A highlight was an exclusive private tour of the Nelson Mandela Archive, arranged by the Saxon’s concierge. Verne, an archivist, former ANC colleague and friend of Mandela, guided us through Mandela’s private collection and shared intimate stories of his life. We read loving letters he wrote to family in prison, laughed at diabolical portraits celebrities gifted him, and gasped when handed his actual Nobel Peace Prize medal — the museum displays a replica. Verne said, “When I handed the medal to Obama, he was speechless. I reminded him he had one too, but he said, ‘Yes, but Mandela deserved his.’”
