Holiday Like a Capetonian

  Jen and I arrived back in our respective cities yesterday about 3:00 pm. Our flights out of Cape Town were between 11:00 and 12:00, so only had time to eat breakfast and check out before heading to the airport. We arrived at our hotel at about 12:00 Saturday afternoon. Our short vacation away from our service sites was incredible. We did a lot in those three days, but it was  still relaxing. I now understand just how beautiful the city really is. The theme of the weekend was that we could not manage to take a bad picture. Everywhere we went we were accompanied by breathtaking views of the ocean or the mountains, sometimes both. We were, however, glad to be coming back to our service sites for a couple more days. It was nice being on a plane and knowing I still had another week here in South Africa. 

  On Saturday afternoon, we went to a harbor called the V&A Waterfront. Designed with the harbors of San Francisco and Sidney in mind, the waterfront was complete with local venders, restaurants with ocean views, a mall, a ferris wheel. and an aquarium. It is certainly a hub of the city. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant right on the water. We both agreed we wanted pasta because we had not tasted Italian food since we left for South Africa. On Sunday, we took a cablecar up to Table Mountain, estimated to be one of the oldest mountains in the world and even older than the Himalayas. It was amazing to be able to look over the entire city. People were there from all over the world to witness the spectacular views. Some people we met even hiked up the mountain either one way or both ways. In the afternoon, we were able to go in the water at a beach not far from our hotel. Monday was rainy unfortunately, but it did not really interfere with our plans. We took a city sightseeing bus to a botanical and a place for lunch. The bus ride itself was a highlight of the trip because we got to see almost every part of the city, from the informal settlements to the most luxurious mansions in Cape Town. The three days went by too fast, but I am glad we fit in so much.

First picture in Cape Town

Now, I am trying to enjoy the last couple days I have at the St. Martin Project before I leave on Friday for a Safari at Kruger National Park. I hope that I have enough time to say goodbye to all the people who have made my time here so unforgettable. 

JW