Monday, June 28, 2010

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.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

My Momm has willow tree figures to and they all hold a special meaning for her as well.
Good to see you enjoying your treats Tammy

Love
Molly

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

What wonderful gifts you received from Jacqueline. Our Mom gave that same Willow Tree figurine to our dog Nanny and she loved it.

As for that train, our Mom thinks that looks like a fun ride. If she ever makes it to South Africa, she'll want to ride it.


XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Ruairi

Maggie Mae and Max said...

Tammy and Maxmom,

Your pressies are very nice. The train looks like fun too!

Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae

3 doxies said...

Awwwwwe, how sweet of Jacqueline, very thoughtful of hers.
Ya'll haves gots to live in da best place evers. Ya'll haves so much to do and see.
Puddles

Unknown said...

Your moms has every reason to be so prouds of her city....the trains is awesome, and everything is so cleans and well designed! We very much enjoyed the pikturs!

Your furrend,
MinnaK

houndstooth said...

What a great gift! We've seen a lot of Willow Tree Angels around here.

That train must be amazingly fast! I could get used to that, especially if it saved me from having to wait in tons of traffic! Happy Belated Birthday to The Boss!

Bunny and her mom

WFT Nobby said...

Hi Tammy and MaxMom
Thanks for taking us travelling again in your vibrant and fascinating homeland. But we want to know, are dogs allowed on the golden train? (May only golden retrievers and labs!)
We are both now looking forward to the remainder of the World Cup, free of the burden of having to support England.....
Cheers, Gail and Bertie.

Sheila and Bob said...

Tammy;
Thanks so much for sharing all this, it is all so interesting.
Enjoy your treats.


Hamish & Sophie

Heather and Kelly said...

What a sleek train! It looks very very new and modern. I love the taxis too--they're so pretty lined up like that!

SA looks really dry and hot from your pictures, but isn't it still winter there? Must just be a trick of the eye.

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos Tammy and Max Mom! Woo live in such an interesting place. do they allow doggies on the train? That looks like fun. Yummy treat woo got there Tammy! I would be just munching too.
Have a Happy Day and ENJOY!
~husky kisses~
-Kira The BeaWootiful

♥I am Holly♥ said...

What beautiful pictures!!! It really looks like a very beatiful city! Tammy Girl looks like she is enjoying here treat very much! Mom collects those Willow tree statues and boxes and has three so far. On of the girl angel with the cat she has! That are so beautiful. That was a wonderful gift!!! Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

Mrs. JP said...

Oh, that sounds like fun. I like to give myself birthday presents too!
Hello to all from the holler here in Tennessee!

Doris Sturm said...

What a lovely gift. I have a willow tree angel holding apples...I love that art!

Glad your Tammy Girls' enjoying her treat. She looks all consumed with it, so it must be very delish ;-)

Thanks for those lovely photos around town...everything looks so clean and modern. I love it! Glad you and your friend had a nice time!

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! Jacqueline is very sweet bloggie friend. GREAT Golden Train ... it's a first class train ride. Thanks for sharing. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

KT and Easton said...

What a nice treat for Tammy girl. It was a treat for us to see your new Golden Train. Us folks in Seattle just opened our first train/light rail service a year ago. Its not as fancy as the GT, but its a start to relieving some of the traffic congestion. You have a beautiful, urban area - thanks for sharing. Hope all is well with all of yours.

KT and Lady

Valerie Cummings said...

Thank you for the tour on the Golden Train!!!! Loved the sights! Hugs Joey and Kealani

George The Lad said...

Its amazing how far you can go in 12 minutes, and the different sights, All those steps at the end station! now that would wear me out.
See Yea George xxx

Golden Samantha said...

What beautiful and very special gifts from Jacqueline! Love the recap of your train ride - that is one beautiful train and the stations are lovely too - wow - so clean and fresh! Great idea for a bday gift to oneself!!! Love it! I'm amazed, too, by the beautiful paint jobs on the taxis - truly every little thing is so spiffy, that I'm enticed to visit someday - oh that would be so cool! Tammy: thanks for all the info - your treat looks yumzers - go back to munching!
Big Hugs xoxoxo
Sammie

sprinkles said...

What special gifts Jacqueline sent! I love that angel holding the dog. I collect angels so I'm partial to any angel figurines.

This weekend I went on a Garden Tour. I had forgotten that at my favorite garden, there was a track and toy train set up by the side of the house. I don't know why it struck me so as I've seen many toy trains and tracks before but this one seemed to have stuck out and was very cool. I guess because it was in such a different setting than what I've seen before. I got a huge smile on my face when I saw that. I'm disappointed that I'd forgotten it as at that moment, it made me so happy. But I'm glad to have remembered it now. So thank you!

I love your train adventure! The Boss looks like a friendly man. I hope he had a wonderful birthday.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pressies and very sleek rail line.

Hugs, Tessa

Scout and Freyja said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Scout and Freyja said...

It always amazes me when other countries, often thought of as not as progressive as the US, have wonderful transportation and also nuclear energy. More and more I am beginning to think that our government needs to get its head out of the sand and move into the 21st century. We have such a pile of old folks with archaic ideas in Washington.