Dark sky in a city

[Richard]

Here in RSA we have been having a lot of regular power cuts (called load shedding here) it reached a point that almost halt the day there was no power! so in the early mornings I would get up early like 05.30 to look at the planets and general look hoping there would be a massive improvement
Now you all thing sunny South Africa , must be warm but some areas get very cold , I am in Johannesburg , the biggest city and -1 is the norm this time of the year , but it feels like -10 Europe
Anyway the night (early morning) sky improved but not as much as I hoped , lots more stars with naked eye , I did see all the visible planets but again my nemesis Mercury was all blurry again as its too low for my place and if I wait then it gets too much light
I have only seen it ok 2 times with a 70mm Refractor