Fritz Hotel Cape Town

... we came into land half an hour ahead of schedule on a gloriously warm and sunny morning. Back in Africa again after 23 years!

Even though we had to wait a while for my case, within 40 minutes we had cleared a very efficient passport control, been met by our hotel driver and were on the busy N2 driving into the city and the Breakwater Lodge Hotel. The hotel adjoins the University Business School and both share the premises of a very imaginatively ...

... it was also used as a political prison, detaining many black and coloured people, including Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe and Jacob Zuma. The last of the political prisoners were released in 1991, and the common law prison was closed in 1996. Since then it has been a museum, with former political inmates guiding you around the maximum security prison.

Our journey around the island was ...

Destination 355

km176'894

Along Route 62 I was not able to leave the wonderful mountain range and their lovely pass roads behind me. I did what I could do and thanks to wonderful sunshine it was perfect. Finally arrival to Cape Town. Check Up with informations, especially about Malaria for the Africa Crossing and some days rest and sight seeing. My warm up trip from Pretoria to Cape Town has completed.

From here my journey back to Europe officially starts. Good luck...

... felt a great sense of accomplishment afterward. We met an Aussie couple part way up who were dead friendly and we stopped to chat for fives mins or so, then off again. We had to queue for about an hour for our tickets and berth on the cable car, but the time went quickly and chatted to people in the line and used Allan's binoculars to find our guesthouse. The cable cars were hi-tech and had a revolving floor, which meant you got a 360 degree view on the way up rather ...

... can spend the same as in England, but the South African white wine goes as low as £1.20 a bottle (for a Chenin Blanc). We had that at the Braii and it was really drinkable, not amazing, but no where near the vinegar we geet in England. On day 3 we found Megaliquer which sold us a 5 litre box for a little over £3. Again, not amazing, but very drinkable and it will see us through the next few days! It may have become ...

... was trying to cross the road, our driver didn't stop (either he didn't see her or couldn't in time) and we hit her. She died immediately, but I have been struggling with her death and how it was handled. It was just something I never thought would happen in my life, much less while I was studying in another country. On a happier note, I leave for a 3 week trip on Tuesday morning. We are off to see Southern Africa and ...

... only one step behind RSA in being a bread basket and food export** of Africa, now has to import 50% of their food, while ov** 4 million Zim refuges have fled to RSA and Botswana, etc. Just for Fun, h**e's the final stats: Kilomet**s ridden: 6800 (approx 4000 miles) Punctures (flat tires): 9 (I think) Pictures Taken: 3880 Pictures actually saved for future editing and paring down: 2050 Cheap biscuits (cookies) consumed: 1042 / p**son (or so) Gear which broke: a ...

... the ceiling of the remaining wall with the random goods covering the shelves, and a magazine stand in the middle with more chairs and tables between it and the wall with the goods. A magazine stand, soup mixes, chips, gasoline, nail clippers. This store was a teeny tiny general store, a grocery store, a sandwich shop, a hardware store, and a drug store all squished together into a fifteen-by-twenty foot room. We had to literally climb over ...

... opportunities for our volunteers to play hockey, football and cricket for local clubs as well. I also went training with a local team Salt River FC which was a good laugh and quite different culturally as they were all Black, coloured and Muslim so I would often get referred to as 'white boy' but still all good fun. In terms of tourist attractions Cape Town has a lot to offer and I made sure I made the most of it. Highlights include climbing table mountain ...