Joburg, my Joburg!

For as much as we may loathe our city at times, we have to admit that there is also quite a lot to love about it too. If Mandela taught us anything, it’s that even in the midst of darkness there is still a glimmer of hope to look forward to.

Today on Nelson Mandela Day we enjoy the glimmers of hope that Joburg gives us on daily.

Here is a list of 67 things that should make you fall madly in love with Joburg again.

Why I love Joburg:

•  The people of course! I mean come on, we are a bunch of eccentrics trying to live a normal life in a city that compels us to be unique

•  Where else could you be able to furnish your home with items you bought from the side of the road
•  The city skyline at night, in fact, the skyline at any time of the day is just beautiful. It draws you into the city and once you have entered it you have a fierce need to explore it
• The sunsets are magical, the sky becomes these magnificent hues of orange and red which set the perfect backdrop the already captivating skyline
• The beautiful open spaces, thank goodness some parts of this city of ours remain untouched

• Some of our parks are kept in good condition and give us the opportunity to spend an afternoon with our families enjoy a great picnic
• The graffiti/ street art, though some may never understand it, we have to praise the creativity and beauty behind the inspiring rebellious art form
•  The weather – because even when it is cold, it’s never TOO cold.
•  Food trucks! When you fiendish for that home cooked meal and your mum is not at your office canteen whipping up your favourites, then the next best thing is the auntie down the road who makes the second best stew and rice.
•  The bustle of the city, but never being more than half an hour away from the country, these are the joys that centre you. Being just under an hour away from the quiet resort

•  The farmer’s markets – weekends were made for relaxing, eating, laughing and being with our friends and family at these little gems
•  Never-ending entertainment, because there is always something to do in Joburg, you just need to explore more
•  Sidewalk café’s, Braamfontein is riddled with them and we love them. Some of the best coffees and savouries are there for our enjoyment
•  Movies in the park, because the standard cinema sit-down just won’t cut it
•  Dog parks, we love our pets and what better way to spend time with them than with other dog lovers

•  We have various shopping centres that offer great experiences for shopaholics
•  The views of Joburg stretch out to what feels like an eternity. Structures and nature intertwine like a knitted pattern
•  Wildlife is only a short drive away, we have perfect places like the Lion and Rhino Park to marvel at these amazing animals
•  An airport on our doorstep to whisk us away when we need a break from our own awesomeness
•  Nothing is ever to hard to find

•  We have decent public transport system
•  The Gautrain is fast and efficient to use
•  Ben Susan Gallery, it has a whole host of antique camera apparatus that was used to take pictures
•  The people are colourful, we have such a vast array of personalities and amazing individuals who just radiant love and acceptance
•  The tree-lined streets that make every walk a neighbourhood an adventure

•  The amazing buildings which have a rich history
•  Our city has some of the top schools in the country

•  The Black Eagles that have made the Walter Sisulu Gardens their home
•  Most of our suburbs have Botanical gardens that are an integral part of their communities
•  Joburg’s night life needs no explanation, there is probably a party tonight you should be a part of
•  Street fashion, have you seen the amazing way people have learned to express themselves through what they wear. In an already vibrant city, this factor just ties it all in
•  Sidewalk vendors, say what you will, but these amazing people make your time city a memorable one
•  Joburg is rich with historical sites that need to be seen and cherished
•  We have a multitude of sensational cultures that brighten up this majestic city
• City bus tours that help you see the city

•  The aesthetic beauty of behind run down buildings
•  Street hawkers – no matter how annoying they might be your time spent at those traffic lights are certainly not boring
•  Things are easy to access
•  Joburg is full of bilingual citizens whose desire to learn other languages is inspiring
•  Highveld storms that literally take your breath away
•  Different foods found in the city which increases your appetite for life
•  The newspaper vendor who always knows the paper you like
• The continent can be found in one city

•  Jacaranda trees that seem to make you feel like you a walking on a cloud of purple
•  Festivals aplenty!
•  Slap chips…’not fries’, joburgers love their slap chips
•  The Oriental Plaza, because what does it not have for you?
•  90 per cent local content, means you are exposed more to the talents our city has to offer
• Akhalwaya’s, cause we love great affordable food
•  Cross-cultural nature of the city
•  Sophiatown, because it is saturated with vibrancy
•  Soweto…we love Soweto
•  Spaza shops that sell all the things you didn’t get at the major grocery store

•  Melville Koppies for its natural beauty Northcliff tower for making you feel like on top of the world
• Theme parks
•  The Goodman Gallery for its 50 years of greatness
•  Bird sanctuaries that get any bird watcher excited
•  Cycling in the park
•  Park runs in the mornings
• Who needs alarms when we have hadedas to wake us up in the mornings
• Dinners in the sky
•  Joburg lingo, because traffic lights are robots no matter what others say
•  Gentrification of areas
•  Good radio reception, which we take for granted until we’re driving in the land of the unknown
•  The Insta-meets that make Saturday mornings an experience to remember
•  The taxi drivers that have vehemently claimed the roads as theirs.