So I've been thinking about things England could learn from SA and vice versa.
1) They should be nearer - like maybe a 14 hour drive away at most. This million hour flight plays havoc with my sleeping pattern.
2) England should have South Africa's roads. End of. The roads are amazing in comparison. The views beyond compare. Making use of flyovers and that hard shoulder thingie is just genius. People might drive a little more aggressively in SA but they drive with a sense of purpose - they know how to overtake AND say thank you (love that little hazard light). Also the potholes aren't as big, when you see any.
3) Shopping - a huge difference. Malls, malls and malls. Never have I seen so many shopping centres and all geared with a pleasant shopping experience in mind. The parking - Cavendish Square you win hands down. Those lights, oh what a dream. Food halls to make your mouth water...not just McD's and a Costa. And customer service with a smile. However, in the supermarkets England wins in the fresh fruit and veg department and the variety thereof. South Africa wins on the variety of juice and soft drink on offer. And pricing of meat.
4) This is Connor's one: the houses in SA are different. They don't all look the same. Obviously, there's a space issue here. England doesn't have the room (nor the weather for all the swimming pools in back gardens). England wins on the double glazing front: South Africa - you NEED double glazing! Cape Town, you should get some kind of central heating along with double glazing.
5) Socialising: I'm going to say South Africa wins by a marginal purely because of the time we had. However, we were in big cities and on holiday and therefore in demand. But it appears that people eat out more - every place we went to was packed and it was Winter and sometimes the middle of the month and I doubt they were all tourists.
3) Shopping - a huge difference. Malls, malls and malls. Never have I seen so many shopping centres and all geared with a pleasant shopping experience in mind. The parking - Cavendish Square you win hands down. Those lights, oh what a dream. Food halls to make your mouth water...not just McD's and a Costa. And customer service with a smile. However, in the supermarkets England wins in the fresh fruit and veg department and the variety thereof. South Africa wins on the variety of juice and soft drink on offer. And pricing of meat.
4) This is Connor's one: the houses in SA are different. They don't all look the same. Obviously, there's a space issue here. England doesn't have the room (nor the weather for all the swimming pools in back gardens). England wins on the double glazing front: South Africa - you NEED double glazing! Cape Town, you should get some kind of central heating along with double glazing.
5) Socialising: I'm going to say South Africa wins by a marginal purely because of the time we had. However, we were in big cities and on holiday and therefore in demand. But it appears that people eat out more - every place we went to was packed and it was Winter and sometimes the middle of the month and I doubt they were all tourists.
6) England is nearer to Europe. That's a plus right?
7) Scenery - a world apart. England is pretty, is scenic, is beautiful in a olde worlde castle way, very green, steeped in history and so on. South Africa is stark, a different green, stunning in a bold and brave way that takes your breath away.
This is all very tongue in cheek and makes me just wish I could combine the two countries. To have the best of both worlds. To have all my friends and family only a drive in the car away.
This is all very tongue in cheek and makes me just wish I could combine the two countries. To have the best of both worlds. To have all my friends and family only a drive in the car away.
