Well I didn't expect to be on here so soon after Monday's visit but we have a cold front coming tomorrow and Friday so it'll be raining hard and I didn't fancy get drenched! It'll be nice over the weekend and I've loads to do then so not on again til Tuesday-ish next week.
Thought I'd give you a proper update..
So I have encountered a black widow spider already here, 2 infact. Much to my horror and annoyance! I did my laundry last night and it's hanging out today only I wouldn't use the washing line as that's where both the spiders were! I'm a wuss I know.. still in the habit of shaking my clothes and shoes before putting them on, don't think that will change!
Dani's dogs (Zynja and Grendell) are finally used to me! Yippee. Had afew times were they pounced on me and afew grazes from their paws but nothing serious. They're big though and I'm not used to dogs at all and I have always been abit weary of them, dogs in general that is not just Dani's! I'll maybe upload acouple of photos with this entry so you can see then and also some photos I took in Misty Bay and Simon's Town.
Although it's nice today it's still very cold at night and if you don't already know, the houses here aren't designed for cold. They don't have double glazing or central heating (or fireplaces) so I'm currently sleeping with 2 duvets and a blanket, plus a blanket under me!! I know, you're thinking, what the heck!? But I can assure you it's true. I only had my sleeping bag last time I was over but it's designed for cold temperatures so it was all I needed, plus it was a dorm so more people generate more heat.
So yesterday I spent the entire day in Cape Town centre. Dani dropped me off at the V+A waterfront at 8am and he picked me up at half 4. I wandered around the waterfront til midday and went just about everywhere. Not much has changed there, most of the same shops (and again I didn't go into them as I'm not here to buy clothes!) went into alot of the crafts shops and Red Shed. Had lunch at Rooti's which is by the Nelson Mandela gateway to Robben Island. Speaking of which, I noticed the boat which does the tours of Robben Island wasn't running and also of people were turned away. The on the news last night it was told that the company hadn't been keeping up with repayments of the boats so it's been repossessed! There should be 2 boats for the Robben Island tours so hopefully I'll do it again as I'd like to do it again after seeing the film 'Goodbye Bafana.'
I strolled into the city centre after the waterfront and found my way about quite nicely again. Just as well as I had to find the street Dani was picking me up from! I went to Green Market Square, my favourite place! I do so love wooden things! I bought quite afew things to bring back with me but I'm not telling as some are presents! One thing I will say is that I got my souvenir, the thing I wanted to get last time! A new 4 foot friend! I bought a hand carved giraffe, and at a very good price too, haggled him down to nearly half the asking price and attracted a crowd of tourists watching my technique!
I walked down Long Street and abit of Adderley street before giant giraffe buying! Found Mama Afrika's restaurant and pub very easily! Didn't go in but will def have a meal there again while I'm here. On the way out of the centre I made brief friends with a chinese lady in her 40's who looked abit terrified of crossing the road. Not that surprising as the traffic here doesn't slow down and green men mean nothing! She nearly got herself killed so I got chatting to her for abit. I was on my way to a pub called the Fireman's Arms near where Dani was picking me up so I offered to buy her a drink but she's only over on business and was going to the International Conference Centre here. If you're here then I recommend that pub as it's one of the oldest in Cape Town and I had a nice pint of Guinness there! The barman even made a shamrock in the head, nice!
I had talked before I came out about climbing Table Mountain this time instead of the cable car.. but it's 1km literally vertical and very dangerous. Of 300 routes up there are only 3 which don't require ropes and actual rock climbing. Not so sure if I should try it as climbing vertical for 2 hours or so will wreck me!
As the cold front happens in the next 2 days it should be a good weekend here and Dani and I are planning on going to Franschhoek. It's a pretty little village east of Cape Town and also where their wine making started. Apparently there's loads of nice places to eat there also so that'll be a good trip somewhere I haven't been. On the other day we're also planning on driving north. This should be a good weekend so I'm looking forward to it.
Still needing to call SANCCOB, I keep meaning to and then other things distract me!
I said in the last entry that Cape Town and South Africa had changed.. I've realised now that that's not actually true. The place is the same, hasn't changed abit. The only thing which has changed is me. When I came here the first time the only place I had been abroad was France and that was when I was 11. Cape Town was my first trip away from home alone and I was quite young. I've travelled to alot of other places since then and I do feel alot more mature than last time. The bad experiences from interrailling (although looking back they are the funniest!) really made me more independent and able to cope with situations better.
I think the new way I view South Africa is good. I've also continued to grow on my knowledge of South Africa inbetween my last visit here and now. So I am starting to understand and grasp their culture more..
I'm going to leave this entry for now and wish you all well. I'll hopefully have alot to report next week! Have fun and take care.
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