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Published: April 26th 2007
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Penguins!
Waching them zoom in from the sea and clumsily land on the beach was hilarious! So we’ve finally reached Cape Town after much dithering because this marks the end of our trip. We’ve been staying in a lovely guest house with stunning views across the city and up to Table Mountain. I’m pleased to say we survived the city with no problems, despite the horror stories about attempted muggings that we had heard from so many people who have already been here. We’ve also been blessed with fantastic weather, despite dire storm warnings as we left.
We’ve been busy doing all the touristy things you have to do when you visit a city as famous as Cape Town. On our first day we tackled the 1000+ metres that is Table Mountain. Having looked at it from a distance and decided it didn’t seem too big, I got the shock of my life as I panted my way up to the summit. The climb up through Skeleton Gorge was beautiful, if challenging, lots of scrambling over boulders and up ladders to get to the top. Seeing all of the Cape Peninsular laid out below us made the effort totally worth it though. On our hike I got the scare of my life when an Eagle
Lost penguin
Don't you find it a bit hot here?! Owl hissed at me from the side of the path, I was convinced it was a snake! We also saw a Puff Adder along the way so I was glad I was being cautious after that!
We spent a day going around the Cape, a stunningly scenic drive hugging the cliffs and stopping at pristine beaches. Visited the tourists at Boulders Beach and saw some penguins too! I could spend hours watching the penguins waddle along the beach and play in the waves, they’re hilarious creatures!
I uncharacteristically took an interest in history for an afternoon as we took a tour of Robben Island. They’ve developed the former prison very sensitively and it was fascinating to meet one of the ex-political prisoners and hear his story. I’ve been reading Mandela’s autobiography so it was interesting to bring the book to life. Too many white people in this country have given me their views on the way South Africa should be, so it’s good to hear other opinions too. It’s very difficult to understand all the problems South Africa is facing and just what can be done to turn this country around, maybe it will just take time? It’s
Table Mountain
From Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens certainly not the developed country the rest of the world seems to think it is.
Too much sightseeing can take its toll so we spent a couple of days playing on the beach and having a picnic in the botanical gardens - it’s a hard life! Then, to make Gerry’s holiday finish with an adventure, we got up at 5am yesterday to go diving with Great White Sharks. Unfortunately the swell was big and my stomach not so strong, so I spent most of the trip hanging my head over the side of the boat. It didn’t ruin the experience at all for me though…it seems Great Whites are quite attracted to regurgitated cereal, so I got a fantastic view of them coming up to investigate!!! At one point there were 4 or 5 of them, up to 2½ metres long, circling the boat, it was another one of those ‘which way do I look’ moments!
Being the awful girlfriend I am, I made Gerry say goodbye to me at an airport again last night, as he’s heading home and I still have a week left here. I’m back in Joburg to make the most of Jim and
The view from Robben Island
Cheesy tourist picture alert! Janine’s hospitality once more, and then I’ll be flying home to the hot and sunny UK too (or at least I’m hoping that’s the case, I’ve become far too accustomed to the African climate to deal with rain and cold!!) See you all soon, Fxx
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Katie Randall
non-member comment
Hello
hey frankie! sounds like you have been having a blast, have been reading your entries when get chance! it's ok weather over here and something to look forward to is an environmental science meetup - put weekend of 4 august in your diary and hope to see you there! luv kt xxx p.s are you still in contact with ellen?