Pietermaritzburg

Standing under a giraffe at the Pietermaritzburg Museum. I didn't realize they are so tall! This sounds silly, but I was a little intimidated by the stuffed animals at the museum. The hippo was scary! It's mouth was open with all of its teeth showing! I have a vow to see a real giraffe before I leave South Africa.

Ladies carrying packages on their heads at the top of Howick Falls. This is normal life for them.

The view of Howick Falls. Can you see the man at the top left of the falls?

Troyden, Trent's nephew. He came over with parents Tanya and Mark the first day I was in Maritzburg. So sweet!

Marilyn with one of the twins. I think this is Trystan... =)

After we left Rookdale, I spent a week with Trevor and Marilyn Eayrs in Pietermaritzburg. "Maritzburg" is located in the province of Natal (pronounced "nuttell").  It was a week to relax after all of the hard work in Rookdale. I got to sleep in (yes!) and see a little of the countryside. Maritzburg is completely different than Joburg:  much greener, rolling hills, more spread out... in a way, it sort of reminded me of the hills of Scotland. It was a wonderful rest week, and I was blessed to spend time with Trevor and Marilyn, learn more about their experiences and ministry. I remember waking up one morning to the sound of the dogs barking their heads off. I didn't know what was going on, and Marilyn told me it was monkeys that were passing through. "Didn't you hear them on the roof?" she asked. I didn't hear them. I wish I would've gotten up, though! Apparently wild monkeys travel in troops in South Africa, and it's a normal thing for them to come right through your yard. They are vervet monkeys, and they are so cute! (I saw some later in Durban, I'll post pics of them).  

I purchased a book that has pictures of Scenic South Africa in it. I made a list of the things I want to see while here, and Howick Falls was right outside of Maritzburg, so Marilyn took me there. It was beautiful, and very high. We were standing on a lookout on one side of the falls, and across from us, right at the top of the falls, was a man - just standing there. I guess he was sun-bathing, but it looked like he was going to jump! Also, there were ladies carrying packages on their heads right by the waterfall. That was neat to see. My camera battery died while I was there, so I didn't get too many pictures. But the town of Howick is very cute with lots of shoppes and restaurants. We ate an old country house up on a hill that overlooked the falls. It was beautiful. We sat at a picnic table in the front yard of the old house, and there was a pasture next to us. In the pasture were zebra, cows, horses, donkeys, and pigs. The pigs came over to us, and they were so cute, we couldn't help but feed them. I know that sounds strange to say, but they were actually cute! 

Marilyn also took me to afternoon tea at some really neat places. We went to the botanical gardens in Natal, and a cute British house that had a beautiful garden in back. We visited the Pietermaritzburg Museum and saw history on the Zulu culture, Nelson Mandela, stuffed animals of Africa, and even an exhibit (strangely enough) on the Civil Rights Movement in America. 

It was a wonderful week, and I enjoyed the time of rest and fun.