[Please Note: While on our vacation (through 11/19), I am blogging mostly about our travels and sharing photos. When we return, I will get back to my usual “finds”- I promise!]
The second stop on our 10th anniversary trip is Cape Town, S Africa. People raved about Cape Town to us and, boy, does it live up to the hype! We are staying at a lovely guest house (large, upscale B & B) called Welgelegen. It is in the City Bowl area which is the valley between Table Mountain and the sea. The hotel name translates to “well situated” and we agree wholeheartedly. It has been great for easy access to delicious food, drink, downtown activities, running and routes to see all of the sites. Fiona, the proprietor at Wegelegen, is the bomb- she has been amazingly helpful and the staff is terrific.
We are half way through our stay and have tackled two of the “Big 5”: Cape Point/Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain (and a lot more.) Tomorrow, we plan to hit the last 3: Victoria and Albert (V & A Waterfront), Robben Island and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Our observations so far:
> Man, this place is beautiful.
> Wow, this place is affordable.
> Holy cow, this food is delicious. We have not had a single thing that was not super tasty! Don’t worry we are keeping a list.
> OMG, those are PENGUINS!
> Did you see that view?
> Some restaurants and markets (Old Biscuit Mill) remind me of Portland or Vancouver (or both mixed together.) Did I mention the delicious local food?
> The locals love their “sundowners”- drinks by the shore line as the sun goes down (and pretty much drinks in general.)
> It is hilly and mountainous with many winding roads… A bit tough on the flatlander runner I have become, but only a small challenge for Neal’s skilled driving (as they drive on the “wrong” side of the road here!! Don’t worry, I am not going to try it!)
> I have been greeted running with “Happy Runners” and I kind of love that if I am hearing correctly!
> The only down side, we have also noticed a great deal of racial disparity and poverty. We will learn more of the context on that tomorrow on our Robben Island tour.
Check out some photos from my phone:
Our guest house- Welgelegen (with Table Mountain in view)
Morning running route- De Waal Park (a dog sanctuary)
Morning running route – Company’s Garden
Boulder Beach-penguins!! (Somehow missed all of the awesome beaches on the way on my phone)
More penguins
Self portrait at Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
Beautiful Cape Point
The view from Chapman’s Peak
Neal taking “real photos”
Old Biscuit Mill market
View from Table Mountain
Neal on Table Mountain
Another great view from a different vantage point
Sunset at Camp’s Bay
That’s all for now! Hope you are having a great weekend in the northern hemisphere.