African Jackasses
Trip Start
Jan 04, 2008
1
5
23
Trip End
Jan 31, 2008
Cape Town,
South Africa
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I wanted to go to the Cape of Good Hope which is the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans. I took the train to Simon's Town and along the way stopped at Boulder's Beach to check out the African Penguin colony. I paid a guy 4 Rand to drive me to the beach in his van. These gypsy cabs seem to be the cheapest way to get around here.
The penguins are known as the African Jackass. Not sure why... they don't look much like donkeys and they were rather well behaved. Nonetheless, they are just as adorable as their South American cousins that I met last year in Argentina. I did forget how smelly they are
Me and Jackie the penguin
. These penguins are very tame. Its easy to go right up to them, but they will snap at you if you get too close. After the penguins, I went back up to the highway to flag down another ride. I waited... and waited and waited. After an hour, I realized that there was a critical flaw in my plan today. I had no return transportation! The penguin beach is about 5 miles from the train station. Without any other options, I started walking. Each day I like to learn something. Yesterday I learned that you shouldn't play drinking games with the English... they will win. Today I learned that you shouldn't go anywhere without a return ride!
By the time I caught the train, it was too late to go the Cape Point. I will fit this in when I am back in Capetown at the end of the month.
My friend Brigitte told me not to stand out when I was here... try to blend in. That is proving to be difficult. It seems that white people don't take public transport in Capetown. So on the very crowded train, I was the only white person in the car. The car was full of lively conversations in Afrikaans, and singing. It was so cool! This is when it finally occurred to me that I am in Africa.
