Day 13 and my last day:(. I fly to Johannesburg this afternoon and then back to NYC. Yesterday we went to Franschoek to check it out. It was another nasty, rainy day but we got out of the car and explored the little town a bit. It was another cute town - reminded me again of the Hamptons. The drive was nice as we passed wineries it seemed every few hundred feet. There were a lot of people around. It was Friday and clearly a payday as people lined up outside the town's bank. After a little while we headed back to Cape Town. Since it was my last night we wanted to make sure to do things we hadn't yet.
We had dinner at Mama Africa's. It was a cute little pub/restaurant on Long Street in Cape Town. They had some entertainment - percussionists and marimba players from somewhere in Africa. They were very good. For dinner we tried crocodile - it was interesting. A white meat that had a strange consistency. It was ok - but I probably wouldn't order it again. It was nice to be out and see all the people. It was clearly a mix of travelers and locals. I was a little sad to be going home the next day, but enjoyed hanging out.
So my final impressions of South Africa --- One of the most beautiful places I've been, even in the winter. I've seen some beautiful places, but never beaches like these surrounded by mountains. I think what made this experience different was the development that surrounded these beautiful places. The beautiful beaches I've been to in Portugal, Malaysia and the Caribbean all were located in an underdeveloped area. The same with the mountains I've seen in Central America. Part of me disliked the "touristy" feel but also enjoyed the convenience it brought. South Africa is a great place and one I am very glad I had the opportunity to visit. More thumbnails ...
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