Hello From Cape Town
The unusually warm sunny day compelled me to post. Unlike last year’s visit, where Table Top mountain was, completely obscured by low clouds and rain….this year Cape Town greeted us with a gorgeously sunny day, perfect for visiting many of this city’s many attraction. My friends from last year’s WC, Judy and Jim and I, booked an 8-hour private excursions which far exceeded our expectations.
South Africans continue to be segregated, dispite all attempts to meld society. There are the native “black” population, the “colored” (which include mixed races and other non-whites) and the “Whites”
South African Whites lived in White Houses!
Our fantastic excursion included visits to Bo-Kaap neighborhood one of the first areas where released slaves could build their houses in the mid 1800s. Its brightly colored Cape Georgian houses attract many visitors eager to learn about its history and culture. Even today, most South Africans lead segregated lives. A black family doing very well, will build a more opulent dwelling but within their neighborhoods, rather than move to a white or colored area.
Next came Cape Town’s Table mountain, which towers over a kilometer above sea level. The bright sunny day gave us an amazing 360 degree view of the city with its many beaches, surrounding islands and parks
We stopped for a delicious lunch in a restaurant overlooking the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. The mussels were the BEST EVER and the lamb curry was tender and spicy. One of the highlight lunches in the last few weeks.
After lunch, we headed to Boulder’s Beach Penguin Colony, and watched African penguins nurture their young and fight to protect their territory. One could view them up close by walking on a boardwalk to prevent humans from violating their space.
Traveling through the vast Cape Point Nature Preserve, we encountered Ostriches in the distance, Antelope and other wild animals, but the most surprising were the marauding fearless wild baboons. They actually block the road, stopping traffic.
They then jump on your hood and try to steal anything they can through an open window…….they are cute but a nuisance
Our final stop took us to the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwestern corner of the African continent.
We returned to the ship happy, a little tired and satisfied.
