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Published: November 22nd 2009
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Ok it's not quite alliterative unless you are Jonathan Ross but here goes:
How did we come to be here? Andy and Jacqui decide to go to South Africa for a holiday, decide to get married, then Jacqui's research tells them that Grotto Beach at Hermanus has a great venue, invites are issued in August, our decision to go quickly made and flights and hotels booked (how did we do this so easily before the internet).
Wed 28 October. We flew overnight with BA from the UK to Cape Town, picked up our hire car and wait for Peju coming on the Virgin flight. This woman has the biggest/heaviest bag we have ever seen/carried - and her wedding outfit was in her hand luggage just in case.
We took the scenic route drive away eastwards from the airport and onto the coast road (R44) at Gordon's Bay. Blue skies, sparkling seas and fabulous mountain scenery accompanied us as we meandered along eastwards to Hermanus. Saw our first whale tail in the bay as we drove along the promenade.
Hermanus is a smallish seaside resort, some 19th C buildings in the centre, lots of normal shops as well as the chichi boutiques.
"there she blows"
honest there were lots of whales... Easy to walk around and it feels very safe and everyone we met was friendly. We chilled out in our apart hotel after picking up some basic breakfast supplies and wine.
Ate out that evening in a simple seafood restaurant, seafood curry washed down with a bottle of local Sauvignon Blanc. After dinner we met up with some of the rest of the wedding party.
Thursday 29 October was the big day. It dawned bright with beautiful blue skies. We headed out for the cliff top for a morning walk to stretch our legs, enjoy the scenery and to watch the whales. Lovely stroll along to the new harbour, lots of whales in the bay seemed to be enjoying life as much as we were - but getting less sunburned. Unfortunately I couldn't press the camera shutter fast enough to get decent pictures of them.
After a quick change we cabbed it to the wedding venue for the main event of the week. Andy nearly blubbed as he said his vows and that set off most of the party. A long and enjoyable afternoon and evening followed: of drinking, eating chatting and generally celebrating Andy and Jacqui's
nuptials. We even had a side trip of all the party down to Grotto Beach for another photo opportunity. A lovely occasion.
Friday was another day of gorgeous weather. We woke feeling remarkably well considering the amount of alcohol consumed the day before. Wandered about Hermanus in the morning and then headed off to go horse riding in the afternoon, picking up Jacqui and Peju enroute - the latter even had jodpurs. Ride for 3 1/2 hours including some fast bits on the beautiful beach - not necessarily under full control - scaring a couple of baby seals as well as rearranging some internal organs. By the end of the ride all of us looked like tramps having ridden through the brush and fymbos shrubs.
In the evening we met up with the remnants of the wedding party at a serious steak house on the outskirts of town, Susan had possibly the biggest steak she has ever seen. Of course she managed most of it and then took a doggie bag and turned the remains into a sandwich.
We left Hermanus on Saturday to make our way back to Cape Town. Picked up Peju and Beth and
headed into the mountains, a very scenic route back to Cape Town, stopping off for a very civilised wine tasting and lunch at Mont Rochelle vineyard at Franschoek. Ran out of time to visit Stellenbosch, next time.
Dropped off the car at Cape Town airport and went to our very nice guest house in the gardens district.
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