South Africa / Cape Town

I've lost count of how many days we've been here, but we're leaving tomorrow! Cape Town has been fantastic!

On Tuesday, Yusuf (who picked us up at the airport), drove us, along with Ree and Justin (the bride and groom) for some wine tasting. We started at Groot Constantia, the oldest winery in South Africa. They have been growing grapes to make wine since 1685! They best known for a dessert wine mentioned int he writings of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, and favored by Napoleon Bonaparte. The recipe was lost for over a hundred years until a few bottles were found in a castle in Denmark and wine makers reconstructed the recipe from a few tastes. We decided we should bring back a bottle even if it meant leaving some shoes behind.

We then had lunch at La Colombe, number 12 on the list of the best restaurants in the world, and probably the best restaurant in all of Africa. It was an amazing meal, probably worthy of it's own blog post. Terrific amuse-bouche, great starters, and stunning main course. I had the springbok and Stef had the kingklip, both local specialties. That there was a cricket game (in formal cricket whites) on the field next to the restaurant added a certain refined colonial elegance to the proceedings.

We drove around a bit more and came back into the city right as sun was setting behind Table Mountain, which was really pretty. For dinner, Stef and I wandered down to the V & A waterfront, named for Queen Victoria and her eldest son, Prince Alfred who poured the first rock to construct the breakwater. It was kind of like a cleaner, less cheesy Fisherman's Wharf.

Wednesday, we slept in a bit, then headed down. To the waterfront for some souvenir shopping. The craft market yielded few real finds, but I found a shirt at one of the brick and mortar shops. In the afternoon, we took a tour down the peninsula. Driving by the different bays on the Atlantic ocean, before cutting over to a penguin colony on False Bay, and then down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Extremely beautiful! Words won't do it justice, pics to follow.

We joined the bride and groom, his parents and some of their friends for dinner back in Cape Town at 95 Keerom, another excellent meal. Afterwards, we went back to Cape to Cuba for a few more mojito's.

Finally caught up to Thursday! The rest of the Westin crowd checked out today. We headed up Table Mountain, which totally lived up to the hype. We've been looking up at the mountain from sea level for a few days, but looking down from the top was really cool. Views in all directions! Again, pics will do more than words.

This afternoon, we braved the Green Market Square flea market. Stef dove in head first, dragging me along. After much browsing and haggling, I finally cried Uncle and sat down with a coke while she finished the souvenir shopping. With that task completed, we walked by the Company Gardens to the Mount Nelson Hotel for high tea. Very refined. I had an Earl Grey Blue while Stef had the Mount Nelson blend. Both the teas and the pastries were beyond reproach. Overall, an excellent afternoon break!

Currently back at the Westin, resting and preparing for one last night in Cape Town before we start the long journey back.

--Pete