Kids first visit to Gateway Mall

In the midst of deepest, darkest Africa (tongue in cheek), we suffer to find ways to connect to the Western way of life (not!). I am still amazed at what a mix this country is of 1st and 3rd world. We recently spent a Saturday at the most massive mall I have ever been to. We drove past all of the shanty town shacks to get to it. In addition to stunning stores full of beautiful items I could never afford, Gateway offers a complete and total array of entertainment. Just check out this link... http://www.gatewayworld.co.za/entertainment.php

We spent the day just walking around and oogling all the possibilities. We had lunch in a most innovative restaurant for kids. This chain of restaurants called Spur has a theme for each store based on an American Indian tribe. The kids have a play area in the back of the restaurant with bounce house, movies and video games. There are employees paid to stand there and watch your children for you. They post live video feed on tv's to all the tables so you can see what your child is doing! The kids get their faces painted and the food's not bad either. I've never seen anything in the U.S. like it.

One of our church members is a partner in an optometry practice in the mall. They just recently renovated their store. We went by to visit Mr. Chris and Michelle and enjoyed their innovative coffee bar.

We will definitely be hanging out at Gateway during the summer break on half price Tuesdays. There's an IMAX Volcanoes under water movie that Wyatt will want to see. The kids have never tried bumper cars and we'll definitely be watching the surfers in the wave pool. WOW!