OUR GOLDEN TRAIN!!!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!!!

TAMMY-GIRL here...

Hello there to all our friends and family across the world!

I am so grateful to JACQUELINE and her sweet kitties for sending us doggies such a wonderful parcel of goodies to eat.  I am enjoying every morsel - as you can see - and want to say a big

 "Thank you Jacqueline!!!".

Jacqueline also sent Maxmom some truly wonderful gifts. We weren't going to blog about them because they are so precious and personal, but Maxmom said that I can give you all a glimpse...they truly are very beautiful!!!

---xXx---

Now I want to tell you about our

"GOLDEN TRAIN"...

The weekend before last was "The Boss"s birthday. "The Boss" has a way with giving himself birthday presents and this time he decided to celebrate by taking all my human family on our city's new

"GAUTRAIN"

Before I tell you about their trip let me explain...

The city of JOHANNESBURG is in the province of

GAUTENG in South Africa.

"GAUTENG" means "PLACE OF GOLD"

(Because our city was founded on Gold mining)

and

"GAUTRAIN" means "GOLDEN TRAIN"

Anyway, the "Boss" decided thahe would like to go to the airport

- OLIVER TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT -

and have breakfast there...

(A sidewalk Art Gallery at the airport)

So Maxmom drove the car there while the other 5 travellers caught the Gautrain from Sandton City to the airport.

After a lovely breakfast, "The Boss" and Maxmom caught the train back by themselves whilst the others drove the car. It was a "bit of a race" to see who would get to their destinatin first.

(By the way...the train won!)

Here are some pictures...

The "Boss" and Maxmom have their photo taken by a friendly attendant.

The access to the station at O.R .TAMBO AIRPORT.

As they arrived on the platform the train was just leaving, so they had to wait another 7 minutes for the next one.  Maxmom took the opportunity to walk to the end of the platform to take some photos...

The taxi rank in the streets below with all their attractively painted vehicles.

The network of roads with the overhead train track.

Our "Golden Train" arrives

All of a sudden the platform is full of people.

Maxmom says the seats are extremely comfortable and spacious.  Everything looked clean and new and she says that she felt very proud to be a South African.  You see, our nation has just recently completed this section of the track for Gautrain so that we have been able to accommodate our international visitors. The trip from the airport to Sandton City is only 12 minutes long and cuts out significant time which would have been spent in traffic. 

Well they were soon off...shooting past the highways of the airport at high speed.

(See the SA flags on the roads below)

They sped past the Kelvin Power Station...

And the houses of the wealthy.

Then past Alexander township (above) with their squatter shacks in the upper right hand corner.

After speeding (160km/hr) through the deep dark tunnel between Marlboro Station and Sandton, they finally arrived at Sandton Station...exactly 12 minutes later.

Sandton Station is the deepest station in Africa.

With many flights of escalators.

People seemed very cheerful and obviously enjoyed their journey.

Outside Sandton station (above)

There are world class hotels within walking distance of the station as well as

Sandton City - a large shopping centre.

The Soccer World cup is enterring its exciting final stages, so the street sellers are still in abundance.  Flags and scarves are well supplied.

Yesterday was the big game between England and Germany.

(Check out the new flag on offer below...A South African flag surrounded by all the participating teams)

Well, Maxmom says that it was a truly wonderful experience!
She is so excited about the development taking place in our country.

As they say...

JOHANNESBURG IS A WORLD CLASS AFRICAN CITY!

As for me...

I think I'll finish off my delicious treat.

(Thank you again, Jacqueline!)

Sending lotsalicks to you all!

TAMMY-GIRL IN SOUTH AFRICA.