Someone kindly pointed out to me yesterday that I had not spotted any soccer players here in Cape Town because there aren’t any. Apparently most teams are only arriving next week and they have opted to train inland at higher altitudes or on the eastern coast where they don’t have the winter rainfall we have here. Bit disappointing that!
I do think Green Point is the centre of the world and that Table Mountain, Signal Hill and Lion’s Head are all there is. But I should point out we have loads of mountains. In the picture are the Twelve Apostles in Camps Bay. Although none of them are actually named after any of the apostles. We have the Helderberge, The Hottentots Hollands, Simonsberge and plenty more mountains. Many of us take a drive out in winter to Ceres area where the mountains are often covered in snow. A berg is a mountain in Afrikaans,
Green Point Stadium is not the only stadium in Cape Town. Other big stadiums are Athlone Stadium, Liesbeek Park and Newlands Stadium – in the picture. The smaller ones I won’t bother to mention.
Sport is a religion in South Africa. I have been taken to task for having a blog dedicated to the 2010 Soccer Cup and failing to mention we have huge support for other sports. This Saturday evening, as part of the Rugby Super 14 series, the Blue Bulls played the Crusaders at Orlando Stadium in Soweto and won 39 – 24.
The match in the picture is our local rugby team, The Stormers, playing the Waratahs at Newlands Stadium. Our boys won 25 – 6. I am told the crowd was approximately 46 000. I recall the Rugby World Cup in South Africa and that iconic moment when Nelson Mandela stepped out in a rugby shirt. It brought us together in a nano-second. We were one nation. One team. I hope our soccer players will make us proud.
Picture courtesy of P. Gillespie
I went out with a friend last night. Just before leaving home I was watching the sun set and realised how lucky we are here in Green Point to have the sunsets. On the other side of the mountain they have the sunrises. I prefer sunsets.
On a clear night the sky changes colour minute by minute as the blue sky recedes and the red sky takes over. The sun get’s bigger and bigger and then sinks into the ocean.
We went to Cubana corner Dixon and Somerset Roads. It starts out as a laid back dining sort of spot and then about 11pm the music slowly, and in a nice way slowly, get’s louder and the place begins to party. The music was a funky, salsa, jazz, dance type mix. I had two glasses of red wine, a single portion of nachos and a cup of tea. Including a 12% tip my bill came to R100 which I thought was good value. No cover charge either. Service was good. I would go back. We do tip here in South Africa. Most waitrons rely on tips for their income. Ten percent is the recommended rate to tip here.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
Table Mountain is a national park and is managed by South African National Parks. All areas above 152 metres fall into the park and all areas below are part of our city. Table Mountain is encircled by our city. How lucky are we to have this vast beautiful park and mountain right in the middle of our city?
One can get a 360′ view of Cape Town and the ocean from the top of the mountain. Wild animals used to roam the mountain and her slopes. Today you will see the cutest little Dassies scurrying about the top of the mountain. Driving into the city on the N2 you might be lucky to spot a Quagga – similar to a Zebra – on the slopes of the mountain.
The other attraction is the Cape Floral Kingdom which has around 8500 plant species. Approximately three quarters of these species are endemic – unique to the area. Table Mountain is a great place to view fynbos – fine bush. The mountain alone has 1470 plant species.
Picture courtesy of AVIVA
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
I happen to know someone in AVIVA and have a relative who did volunteering through AVIVA. Therefore I would recommend that anyone wanting to make a difference or add volunteer work to their CV consider AVIVA. See their logo for the website.
AVIVA have a wide range of volunteer options from working with wildlife, to nature conservation through to learning new skills with children in need or spending time with abandoned babies and children.
You could get up close and personal with a lion, learn to surf, tag a penguin, teach a child how to read or end up falling in love with an abandoned baby. What you will do is make a difference and leave South Africa a better place for your visit.
AVIVA arrange airport transfers, accommodation and they have their own tour bus and shuttle bus so you get to see Cape Town as well. Both accommodation centres have housekeepers as well as laundry and catering facilities. People come from all over the world, are of all ages and all walks of life. Lifelong friendships are formed and some people end up staying far longer than they intended. Many come back year after year.
If you happen to drive into Cape town and you see the huge white dome on the foreshore with Zip Zap circus written on it, that is where children in need are taught to circus arts. Now how cool is that!
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
Since we run a B and B Cape Coast Views we have a fair idea as to what our guests like to see in Cape Town. Most of them want to visit Robben Island and most also want to do Table Mountain. Both those experiences are subject to good weather and are very popular. We advise our guests to get them done early in their holiday to make sure they get tickets and have a spare day in hand should the weather prevent them from doing the trip on the day.
Both these attractions can be booked via the internet and prices at present are R170 for Table Mountain and R200 for Robben Island. Please confirm these prices as they may fluctuate seasonally and for the Soccer Cup period. They can be booked via – Webtickets.
