the dogs and their owners in the dog park. We hear an unearthly scream a bump on a roof of a car and a bump on the floor. Uncertain of what happened and willing to go and look we carried on walking down the street while police and ambulances moved towards the scene. Completely shaken, we carry on and find a Starbucks and coffee. We walked through beautiful Art Deco buildings and galleries. Plazas with fountains and tall trees. Homelessness is a way of life and so many people and their dogs are lying around the beautiful parks fast asleep while we are walking. Onto the next street and a road block. Ambulances, people on motorbikes with Socorro’s on the back of their jackets. Police with AK 47s and people on the floor hands tied behind. Once again, too scared to go near, I assume it is an armed robbery and get away as fast as possible. Enough dreadful happenings, the stark reality of the occurrences, the murals and the homeless makes one realize how desperate people actually are. We made our way back to the airport and got back by 13:30. I am so very grateful for where I live, we are sheltered from the deep suffering of humanity. Carefully read the words and messages of these murals. It is heart breaking.
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