Until this trip home I had not been back to My Cape Town in almost 4 years. I may share the details of why I chose to not go home for so long but not in this post, this is a happy post. I call it My Cape Town because this city is the very thread of the fabric of who I am. I guess most everyone feels like that about their hometown, that the familiar streets and friendly faces that they grew up surrounded by are somehow an anchor to their soul . A place that you can go to, to stay grounded when the madness of the world you have ventured into threatens to sweep you up and away with it. The oceans and mountains of Cape Town is that for me, my anchor. I feel lost when I haven’t been to the ocean for too long, even if it’s not my ocean, in a pinch any ocean will do. I feel a strong connection to the waves of the sea. I could stare out at the water for hours, losing all my cares in the endless and faithful crash of the waves against the shore. The mountain ranges offer comfort in their own way. They tower above everything and somehow seem to watch over the city and at the same time, me. They’re unchanging, they stand through any storm, always keeping watch. My mountain and my sea, constant and beautiful. My Cape Town.
The first few days home I wanted nothing else but to lay out on the beach, soaking up the sun and surf! I got to soak up the sun but as (my) luck would have it , every time I tried to surf my first week home,there was either a shark spotted ( yes, this is Cape Town we’re talking about, we have the most shark infested waters in the world), or the swell was not high enough. The sunsets never disappointed and were just as incredible and I remembered. I teared up when I saw my first sunset from the boulders of Clifton 3rd beach. It was a magnificent sight, sitting on the boulders watching the sun go down, I felt incredibly happy and at peace. It had been a long time coming but I was finally home.
Drinks at Cafe Caprice after sunset
The city had changed so much since the last time I had been home. There had been so much construction since the 2010 World cup that I didn’t even recognize some parts of my hometown. It made me a bit sad but the city looked amazing and it was hard to be down for long in a place this beautiful. This trip Mr. and I would have a friend along with us. We met Kai at a holiday party one year. He told us that he always wanted to go to South Africa. That was pretty much it. The planning started from there.I was eager to show off the city that I was always boasting about. Kai brought along two girlfriends on the trip, Cali and Lowe. The five of us had an amazing adventure in my hometown. Cali arrived a couple of days after the four of us did, but when she did she only added an extra layer of zany to the already overflowing pot of madness and fun. This was an unforgettable trip!
The Two Oceans Aquarium was one of our first stops together ( minus Cali) and is a must see for your visit to Cape Town! I love going every time I am home to see the new displays. I instantly turn into a five-year old when I get inside!
Inside a tank of ‘Nemo’s’ aka clown fish!
Stingrays are so creepy looking!
It looks like they’re kissing.
Lowe was trying to kill the starfish by taking it out of the water. I was just hoping to get it on film.
Just the cutest little guys
After a couple of hours at the Aquarium we were famished. Where else would be go but a seafood restaurant. Sick sense of humour? Maybe.
Ocean basket’s seafood platter for one. Cajun hake, calamari, prawns, mussels, rice and chips. So good! I wish I had room in my tummy for it all!
Mr. had a seafood platter for two, which had double the amount of food of my platter… he polished it off with no problem.
Full and happy!
We ate lunch at the V&A Waterfront, which is right on the harbour. This was view as we stepped out on the balcony of the restaurant. The Cape Town Wheel and Table Mountain in the background.
After lunch we took a short walk down to the harbour’s edge.
Giant Statue Made From 4,200 recycled Coca-Cola Crates.
Statues of South Africa’s noble peace prize winners. From right Nelson Mandela, F.W De Klerk, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu and Albert Luthuli
A Zulu Proverb: A Person is a person because of people.
We made a quick stop at a the craft market on the harbour ( where you’re not allowed to take pictures!), before heading down to the beach to watch the sunset.
We stopped at the light house in Sea Point first but only stayed for 20 minutes. It was too windy and we decided to make our way further down and the beach where we would have some shelter from the famously strong Cape Town South Easterly wind.
The oldest lighthouse in South Africa
Just as we, ( well me, if we’re getting down to details 😉 ) had predicted, the wind was tamer down on the beach and the four of us happily watched the sun disappear into the horizon.
So much more to come…
This Travellers Heart 