No, I didn’t temporarily lose hold of my senses while trying to spell “neighborhoods” – Neighbourgoods is a fun, partially enclosed market in the central business district (CBD) of Joburg showcasing local merchants selling all manner of goodies: organic wine, raw chocolate, French cheese, thin crust pizza, empanadas, fresh baked bread, fruit smoothies, raw honey, homemade hummus, and the list goes on. It’s a paradise for people like me and Al (i.e., gluttons).
Neighbourgoods is one of three places in Joburg that I’ve been told I simply “must” visit to experience vibrant city life in this city of malls and walls. And it was very fun – but true city life, it’s not. It was more a safe gathering place for hipsters, foodies, and people who enjoy a cold beverage on a hot day. Al and I sort of fit into two out of three of these categories, if we’re being generous, so we enjoyed ourselves greatly.
We met up with one of my new friends here, Mare, and one of Al’s colleagues, Kitso, for some pizza, oysters, sparkling wine, beer, eggs benedict, and other delicious bites, including beetroot hummus, goat haloumi, and gelato. We sat outside on the baking roof, ate, drank, and listened to music. A very nice way indeed to pass a Saturday morning.
Gotta love this beer:
Now we’re back at the apartment, resting up and watching crime shows, until we head out again to watch the Harvard-Yale game somewhere tonight.
Enjoy your Saturdays!