One of the most astonishing sights I witnessed in Cape Town (among the many extraordinary sights) was this. A Slave Bell which was used to punctuate the day when slaves still existed in the Cape. This particular bell was on a wine estate in Stellenbosch and it isn't too hard to locate the colonial past in that town. I was at a conference on postgraduate degrees, which is about as far away as you can get from a slave bell, but it was also amazing to receive the reception we did, while there. What was equally amazing was the hotel receptionists were the campest men I have ever come across - and boy did they flirt (with everyone - men and women). But what was so satisfying was their out, loud and black message was simply greeted with smiles and often appreciation. I would like to think they and we have come a long way since the slave bell tolled.
