OK, so I had another great day in Cape Town yesterday.
Spent Saturday alone in town being a tourist. Visited a couple of historic sites including the Castle of Good Hope. Had lunch at Lola's Cafe. Lola's was first opened by my friend Wendy when she was living in Cape Town but she sold it nearly 5 years ago to her friend Russell. I spoke briefly with Russell just before leaving the cafe but it was too busy for him to stop to talk. It is a very busy place... going non-stop filled to max. from when I first passed it at 11:15am to when I left after lunch at 1:30pm. It's just a hole-in-the-wall place with sidewalk tables.
I enjoyed wandering around town, getting to know it a bit.
Yesterday, Sunday, John took me to visit the Kirstenbausch Botanical Gardens. This is dozens of acres of garden parkland with well over 2200 species of plants and trees. It was a delight to the senses. We took a mini-bus to a nearby town and a taxi to the Gardens. Returning we discovered that getting a taxi back was impossible so startedf walking to the highway (M4) where the mini-buses are. When we got to the M3 we noticed a couple of bus stops but were told by a passing motorist that they did not run on Sunday. S.A. closes on Sundays. He left but turned pack to give the lost (not) and confused (not) tourists a lift into town. Very nice man in a brand new BMW convetible sports car. Top down ride home was fun and nice.
On arrival at the RCYC we stopped at Danny and Coco's boat, a very nice cat, for a tea and visit with them and Peter (their crew member) before going back to our boat. Then while making dinner the captain of a research vessel at the end of our dock came by to invite us over for drinks. We made dinner, ate and went to their boat. A large catamaran. We were there until 10:45 drinking wine and talking with the other 8 or 9 visitors who came aboard.
Met a nice youth fellow from Wales, David, who is on his forst major trip abroad as crew on a Welsh cat being delivered home. It ran into heavy weather and lost a sail and received damage as a result. They are here doing repairs.
Meeting lots of great people and having loads of fun. Must run. Must eat breakfast.
Posted by gailene at January 19, 2004 01:21 AM