First Heart Transplant

Christiaan Barnard was the South African surgeon first to perform a heart transplant on humans. He was born and raised in Beaufort West, and attended medical school at the University of Cape Town. It is in that same city that he performed his miracle surgery back in 1967.

He was accostumed to exchanging organs between people, it seems, because he performed the first kidney transplant as well, in 1953.The unlucky soul that provided the heart for this medical milestone was Denise Darvall, who died instantly when she was hit by a car whilst crossing the streets in Cape Town. Much to the good fortune of Louis Washansky, a 54 year old who suffered from an incurable heart disease.

After the successful heart transplant, Louis did not enjoy his new life for long. 18 Days later he died. From pneumonia, not a heart related problem.

So this comes to show that South Africa has good hospitals, and that you have to be careful when crossing the streets in Cape Town.

Sea point

Up to the thirties, Sea Point was a little seaside resort out of town, where affluent Capetonian citizens had their holiday and weekend homes.
From the fifties on, highrising apartment houses were erected. Similar to Hillbrow and Johannesburg, it was regarded to be chic - á la New York - to live in a high building.Sea Point has a different face nowadays. "Upper Sea Point", on the slopes of the Signal Hill is characterised by expensive private mansions.

Down at the sea promenade you find a long row of luxury apartment blocks. In between lies the Main Road with pubs, music clubs, coffeeshops and some good restaurants like the Chinese Mr Chan or bistros like the lively New York Bagel. But also stripclubs, brothels, gambling places, drug trafficking and the like can still be found here.