This reporter spoke to a handful of Joburgers, and found human beings in love, with love.
Sharon Lewis said she saw love as a simple emotion but one of the most difficult to explain, and that it was only understood through experience.
Lewis loves her city, and said she could write a book about it.
“What I love most about Joburg is the diversity. There’s a place for everyone here,” she said.
“An afternoon at Gold Reef City, followed by a night of dancing and photograph-taking in the city would be my ideal Valentine’s Day,” she said.
5FM DJ Rob Forbes said, “Love means being able to be completely yourself, and relying on the other person to not run for the hills.”
Forbes said he loves Joburg’s people and its vibe.
And Forbes’ ideal Valentine’s Day?
“Dinner at home! Lash out and cook something special: three courses, [with] wine. Naked, obviously,” he said.
City of Johannesburg Region B director Vicky Shuping said that love is unconditional.
“My best advice to young couples? Never go to sleep angry… True love is a rare thing to be treasured forever.”
Shuping said she wouldn’t swap Joburg for anywhere else.
“It is great to visit sophisticated cities elsewhere in the world, but nothing beats coming home to Jozi.”
She said she considered Valentine’s Day a “big deal”.
“We could end up at the Walter Sisulu Botanic Garden with a picnic hamper filled with champagne, strawberries and oysters.”
Parkhurst’s Tim Truluck said he thought love meant “to look back contentendly at a shared life and memories”.
He said, “My ideal Valentine’s Day is a shared, unrushed breakfast, and dinner or a movie in the evening.”
Fausto Di Palma, who works in Braamfontein said, “Love means unconditional companionship through reciprocity, kindness and limitless generosity of heart.”
His girlfriend, Viviana Vergano, said that love could withstand life’s storms.
“If… the walls crumble and the whole world came down on you, it would all be OK, because you feel totally safe with the person you love.”
Di Palma’s ideal Valentine’s night would be to spend the evening on the couch with Vergano, cheese and crackers, a bottle of Constantia wine, and a movie.
