Settling in
Trip Start
Jul 11, 2008
1
5
37
Trip End
Nov 24, 2008
Cape Town,
South Africa
Monday, August 25, 2008
Well I arrived in Cape Town on Wednesday morning last week (19th) and got here about an hour later due to delays. Flight from Belfast was also delayed by an hour so abit of a rush at Heathrow to get tickets from the following airline as they couldn't issue me them in Belfast for some reason.
First couple of days has been settling into Dani's place. Now living in Parklands which is just across the main road from Tableview where I was last time. Still about the same distance from Bayside Shopping centre and SANCCOB.
Not been in touch with them yet as I have only been on the net today for the first time. Will have to call them for some shifts.
We had a small tsunami here Thursday/Friday according to the news. Weather has been odd but then it's coming out of Winter here and into Spring. Should pick up soon. Today is 14 degrees and overcast and I need some gloves as I type this!!
Dani has been very good in helping me readjust to things here and try and familiarise myself with the area too.
Saturday I went to Century City (Canal Walk) as it was raining so that's a huge shopping complex here. It used to be the biggest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere afew years ago but not sure if that's still the case now. Just spent the day walking about before the rugby match between South Africa and Australia in the evening. Went back to Dani's and had afew beers with that.
Yesterday was better weather (Sunday) and we went to Fish Hoek where Dani's friend Louis lives. We took a drive along the cost to Simonstown to see Louisa who is an ex volunteer from Manchester. She volunteered at SANCCOB before me but she stayed on here to live for the last 4 years. She offered for me to stay with her for a week down there and there's also an HIV/AIDS educational project I can do there for afew days. I'll be in touch with Louisa again in the next few days so hopefully that'll happen in the next week or so.
We also drove to Misty Bay and Kommetjie. Kommetjie is actually where that HIV project is but it's not far from Simonstown and Louisa said I could borrow her car during the day as long as I give her lifts to and from work.
May be going down to Victoria and Alfred Waterfront tomorrow or Wednesday for the day while Dani's in work. Will be good to be down there again. May go to Greenmarket too to buy afew things.
Other than that no news here by me! Really need to sort out the volunteer side of things in next couple of days. Sara Fox hospital is out now as they won't take on international volunteers.. plus it was always going to be tough to get to as it's in Athlone and that's a slightly dodgy area.
It's looking as if I'll be travelling to Bloemfontein the last week of September. Will do the Garden Route fully then (only did a tiny bit last time) and also probably head into Natal.
Still lots to see in and around the western cape here on weekends so plenty of things I didn't see and do last time!
Good to be back but also very different from last time. Last time I was in a volunteer house and had loads of people living with me and as entertainment. Now if I don't organise my own volunteer stuff or tourist things during Monday to Friday I'll be very isolated in the house. But Dani can drop me off in city centre on way to work so it's not like I'm totally stuck!
Might hire a car after all, see how the money goes etc.
Hope you're all well and speak to you soon!
