This post may come off to locals as a bit odd but I wanted to just share a note about the 10 nights and days I stayed in Joburg recently and how I came away feeling like it is one of the coolest cities I have been to. No, honestly. I did spend a few days in CT and it is really amazing. The scenery there is so stunning, yes. It is truly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. So going there first then coming to Joburg would seem like a colossal let down. And it was at first. I came with my sister and we went to the Eastgate Mall to get food because we were staying in the airbnb in Ponte. I had hoped to go on the N3 to the M2 but GPS rerouted us along Albertina Sisulu which was eye opening. When we got to Bertrams Rd. there were no lights... and I was a bit leery, I guess and my sister was like, "it's fine, it looks like Philadelphia" (we are from the US). And at the intersection, everyone was... taking turns, being courteous, not honking or road raging like I am used to. The drive through Berea to Ponte was like... again somewhere in the US, maybe Baltimore or Philadelphia. The buildings have seen better days but there are satellite dishes and people living their lives. You'd be hard pressed to spot major differences between ungentrified Harlem and Hillbrow in some places. The flat is amazing (on the 54th floor) and the views are spectacular. We did some tourist stuff from Ponte, a tour of Hillbrow, a bike tour of Soweto, a walk through The Wilds, etc. A day trip to Pilanesberg. Overall, I was not expecting Joburg to feel so familiar and look like Southern California as much as it does. Also, I was ready for machine gun toting guys to jump us at any moment when I arrived but was kind of surprised at how Joburg, even Hillbrow, is dead quiet late at night. We went to Vic Falls and I came back alone (my sister went home), stayed one night in the CBD and then went to Namibia. After that I had planned to go to Athens but decided to come back to Joburg instead to relax and take a break from being on the go (back at the Ponte). The ride at night from the airport through the CBD in an uber was actually more scary than driving through Hillbrow/Berea. The uber driver had this look of terror and dread the whole time so that did not help. When I came back, I was able to meet up with a couple friends of friends and really just see Joburg. I drove around a lot and saw some interesting places. Yes, I was watching out for car hijackers and double checking the door after I locked it but that is unfortunately because I am used to doing that where I live now. I was truly surprised at how many people I met who are quite terrified of Hillbrow/Ponte/Berea even though they have never been. I was actually more nervous driving in areas with really high walls because it is very difficult to see around the corners. Luckily I never lost power or water. The roads in Joburg would put the roads in many North American cities to shame and that is not hyperbolic. I did not go through Alexandra but we did drive into and then bike around Soweto which was not at all intimidating. But driving through areas like Orange Grove, the CBD, Braamfontein, Sophiatown, Rosettenville, Germiston, etc. (plus lots of Pretoria too). I was blown away at how much more "normal" everything seemed than I was expecting. The biggest differences I really noticed were: Security everywhere: I guess that you just get used to having your license scanned every place you go and having security people even in garages. Warning of crime: Everyone is always talking about crime constantly. Yes, I know this is a major issue but I did not see any crimes nor did I feel unsafe at any point. Again, coming from high crime areas in the US, I was not naive and did my best not to put myself into dangerous situations but overall, it was a lot more like the US than I expected. Politeness: People are actually very nice and polite when you are in a store or retail establishment which is not the case here at all. When they found out I was a tourist, they wanted to know what I thought about South Africa and were even more polite. Traffic lights out: I was amazed that cars and even the minivan taxis are all pretty chill (here there would be lots of honking, jumping the queue, road raging) when they are in these intersections and how well it works. Random poverty: Although I have become used to tent cities here in the US but it was still shocking to see giant areas of shacks along the road Buildings sitting empty in the CBD: There are many iconic buildings in the CBD that have sat empty since the late 90's that should be redeveloped into housing or some use. As many of these are owned by the government, it is even more disheartening to see them rot away and not be put to use. Random police checks on the motorways: I was not expecting this to be as frequent or common but I want to say that almost every time I went out on the motorways, there was some line of police stopping everyone or spot checking people. Bright flashing billboards at night on the motorway: Especially on the M1, the bright flashing billboards that directly face drivers on the motorway seem like a safety hazard. Especially in stretches with poor lighting. Everyone's reaction when I told them I was staying in Ponte/Berea (not really Hillbrow but synonymous with it). The building itself is secure and you have to go through security turnstiles to get in. The security guards seemed a bit bemused but were also leery of why I would be going out after dark. There were tons of kids and families in the building. The flat is amazing and the views were to die for. It was definitely one of the coolest places I have ever stayed. So yes, I loved CT a lot. But it is like the icing on the cake. It is easy to love and be amazed by. Joburg was rougher and more wild west and I really liked the vibe overall. It was just more like a NYC vibe in an LA setting. CT was like San Francisco in vibe and weather. I really loved Joburg and I hope to return soon. Honestly one of my fav cities and I have been to many. I know it is a hard city at times and that I am seeing things from a different lens, but I do love the place.   submitted by   /u/sadunfair [link]   [comments]