These are our personal thoughts written during the trip itself.
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Mark's EntryJanuary 3 - SunburnAhh, Cape Town! What a great city. The first thing we noticed was the wind. It was quite windy this day and it felt great. Just to be able to cool down instead of being in hot still air all the time. We had nothing scheduled for this day so we took our time waking up and eating breakfast. At Ann’s suggestion we took a sightseeing bus, which just happened to have a stop right in front of our hotel, over to the waterfront. The bus was cool because it was a double-decker, and the top deck was topless. So we sat in the sun and the breeze and listened to some information about Cape Town while we were taken into town. The V&A Waterfront is the nicest waterfront set-up I’ve ever seen. It’s larger than most and newer than most. It’s made up of several different venues, including a huge shopping mall, an aquarium, several other smaller shopping and dining areas, the port itself, and 2 large buildings for local craftsmen to sell their goods. This last one really added a nice sense of place and Ann found a shirt that she liked. After lunch of pizza, French fries and ice cream (yeah we had been away from civilization for a while) we took the sightseeing bus on the rest of its loop back to the hotel. This leg was quite a bit longer than the first one and took us all around the city and up to the base of Table Mountain. The cablecar was closed this day because of the winds, but the view from the base was still great. When we got back to our hotel about an hour and a half later we realized that maybe we should have worn sunscreen out in that summer sun all day. Oops. At the hotel my laptop finally had a real internet connection so we spent about 2 hours just enjoying that, Skyping people back home and sending e-mails. We asked the guy at the front desk about a good casual place to eat nearby and we walked to his suggestion, only to decide this place was not for us. So we just walked around a bit and found a nice small Italian-Greek-Spanish restaurant. There I got a really good plate of spaghetti and Ann enjoyed her dinner as well. We ate outside in the breeze and it felt great. |
Ann's EntryRockin’ and Rollin’ in Cape TownCape Town, South Africa – 3 Jan 2008 – much of the afternoon The plane actually lands in Cape Town (not Port Elizabeth.) The very first thing we notice is the wind. Because it is a peninsula between the cold Atlantic Ocean and the warm Indian Ocean, a constant breeze is the norm. It is more like gale force winds. Many attractions close on a regular basis due to the high winds. When venturing outside, the wind will blow your hair, your hat, or anything else not tied down. The second thing we notice is the rocks. The shoreline is primarily rocky, and not so much sandy beaches. The land forms steep vertical mountains, not gradual slopes. Many homes and buildings are built right into the sides of the cliffs. The third thing we notice is the architecture. Buildings are light, bright, and airy with many windows and verandas for viewing the seascape. In the center of town, the old buildings show the influence of the Dutch and the British. Of all the places we have been on this continent, this is the country most like America. It has the feel of Miami. We take a double-decker bus tour of the city. For a fair price, you can ride all day and get on/get off at as many stops as you like. The wait for the next bus is never more than 20 minutes. While on tour, the guide gives information about historical sights. As I listen, I notice that there is a definite pattern to the history of Cape Town. It was founded by the Dutch in the 1600’s. It was ruled by the British in the 1800’s. Apartheid controlled the state in the 1900’s. Modern South African history begins with the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990. The man is revered by all (black and white), much the same way Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is noted in America. We get off the bus at the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, a shopping district like Inner Harbor Baltimore, only more massive. This place has everything from street vendors to upscale fine jewelry, from snack food stands to fine wine bars. We browse through the local craft market. The back side of the mall area houses the boat docks - some private, some government. I have to watch Mark carefully and redirect him accordingly. He is so engrossed in taking photographs that he doesn’t see the big signs that say, “Restricted Access,” and “No Entry Without Proper Identification.” He just keeps wandering toward the places he should not be. I tell him that the local authorities might arrest tourists with cameras taking pictures of government activities. I think he gets mad at me for saying that. Oops! Conveniently, the tour bus has a stop only a half-block from our hotel. We return, only to notice that we forgot one thing…sunscreen! The only drawback to Cape Town that I have noticed is the panhandlers. The street people are very visable. Some try to provide a service before asking for money (such as some form of musical entertainment.) Some just ask. Others have mental illness. We have to redirect Jacob quite frequently because he is easily drawn in by their efforts. Junk Food JacobVictoria & Albert Waterfront – 3 Jan 2008 – 13:15 While roaming the Waterfront, we find a food court. We let Jacob choose where to have lunch. He immediately spots the ultimate in kid cuisine. It is chain known as St. Elmo’s. They serve pizza, fries, and ice cream. Need I say more? Here in South Africa, fries are called “chips,” and they are served without ketchup. |
| next day: January 4 | ||