Tuesday and Wednesday in Cape Town
Tuesday was the day we were saying goodbye to Jeff and Gary, but before that we went downtown to do yet more shopping! We started back at the Waterfront for breakfast at Spurs. Spurs is something akin to Denny's for food selection, but more like Planet Hollywood for franchise. This one had a spectacular view of the Waterfront and Table Mountain! After a quick breaky, we started walking the outdoor markets of downtown Cape Town.
Curtis actually gave me permission to buy some art here in Africa, and there were some interesting choices to be made. I think I had to rule about half of it out on the basis of cultural differences in modesty, but the others were very cool. The only problem was I never did find anything I loved. About 3/4 of the way through the day, I realized my problem is I fell in love with Scott's art. Scott was the finance officer/braii expert/safari guide/artist from the Seed of Hope. Jody agreed with me and she says she's going to see if we can't buy a print of his. I thought I would send him a pleading email explaining that he has ruined me from African art forever and the least he can do is let me buy a print. We'll see!
After a stop at a Mediterranean restaurant for THE BEST yogurt strawberry smoothies of all times, we said goodbye to Jeff and Gary. Stu took them to the airport and was coming back to meet us later. That left the Schwartz's, Aunty Sybil and I to continue wandering the markets.
After more browsing, we met up again with the group and we all went to Camps Bay. It's known as the sun setter's strip. It is a great ocean side town where the views of the sunset over the ocean are spectacular. We enjoyed putting our toes in the sand and the cold water of the Atlantic and then a great Italian meal while the sun went down. We were truly spoiled!
But all good things must come to an end. We said goodbye to the Schwartz's that evening. They really were wonderful hosts in Toti, even though they were tourists themselves!
That only left Stu and I out of our little group. I wanted to leave Stu alone with his brother for what time he had left so against everyone's better judgement, I had Aunty Sybil take me to the airport to rent a car Wednesday morning. Everyone seemed very nervous about me going out on my own, even though I promised to stick to the main roads but they weren't having any of it, so poor Leizle was coerced into coming with me, even though she wasn't feeling well. Aunty Sybil took Leizle and I out for breakfast in the vineyard area just outside of Cape Town. What a stunningly beautiful area! I can see why Leizle wants to have her wedding there! And after that, us two "young ones" were off to Cape Point.
Our afternoon consisted of a beautiful drive along the coast of the Atlantic to the Point where we got out of the car and hiked around for a few hours. We hiked up to the lighthouse on the Point, then we hiked down to the Cape of Good Hope. In between those two sites was a long rickety wooden staircase to Dias Beach. The sand was white, the surf was huge and I could have stayed there forever, but time was passing us by so we started the long climb back up the stairs.
Hiking around there really brought home the differences in safety precautions taken in South Africa versus in North America, where nobody is willing to take responsibility for their own well being. We were on some pretty serious cliffs with cracks near the edge that went all the way down. I was sitting their taking pictures of Leizle perched precariously on the edge when I realized there are no hand rails anywhere. No signs, no hand rails on the rickety, "boards missing" stairs and boardwalks. It was actually refreshing to know that not everywhere in the world do people think that others should be responsible for their own well-being. It's just a given that you will not walk off the edge of the cliff! Safety all around the places we had been in SA has been lax to say the least. It's kind of liberating to choose to sit in the seat with a seat belt or in the back hanging off the load in the truck. Or to walk right up to the edge of the cliff if I want to. Now that I am writing about it, I guess that is the kind of lawlessness that contributes to the crime and feelings of not being safe. It just reinforces the fact that clear and safe boundaries can make you safer, not oppressed!
I loved my day at the Point, and I survived. We drove our way back to Quinton's place where we again enjoyed, family, friends and really hot curry!
One more sleep 'til I get to go home!
Shalina
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