Cape Town

 We spent our last day in Cape Town exploring the town itself, taking a bus to the town centre. We started at the Castle of Good Hope and were just in time for the tour with our guide telling us all about the history of this star-shaped fortress. It was built in the late 1600s and is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. When we finished our tour there was the key ceremony to watch and the firing of the little signal cannon.

From here we began our walk around town taking in the old colonial style buildings from several eras. Eventually we climbed up to the picturesque Malay Quarter on Signal Hill called the Bo-Kaap. Here boxy houses with flat roofs are painted riotous colours, giving this area a jolly feel. It may only be a façade, but it certainly attracts the tourists to a mostly otherwise unremarkable suburb.

Flower market

The walk took us down to Greenmarket Square and the stalls selling articles from all over Africa - textiles, carvings, etc. On the way we passed some NOLA French Quarter style houses with wrought iron balconies. There is such a mix of styles here in Cape Town - very interesting.

Feeling in need of refreshment, we walked back up onto Bree Street to the Cape Heritage Hotel where we had a light lunch in the sunlit courtyard. Here they have completed a huge renovation project, which looks wonderful, complete with the oldest producing table grapevine in South Africa that survived near obliteration with the disrepair followed by the restoration of the hotel.

Our next stop was to see one of the old family houses that has been preserved. We had to ring the doorbell to be let in, then more or less had the place to ourselves. No photos allowed, but it was interesting to see how the old colonials lived here. And so we walked back towards the hotel, all the while watching the fantastic clouds pouring over Table Mountain. No wonder they call this the 'tablecloth', the clouds shrouded the mountain in an ever moving sheet of clouds - very impressive. We were so glad to have made our visit on such a clear day!

By the time we got back to the V&A Waterfront, there was quite a gale blowing, so tonight we opted for eating in the hotel and weren't disappointed. As we waited for a table (a large party had arrived just ahead of us and we were advised to have a drink in the bar while they got themselves organised), we were introduced to the special South African wine, Blanc de Noir. This is a delicate pale cherry coloured wine created by leaving the whole red grape in the crushed juice for some time to give it colour, then the skins are removed and the wine made. It's so good they keep it all to themselves, none going for export, apparently. We did enjoy our tasting glass before dinner! Dinner was also excellent, with beautifully prepared dishes that we relished as we watched the wind creating havoc as people walked along the quayside.

Kerstenbosch

Today we visited Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and in 2004 the Cape Floristic Region, including Kirstenbosch, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making Kirstenbosch the first botanic garden in the world to be included within a natural World Heritage Site. Its 36 hectares are part of a 528 hectare estate containing natural forest and fynbos with associated animals and birds.
We enjoyed fabulous lattes in the café where the coffee came separately and we poured it in ourselves. What a lovely touch!  The gardens filled the whole day and were magnificent.

Tonight we walked around the back of our hotel and ate outside at Hildebrand, another recommended restaurant that lived up to its reputation.

Cape Town

Table Mountain and Coca Cola Man

We flew overnight, arriving this morning in Cape Town, to blue skies with fluffy clouds and warm sunshine. We took a taxi to the hotel, only to find the room wasn't ready. yet, but no problem, we could sit outside with coffee and enjoy the view across the harbour to Table Mountain. We are staying at the Victoria and Alfred (yes, Alfred) Hotel on the waterfront. While we were there the man arrived with our hire car and everyone advised us to head off to the top of Table Mountain as there is not always a clear view from the top. So that is what we did, and we were soon on the cable car going up to the summit.

Panorama from Table Mountain

It is simply beautiful up there with magnificent views on all sides - to mountains, oceans and city. We took one of the shorter trails as our time was a bit limited, and saw some wonderful plants, many in full bloom and looking lovely. These make up the Cape Fynbos, a special floral mix peculiar to the region and somewhat endangered. We took coffee and a sandwich in the cafe, watching chestnut-winged starlings pinching leftovers. On the rocks below the summit there are dassies or rock hyrax. We saw quite a lot of them, and some even had young scurrying about the rocky ledges.

The Apostles

Down the cable car again and off we set down the cape towards Simonstown. This drive took us along the spectacular west coast of the cape peninsula until we crossed over to Simonstown where we drove to Boulders Beach to see the African Penguins that live there.

Our drive back was equally spectacular and we came around Table Mountain this time to find the route we need for tomorrow. We took advice from our 'notes for guidance' and the guide book over where to eat, and made our way across the harbour walks to Balthazar's. Here we ate lobster outside in a bit of a stiff breeze. It was delicious despite the wind.