| #ffffff;" /> | | | | years. Therefore they left messages for each other in |
| The Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias holds a | | | | a shoe hung from a huge milkwood tree. Over time |
| special place in the history of South Africa. It was he | | | | this tree became known as the Post Office Tree. In |
| who, in February of 1488, made a landfall at a site now | | | | honour of the old Post Office Tree, a gnarled old |
| called Mossel Bay, on his search for a sea route | | | | milkwood now grows next to the Bartolomeu Dias |
| around Africa to the Far East. He thus became the | | | | Museum. The Museum also has its own mailbox, and |
| first known European to set foot on South African soil. | | | | letters posted in it are marked with a special postmark. |
| That historic event was celebrated in 1988 with the | | | | Exploring Mossel Bay and the Museum Complex |
| voyage of a replica of Dias’s ship, and the | | | | The seaside town of Mossel Bay is 397 km (246 |
| placing of that vessel in an exciting maritime museum. | | | | miles) east of Cape Town. It has a harbour, and is a |
| Bartolomeu Dias’s Ship | | | | pretty spot on the coast of South Africa. The main |
| The ship that is now on display at the museum | | | | tourist attraction is the museum complex, which in |
| complex is an exact replica of Dias’s 25-ton, | | | | addition to the replica 15th century ship, also has old |
| two-masted caravel. Visitors can go aboard this | | | | maps, photographs, and documents outlining the history |
| relatively small vessel and get an idea of the cramped | | | | of sea expeditions around Africa. The museum |
| quarters sailors of old had to endure on voyages that | | | | complex includes the Old Post Office Tree Manor |
| could last many months. There was no privacy. The | | | | which houses many of the exhibits, and a Shell |
| ships were so small and frail looking, we wonder today | | | | Museum. However, there is more here for visitors than |
| how people actually crossed oceans in them, let alone | | | | the museum. This community is surrounded by natural |
| sail into the unknown waters of South Africa. | | | | beauty and excellent beaches. You can take a walking |
| The Post Office Tree | | | | tour on the 15-km (9 mile) St. Blaize Hiking Trail which |
| In the 16th century, the cape at the southern tip of | | | | goes from Bat’s Cave to Dana Bay. You can |
| South Africa was seen by sailors as practically the | | | | enjoy safe swimming at Santos Beach, the only |
| edge of the world. Ships en route to and from the Far | | | | north-facing beach in South Africa. There are regular |
| East all put in there to stock up on food and fresh | | | | cruises out to Seal Island, where the snorkeling is |
| water. It could be many weeks before the crews saw | | | | terrific. For the really brave souls, there is the thrill of |
| another port. Some of the sailors returning from the | | | | shark cage diving. |
| East might not have seen home for two or three | | | | |