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Published: February 18th 2016
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We've now settled into a routine. Have had 2 golf lessons, played 2 rounds of golf and going to the gym for our regular work outs including some nice walks along Strand Beech.
Our friends Harry and Susan invited us again for a lovely lunch at Hartenberg Winery after which we visited their friends Nicole and Guy who live high up in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Guy works in the reserve and has just retired. It was a very pleasant visit. Nicole served some tea/coffee, desert and some Koeksisters, which are a South African sweet that is addictive. (That's all I need is something else to add to the caloric intake)!!! They are made similar to a donut in texture and have a sugar glaze on the outside. When travelling outside of Canada, they're the next best think to Tim Hortons.
Saturday was market day and we visited the Stellenbosch Market and Audacia market. Both provided interesting crafts and food. One could easily gain a couple of pounds just breathing the air!! As you can tell, I'm trying to lose some weight which continues to be a struggle when surrounded by all this temptation. Sunday, drove to Hermanus which
is about 1 hours drive along the very scenic coastal route 44. Hermanus is a beautiful town with many unique art shops and other stores. Debra has mandated we will be returning! Outside of Hermanus, we went to a couple of wineries in the Hemel en Aarde Valley. Had a Tapa's lunch with wine pairing at Creation Winery which was absolutely wonderful and upon returning home, checked the weather in the Eastern seaboard and thankful we are here!
There are a lot of interesting smaller communities which are day trips. Kalk Bay is fishing village about 1 hour drive and on the coast outside of Cape Town. It's next to Muizenberg, another coastal town, which is a destination for surfers and tourists. (Cecil Rhodes had a summer cottage in Muizenberg). We spent a pleasant day meandering around Kalk Bay, stopped for Fish(Hake) and Chips and visited a number of art and craft shops. There was an interesting store that made beautiful jewelry from many of the stones from South Africa. The prices were quite reasonable relative to the quality and it was only good fortune that we left without Debra buying something.
Jane and Jim hosted a fun
night for all the quests of Highcliffe House. Nationalities represented were Dutch, Swiss, South Africa and Canadian. We had a pot luck dinner and a quiz between the ladies and men with questions about the countries represented. It was a good learning experience and of course the ladies won the bottle of champagne!! Things you may not know;
-- South Africa has 3 Capitals -- Pretoria - the adminstrative/Executive Branch of Government
-- Capetown -- the legislative Branch
-- Bloemfontein -- the Judicial Branch
-- Switzerland had 4 official languages --- German, French, Italian and Romanish
-- The most dangerous animal in Africa --- Hippo
Weather continues to be above average with temperatures + 30 C every day.
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