Yesterday was a holiday for New Years. Tim went for a walk in the morning. He likes to walk in places he has never been before. Yesterday he walked about nine miles through neighborhood streets . When he returned he was very enthusiastic about a park that he had found. He wanted us to drive there in the afternoon so I could see it.
This park is just a few miles from the St. Francis Care Center in a neighboring suburb of Johannesburg. When we got there we saw that the parking lot was almost full. And there were many people scattered around the park which is several blocks in size. The people were a wonderful assortment of races, with native black people, people from India, and some white people. Families were in small groups around the grills, but the children were playing in mixed groups.
We started to see the animals that were roaming free in the park. There were rabbits, peacocks, piglets, ducks, geese, and a swan. These animals were widely scattered, some of them along the pond which was quite extensive. Then from a distance I say a camel. We went closer and saw that the camel, two horses, and a miniature pony pulling a small cart were in a fenced area, and being led for children to take rides.
There were train cars with a refreshment stand in one of the cars with carrots for the animals being sold as well as treats for the humans. Inside the train there were tables set up for eating and attached to the train was an outside raised area with picnic tables.
There was a great accumulation of farm equipment scattered throughout the park painted red, blue, green and yellow for children to climb and play upon. There was also some regular playground equipment. In one area there was a small motorized vehicle for rent for children to drive around a track.
There was also a number of fenced areas scattered among the grassy park areas. These included pens for long horned cattle, donkeys, pigs, ostriches, sheep and goats. There was another fenced area for chickens and other farm fowl.
The people seemed relaxed as they enjoyed the park. The children seemed to be having a wonderful time. I am really grateful that Tim discovered this park and that we had this very positive experience of African family life.
Cecilia
