Mont Rochelle Hotel Franschhoek

... and dancing to some cheesy tunes like "I get knocked down" ... or even Ace of Base. We’d had such a good time as a group that we decided to go out together for some food and basically finished off what had been a very good day so far.

I thought it would be a good idea to go Tamo’s Japanese restaurant as he told me he would be working there. So, Bruce dropped me off near the restaurant but unfortunately ...

... picture taken. We had to wait a couple minutes for a huge group of German tourists to have their pictures taken in various combinations before I could get a picture in close proximity to the sign. I was getting unpatient, so I actually snuck into a few of their pictures - I'm just happy they weren't Japanese tourists or I would probably still be waiting. There was also a big rocky hill, which I climbed while Xani took pictures from ...

... thank him again, and take two pictures with him. Unfortunately on the first picture that was supposed to be just me and him, some tard I don't know jumped in at the last second. Oh well. Still a great experience. The last thing for that night was a visit from the Amy Biel foundation. I can't tell the full story of Amy Biel because it is very long (if you google the foundation I'm sure it will have her story), but the short story is she was a student in Cape Town helping the struggle ...

... girls at the Tana airport that were just finishing there two year term with the Peace Corps. Carrie and Elaine from Florida. Americans! Music to my ears! We really hit it off and as it turned out they were going to Cape Town, had a room booked at a hostel and invited me to hang out with them and a few of their other girlfriend joinging in a day. Perfect! We arrived to the hostel (and don't worry there are more locks on this place then anywhere I've stayed so far including a night guard ...

... this was a show farm where you could interact with the animals and even go for a ride if you so dared! Of course we did and the enjoyment was only matched by the intense smell and eerie silence, save our hectic laughter. Lunch at the Swiss Bistro finally brought zebra to my plate and I still contend that it is my favorite meat ever! Chico had a tough job of ...

... wine and we didn't need much convincing either. . At the end of the evening we ever all well fed on prime South African fillet steak and had the opportunity to taste some of Jamies best wines. Thanks very much guys for your hospitality we will often think back to the evening and dream of that tender fillet and perfectly matched bottle of Kaapzicht Merlot.

... a sister. I was just refreshed and reminded of the reason I am here and why I have a heart to do this sort of thing. So I just got back from a run here, I'm getting used to this whole altitude thing. Worcester is a little ghetto in some areas, but loosing your breath just looking at the scenery even before you begin to run, far exceeds any of its lesser parts. I'll post pictures soon of the adventures of Meg and Kate and maybe a bit of my home. Cheers!

... went to the townships the first couple of times as an obvious tourist, I wasn't treated disrespectfully, but I definitely felt more like an intruder. People were still gracious and the children still approached us, but when I went on the tour with Neo, because I was with him, I was even more approachable and less of an outsider because I'd been invited in by someone who lived there. He did remind me that it was because these kinds of visits are good for their ...

... the most of that shelter Brent: For the sandboarding incident Andy: For joining Len and Ribo in the snoring chorus Alice: For giving Morgan the soaking with water he deserved Len: For being a repeat guest Damon: For learning the meaning of speed and gravity Zoe: For bravery when almost charged by a rhino Troy: For keeping track of time and schedules Ruth: For amusing everyone with her weird dreams and having so many angels dancing down her throat Kendra: For being ballsy ...

That is right, we found Wonderland and spent 3 nights there! Franschhoek--truly a storybook town--is a small town nestled in the mountains and full of vineyards. We landed at a 12 room guest house (B&B) built in the 1920s, originally booking 2 nights and soon adding another. Kathie who owned the guest house had decorated it beautifully with antiques, down bedding, french ...