Exploring the Friendly City

After sailing across the Indian Ocean, our ship set course for the Atlantic. We made a delightful stop in Port Elizabeth, affectionately known as "the friendly city." This port, nestled in the southern reaches of South Africa, provided a wonderful opportunity to disembark and explore one of the country's southernmost urban centers. The welcoming atmosphere, a chance to spend time on solid ground, and finding more minature bottles from South Africa for our collection made Port Elizabeth a real treat during our journey as we transitioned between oceans.

We were welcomed with a few African dancers before we headed off in the do a little shopping along the coast of this city. The city is known for its beautiful beaches and these sandy shores attract tourists and locals alike, offering opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.

Volkswagen's primary manufacturing plant in South Africa is located in a town situated approximately 22 miles northwest of Port Elizabeth. The plant is one of the largest automobile manufacturing facilities in Africa, covering an area of around 125 acres. It has been in operation since 1946 and has produced a wide range of Volkswagen models over the years, including the Beetle, Golf, Jetta, and more recently, the Polo and Polo Vivo. The plant's proximity to Port Elizabeth is advantageous for Volkswagen, as it allows for easy export of vehicles through the Port Elizabeth harbor. It celebrated the production of its 4 millionth vehicle at the Port Elizabeth plant, and from the looks of things at the port, they are intending to export a lot of vehicles!

Many crew members had the opportunity to go ashore today and experience an unforgettable safari adventure. They returned with exciting tales of the incredible African wildlife they encountered. For a significant number of our fellow travelers, this marks our first visit to this captivating region of the world. The thrilling expeditions in South Africa will undoubtedly remain etched in our memories as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.