On public holidays they have a antique vintage fair at the Voortrekker monument so that's what we decided to do on Youth Day. However, listening to Redi Tlhabi's show where people were recounting their involvement on 16 June 1976 it seemed our trip was a little inappropriate. We, therefore, decided to go to the fair, view the monument since it was really as a result of the Voortrekkers coming here that lead up the the eventual event on June 16, and then revisit Freedom Park.
The fair was okay. Lots of coins, stamps and old medals. An old SA flag here and there on sale, argh, and a large painting of Verwoerd. Really!
We went up to the monument and viewed the outside, then the inside, climbed the steps to the top to look down on the tomb and outside to look at the cityscape. We didn't go downstairs to the Voortrekker exhibition/museum though.
I had heard on the radio months before that they had put in a road that connected Voortrekker monument with Freedom Park and after asking at the office for directions we drove up to Freedom Park.
Last time I was at Freedom Park ythe museum was not open. Now you start at the museum and then proceed to the heritage site. Skipping the museum visit is not an option. All the staff will insist you go inside and escort you to the door. You won't be sorry. Informative and well laid out, a good reminder of the journey of our nation. Not as detailed or as heavy on content as the Apartheid museum but the same course of events obviously.
We walked up the hill to the heritage site and followed the paths all around it. The vegatation, the veld grasses and trees, makes the walk so calming. Many people had come to spend this Youth Day here. Remembrance.
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