¿A's with machete or gun? Typical phrase (take as a metaphor) among foreigners in South Africa with which to start a conversation. Something like working or studying southern version and some toast. Many conversations in South Africa revolve around the times you have stolen and the times I could steal. Urban legends spread by word of mouth and everyone knows someone who has been robbed. Yesterday, a guy who has been here for a few months took out a map of the city to show me the dangerous areas. After studying his proposal carefully I have come to the conclusion that I need to rent a helicopter to walk around the city, buy me a pole or live on a sea bream in the middle of the sea. According to his scientific study I should have already been docked six times where I live and three times the day I walked across a neighborhood on the way to the Waterfront from downtown. Me dijo: "Don't even try it out there. Nor by day ”.
But maybe, To better exemplify the paranoia experienced here with security, I will explain what happened to me today with Jann, a white woman, from 40yyy, who has shown me some apartments to rent. In the car he explained that I am a little tired of listening all the time to talk about how dangerous the city is. It, Very safe, tells me that "noooooo", that this city is very safe and that she in 20 years he has been here he has not had any problem. "Like other cities", remark, "This is not Johannesburg". Then, however, three hundred meters later, She explained to me that she never parks more than two blocks when she has to go to a restaurant because she has met some friends. (Madrid, that if you park six kilometers from the premises you get out of the car satisfied, this one had not had dinner yet); "If necessary, I will call someone to accompany me", has apostilled. He also told me that if he sees a group of young boys on the street, he changes his sidewalk or goes into a store.; He asked me if I want him to put a fence on the terrace of the loft that I still rent… Yes, When I told him that it seems ridiculous to me to call a taxi to cross six blocks, he said to me “noooooo, if the city is safe ”. (You must have thought that if I continued instead of your loft I was going to rent a tank).
My perception is that it is exaggerated a little. The funny thing is that all those who say that they live the most at night in the city are those who talk the least about insecurity
The truth is that there are also less apprehensive people who offer their practical advice: Carry a wallet with less money in your pocket, in sight, which will be the one to take away; walk in the light and along wide avenues at night; go safe, without offering the feeling that you are afraid; take taxis at night; try not to walk alone when it is dark ... I insist that my perception is that it is exaggerated a little. The funny thing is that all those who say that they live the most at night in the city are those who talk the least about insecurity. In fact, all violent robberies have happened to others. Maybe fear is inside; a kind of evil from Africa.
With this post I end my security theme, unless the urgent news requires new comments, and announcement that I will explain in my next posts when a flat costs here (the World Cup is bursting prices); the wonderful beaches of the city; the views and the brutal sunset from Lion´s Head; how terribly pija his physiognomy is in the white zone (could be nestled in the middle of any elite country in Europe) and, especially, my more than possible entrance to a township, on Sunday, with a Valencian photographer that I have met here. We will enter with people from the same township, what will serve as a safe-conduct. The city is literally split in two: rich blacks and whites on one side; big black mass on the other.
