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Published: September 3rd 2010
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Friday (3/7/10)
After a late breaky, we returned to the internet café to catch up on some blogs before we caught the train to Cape Town. A short stroll from the train station we arrived to Sleep and Go Backpackers (on Long Street the floor below Penthouse on Long). All our fears were confirmed at once, despite booking a four bed dorm with ensuite we were taken to an eight bed dorm and we quickly told we could wait indefinitely if we weren’t happy. The place had an undisputable aroma of urine, beds/ bunks placed randomly in communal area’s and hallways and general widespread filth. Not wishing to stick around any longer, we locked our stuff away and headed out dreading the return (When something sounds too cheap to be true it usually is... this was a perfect example and we should know better!) First we surveyed the markets looking for the famous ‘Ring Man’ but to no avail. So we headed to the Fan Fest for the Netherlands v’s Brazil game. With Table Mountain overlooking we watched the Dutchie’s make their way through to the semi finals. The atmosphere was awesome. We walked back to a pumping Long Street in
search of tea, stopping for mojoto’s at Che Bar before stumbling across an empty Bamboo Chinese just off Long. We tucked into some delicious crispy duck, chilli prawns and kung po chicken. After dinner we kicked on at Vuju upstairs bar in search of ‘Blue’ from our previous Long Street encounter. No blue just some expats dressed in Zebra print suits as we watched Ghana (Africa's last hope) crash out of World Cup contention to Uraguay.
Saturday- Our final Game Day
After getting through our first night , we set out to make the most of the quarter final atmosphere. We walked along the fan mile to the water front where the Argentinean’s were in full swing singing and dancing . The German’s typically quieter and reserved enjoying a pint at the beer tent. We stopped for some gourmet ostrich and kudu burgers for lunch and just a little face painting. We joined the crowds and made our way to gate. After a slower than usual security we made our way to our seat. We climbed the six levels to the top tear just three rows from the top still vaguely on the corner and ironically wedged between German
supporters again. The game kicked off with Germany in control from the opening minutes, scoring the opening goal. Argentina looked promising coming into half time but failed to score. The second half Germany was unstoppable finishing the game an impressive 4-0! We left Greenpoint stadium our last World Cup game and made our way back to Long Street along the Fan Mile which was now pumping with people music, dancing and singing. Back to a surprisingly quiet Long Street we scored a table the Ethiopian Restaurant just around the corner from our backpackers for a delicious trio of chicken, fish, lamb and flat bread.
Sunday
After breaky we spent the morning organizing the next part of our South African adventure, unable to book a Robbin Island trip (booked out for the next week) we set to making sure we didn’t miss out again, booking our Baz bus seats out of Cape Town. Clear blue skies continued so we decided to walk up Table Mountain. We caught a taxi to the cable car and then walked the two km’s along the road to the start of the path with an American doctor who had decided to join us from the
hostel. We set off up the famous mountain, one step after the other, stopping along the way to admire the view over Cape Town and catch our breath, the first signs of our lagging fitness and Jez’s head cold(the 'World Cup flu') starting to get the better of him.
We made it to the top, stopping to watch tourists pose from handstands to precariously close positions to the edge. We meandered around the top of the table taking in the 360degree views. We picked out a perfect spot for sunset. As the sun set we realized there was an growing line for the Cable Car and we weren't the only one's sticking around for sunset, as the queue wound from the cable car entrance, past the little shop, along the stairs, past the restaurant and up the stairs. We debated the possibility of walking back down estimating it would be completely dark within the next forty minutes and potentially quite dangerous verses joining the queue anticipating a potential three hour wait til we made it back down. On this occasion we took the safer option but began to wonder whether the sunset was worth it as we joined the ridiculously
long queue. Fortunately the line moved quicker than our estimations and we made it back down in just over two hours and as a bonus witnessed the spectacular views of Cape Town by night. We got a taxi back to Long Street, donned at few more layers at backpackers and scored a table at Cape to Cuba for a disappointing dinner and an early night.
Monday
Our last day in Cape Town we set to seeing a few more of the sights first stop was the District 6 Museum, a tiny museum depicting the story of the local African’s forced from the famous District Six during the Aparthide era. We wandered the streets past the Government buildings stopping for coffee and cake at 'Bread milk and honey café' ( a cute organic cafe with lots of a delicous looking food!). We continued through the Company Gardens stopping again to soak up some sun.
Next we set to booking the rest of our Baz bus seats and accommodation along the Garden route. Plans in place we took the opportunity for some window shopping along Long, still hoping to spot the ring man(sorry Vicky) . We tucked into some sushi for
a late lunch before spotting a bar showing the last of the Tour de France.
That evening we had some delicious steaks at a newly opened restaurant (but we've forgotten both the name and street!) opted for a taxi back to Sleep and Go for ourlast night.
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