Day 16-18: Cape Town

Trip Start Sep 12, 2004

Trip End Jan 05, 2006

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Flag of South Africa Cape Town, South Africa
Thursday, September 30, 2004

So just milled around town in the morning/afternoon. Went to the District 6 Musuem. This places recounts the history of an area of Cape Town called District 6 where generations of families had grown up together both black and white - then in the 60s with Apartheid the government decided that District 6 would be cleared and changed to 'White Only' land so everyone had to leave and they were moved to townships on the outskirts of town, people were split up based on the colour of their skin, Distric 6 was bulldozed. The ultimate irony is that it was never built on. Now, post aprtheid the government is arranging for people who lived there to get their land back and build new homes....it was a very interesting place to visit.

Had a quick look at the Castle but they charged to get in so couldn't be bothered, nearby there was a market so I wandered around a bit looking for a hat (managed to lose mine on Table Mountain so if any of you happen to be there and find it let me know won't you!). And whilst wandering around the market I experienced my first mugging...well attempted mugging. Some guy started asking me for money, then he got pushy, he was tapping the pocket which had my mobile in it, then he tried to grab the phone from my pocket, I stopped him and yelled out - this was in the middle of the market so there were loads of people around and a couple of the stall holders came to help and pulled the guy away, they threw him to the floor and then about 20 people jsut kicked the crap out of him - I obviously moved away pretty quickly!!! Guess you've never really experienced South Africa until you've been a victim of crime...lol - anyway, i'm fine, was a little shaken.

Baz Bus

Basically I was just in the wrong area, will remember to stick to where I know for the next few days!

So after that little event I moved to House of the Traveller (HOTT) in the afternoon. Ended up with a twin room rather than a single as they couldn't find the key to the single so that was a bonus, lovely room and air conditioning too!! It was a bit quiet on arrival, no one else around though there are about 5 or 6 other people staying.

In the afternoon I wandered down to the Waterfront and watched the students getting drunk....(Norwich based joke!)... no, seriously, went to the Aquarium which was cool, took lots of pics of fishes and stuff behind glass, all very lovely - they had fish (surprisingly!), penguins, seals, sharks, crabs, jellyfish, lobsters, etc, etc. Good couple of hours wandering around. Then just went back to HOTT where I was greeted by Colette who's the sort of House Manager, she stays there and makes sure everyone's happy. We chatted for a bit, apparently there's a house party at HOTT on Thurs night where guests and locals all come together so was going to go to that until some friends of friends invited me out to dinner on thurs night.

A couple of Colette's friends came over and we chatted a bit and then they wanted to watch Survivor - yes they have it over here too, they also have too much English football on TV...eurgh! Then I went out and hit the gay bars for a second time. Had a lovely dinner for one (sob sob) at Cafe Manhattans, lovely food and spitting distance from HOTT.

Cape Point

Was reasonably busy for a Tues night so had a couple more there...then decided to go to The Hothouse and if you want to know what the Hothouse is you'll have to ask ;O) lol

So Wednesday came and it was the Peninsular tour which picked up about 8.30. There were about 10 of us altogether, a couple of english guys, a finnish girl living in london, a swiss guy, a dutch guy and four exchange students who were all 16!!! 16 for god's sake, how old did I feel, tho I wasn't the oldest I don't think. They were a really nice bunch tho so enjoyed the day. We started in a place called Hout Bay which is well known for a large seal colony so went on a boat trip out to the seals, then across to Simons Town which is near a place called Boulders Beach famous for it's penguins. We travelled further down the cape where we stopped and then cycled for about 7km, luckily it was downhill so not too difficult (by the way the weather has been great since Monday, sunny, dry and about 25-27C so it was a perfect day for it).

After the cycle ride we stopped for lunch at a lovely lookout spot where we saw a couple of whales playing out in the ocean...another me with whales which was cool. Then we jumped back in the bus and went down to Cape Point where we walked to the lighthouse which they inconveniently went and built on a hill!!! Honestly! Great photo opp tho so you'll see them eventually. Then we had a 40 min hike from Cape Point to the Cape of Good Hope, which I guess you'll probably have heard of. It's the most south westerly point in Africa (talk about clutching at straws!) but amazing views and lovely weather, more great photo opps.

Cape Town City Hall

Then that was the day over - was absolutely shattered by the time we got back.

But no time to rest, out for a meal with Alex and a few other people from the Cat & Moose - funnily enough one of them was the finnish girl from the tour and the other 2 I'd met on the BazBus on my wasy round from Joburg, so it was nice to have a meal out with familiar faces. Went to a Moroccan restaurant, very nice, Alex had Chocolate Chilli Steak - I didn't, can you believe I didn't actually have the chocolate dish, tried a bit tho and it was lovely. Alex flys home today (thurs) so we had goodbye drinks and then I had to get back coz I was sooo knackered.

So now it's Thursday...was going on the wine tour today but it's been changed as there were only 3 people booked, so we're going tomorrow where they'll be about 10 so more people to meet and talk to. I was going to do Township tomorrow but have dropped it, was gonna drop it anyway coz I really need a day off (it's tough this travelling malarkey!), but as they moved the winetour I don't lose any money - result!.

Today I plan to do as little as possible, might go see a film which was recommended by the aussie couple at the C&M - it's called Yesterday and is a Zulu film about a single mother living in a township, it's supposed to be very powerful so would be good to see it in the country it's based in.

Tonight is the meal with Rentia and Nico (they are friends of a guy called Keith who was at the One Account with me - he introduced me to them at his 30th party as they were in the UK, they kindly offered accommodation but they're out of the city and I wanted to stay central - so we decided to go for a meal instead). Then I might go back to the house party and hit the bars again. Tomorrow is wine tour and Saturday I fly back to Joburg for a night.

South Africa is almost coming to and end..... :O(

But Oz is round the corner!! :O)