We had a fantastic holiday celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary in one of those little noticed beauty spots of the world – South Africa. Ever since I had read James Michener’s novel about that land, I have wanted to visit there, and especially do a safari. It turned out to be a trip beyond our expectations! After some confusion with transportation from Bauru (which, in the end, gave us a private van to the airport in São Paulo), we made it for our departure on a nine hour flight to Johannesburg.After passing through customs there we picked up a second flight down to vibrant Cape Town with its waterfront, wine country, cape peninsula, and Table Mountain.
In spite of the long trans-Atlantic flight and five hour time difference, it was such a beautiful day that after checking into our hotel, we decided to get the cablecar up the powerful and predominant Table Mountain and get a birds eye view of the town, harbor and the whole Cape peninsula.
We had been warned that the weather there had a tendency to change on short notice so left our bags and headed out. The views were breath-taking, being able to see all the way to the Cape of Good Hope with both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The flora and fauna were amazing as well on the flat topped mountain.
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Views were breath-taking!
The cablecar ride was steep and swift!
through town to Kirstenbosch Gardens,
past beautiful wine country estates to Hout Bay and the coast,
and then following the coast road past amazing beaches back to the waterfront area to relax and do a little shopping. As we traveled around, the scenery everywhere was spectacular.
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We spent time at the hotel (5-star Waterfront Southern Sun) for sleeping and breakfast. There always seemed to be something new or someplace new to explore outside. The only thing, I think, that we missed – that we wanted to do was to go whale watching.
Enjoying cake and coffee in the afternoon while street entertainers played (steeldrums, African folk music, Dixieland band and an amazing guy who played a guitar made from a two gallon oil can).
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The four South African Nobel Peace Prize winners - Albert Luthuli ('60), Desmond Tutu ('84), FW deKlerk ('93) and Nelson Mandela ('93)
It seemed like no time at all and our four days in Cape Town came to an end..JPG)
Folks were right…the weather changed and it began to rain the morning we had to leave, making it a little easier to leave that fascinating place and move on to even greater adventures.
In spite of the long trans-Atlantic flight and five hour time difference, it was such a beautiful day that after checking into our hotel, we decided to get the cablecar up the powerful and predominant Table Mountain and get a birds eye view of the town, harbor and the whole Cape peninsula.
We had been warned that the weather there had a tendency to change on short notice so left our bags and headed out. The views were breath-taking, being able to see all the way to the Cape of Good Hope with both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The flora and fauna were amazing as well on the flat topped mountain..JPG)
Views were breath-taking!
The cablecar ride was steep and swift!
To get to know our way around safely, it was recommended that we get tickets for a “Hop On, Hop Off” bus to explore around the town and the Cape – we spent hours hopping on and off
through town to Kirstenbosch Gardens,
past beautiful wine country estates to Hout Bay and the coast,and then following the coast road past amazing beaches back to the waterfront area to relax and do a little shopping. As we traveled around, the scenery everywhere was spectacular.
.JPG)
We spent time at the hotel (5-star Waterfront Southern Sun) for sleeping and breakfast. There always seemed to be something new or someplace new to explore outside. The only thing, I think, that we missed – that we wanted to do was to go whale watching.
Enjoying cake and coffee in the afternoon while street entertainers played (steeldrums, African folk music, Dixieland band and an amazing guy who played a guitar made from a two gallon oil can).
,+DesmondTuto%2784),FWDeKlerk(%2793),NelsonMandela(%2793).JPG)
The four South African Nobel Peace Prize winners - Albert Luthuli ('60), Desmond Tutu ('84), FW deKlerk ('93) and Nelson Mandela ('93)It seemed like no time at all and our four days in Cape Town came to an end.
.JPG)
Folks were right…the weather changed and it began to rain the morning we had to leave, making it a little easier to leave that fascinating place and move on to even greater adventures.
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