Gold Reef City

As an early birthday present for Lucy, on Sunday, Feb 6th, we went to Gold Reef City, an amusement park built on an old gold mine outside of Joburg.  (Took about an hour's drive from Pretoria.)  It's Disney World-esque but much smaller in scale and less crowded.  It does a surprisingly nice job of intermingling mining history (sans racial politics) and flying hippo rides.  (The national Apartheid Museum is across the street.  Adam and I definitely want to check that out.)  The park had a whole section for kids under 1.3 meters (Lucy's about 1.05 m tall... or 3.5 ft.).  We met our friend Dafydd and his son Marc there, along with friends from Joburg, Nalesh and Jason.  To say Lucy had a good time would put it mildly.  The rides had few lines and she rode everything at least twice, if not twelve times.

The day started with a Congolese acrobatics show.  

Noah and Lucy both thought that looked like a lot of fun.

Then it was on to the Kids' Ferris Wheel.

Lucy drives a bit like Aunt Susie.

Also has an interest in horses, like her aunt.

Back in the driver's seat!  Hold on, Papa!

Mark and Dafydd go out for a spin, too.

I refused to do the Nausea Shells, as they were not called.

(They spin themselves on a spinning track.  'nuf said.)

What?  I need a car seat, even here?!

Oh, ha, ha.  You were just kidding.

"Aren't front row seats just marvelous, Marc?", Lucy

The Lazy Boat Ride... Noah thought it sublime.

Forget a pony. I want a Honda!

Lucy shows Nalesh the joy of the front row seat.

Round and round on the carousel... 

Back on the roller coaster! 

Noah, "Where the heck am I?"

The big kids show Noah how it's done.

 

Noah gets in on the action.

 A little panning for gold before we  head home.  Might be good for the college fund. (Alas, just a lot of sand and some gold-like shavings.)

One last drive in the ol'Benz before we head out to the parking lo

Let's just say the kids napped very well on the drive home.  Adam too.  Safari-on!  xo,

Glenn