SOUTH AFRICA
26th October - 11th November 2007
Part 1 Cape Town
Friday - Tuesday

 
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Saturday 27th October

Our apartment where we are staying for the first week. We have two apartments. Sue, Derek and myself are in one and in the other Jonathan and Megan and Megan's parents, Clive and Marjory.
Together with Jonathan and Megan, Clive and Marjory we set off to drive round the coast to the east round False Bay stopping frequently to admire wonderful views. Then we stopped at Kleinmond for a cup of coffee and a cake.

Derek & Megan
Marjory & Sue
Then we drove on to Hermanus where we were lucky enough to see some whales.
Some of the whales were very close to the shore.
Derek, Jonathan and Megan with her broken arm looking out at the whales.
Here we found some Hirax.
On our way back we stopped off at Betty's Bay to see the Jackass penguins.
They made a noise just like a donkey.
 
Sunday 28th November

We got up very early this morning to drive to the Church that Megan's family used to go to when they lived in Cape Town. Her parents, Clive and Marjory now live in Netal, so they met up with many of their old friends. After the service I was allowed to play the organ and Derek took this picture.
We then decided to visit Cape Point. On the way we met these baboons sitting in the middle of the road and refusing to move for anyone.
Eventually we managed to drive past them.
The point itself was very barren and windswept. It was very windy and we went up to the light house, first by a funicular railway and then up some steep steps.
On our way back we visited the other, perhaps better known point, the Cape of Good Hope.
This is the Protea plant. also known as a pin cushion plant. Native to South Africa
Jonathan cooking our supper.
Monday 29th October

We left very early this morning as it was a bright clear day to take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. However as we drove the clouds came down and the wind got up, so we had to abandon our plans. Instead we drove to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront where we parked and found a nice restaurant for a good breakfast. Yes, I really do mean Alfred. He was Queen Victoria's son who visited while in the Navy and started all the work on the waterfront.
We took a city bus tour which drove us up to the base of Table Mountain where we learned that the cable car had been stopped because of the wind, so we couldn't have gone up it anyway. Here you see the mountain with its top firmly in the clouds.
Taken by Sue you can see the wonderful view looking down across Cape Town.
Sue & Derek.

Panoramic view of Cape Town from just under Table Mountain
Back to the Waterfront again at the end of our tour we found these big statues of a Nobel Peace prize winner, Archbishop Tu Tu, Derek, De Clerk, Sue and Nelson Mandela
Then we took an hour and a half's trip out into the harbour in this wonderful boat. Once out of the harbour they raised the sails and cut the motor.

Panoramic view of Cape Town from the boat
We found a large Sandfish. Apparently these are enormous fish but can't be eaten. They swim near the surface very slowly.
We were hoping to see some seals, but apart from one on the harbour steps being fed by the tourists, we had to be content with these sandfish.
Tuesday 30th October

To our surprise today started fine, bright and without this awful wind that we have been experiencing, so we set off in good time to find again the cable car up Table Mountain.
The cars took 65 people at a time but we had to queue for almost an hour before we could go up. The views were absolutely wonderful.
In the distance you can see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
The top of the mountain was very well organised with safe paths in between the rocks and the vegetation. We took a half hour walk which circled the top.
Again you can see Robben Island top left of this picture.
To the side of Table Mountain is the Devil's Peak which from this height looks quite small.
 

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