Sylvia's Journal

I learned yet another perspective on the Trojan war, this time from Patroclus. He was the one disguised as Achilles and killed by Hector. Patroclus was Achilles’ lover. He watched Achilles tumble down from his elevated status, illustrating once more that pride comes before the fall. It is a story about hubris, and men with big egos. This story too is expertly told by by a ‘classica,’ Madeleine Miller (song of Achilles, who also wrote Circe). It’s a story of men again, though there are a few women in supporting roles, Helen, of course, Briseis, the Trojan captive who became a pawn in ego tussles between Agamemnon and Achilles, and Thetis, a minor goddess who bore Achilles after having been ravaged by his dad. More lust, more revenge, more (much more) bloodshed, prophecies and Gods who can override anything mortals think they can do.

I am done with the Greeks for now. I have adventured further east to learn about Salman Rushdie’s Victory City. There is more about hubris, ego, wise and not so wise men and women, magic, and the grand mystery of life. It is another vacation book that will hopefully see me through the long ride home two weeks from now.

I left for South Africa less than a week ago, with my son-in-law and two grandchildren.  It is their first African adventure. We are staying in a rather posh area that has little to do with most of the rest of Africa.  I hope there will be more, and different facets of the continent for them to explore later when they are older. 

Today they went to a private game reserve about 3 hours east of where we are staying.  I decided to stay home and take advantage of being in the Western Cape to see some old friends, two from my student years in Leiden and one from my early years at MSH.

The week went by fast. There is so much to see and to do that we made only one trip to Capetown for a day at the waterfront;  the aquarium for the kids and their parents and for me a day with friends and a visit to the Museum of Modern African Art. 

Tomorrow will be their last full day before they leave to return to winter on Saturday. I expect they will choose to spend that last summer day at one of the many gorgeous beaches down here.

Walking for me is becoming increasingly problematic; the left ankle with shooting pains that can last through the night, not to speak of the right knee. At least the latter can be replaced with a new one in a couple of months; the ankle cannot. 

Next week I will be in Pretoria for 10 days of paid work before heading home on the last day of the month.