Green Point lies in the lee of the famous mountain range that includes Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill.
This means that it is relatively protected from the infamous “Cape Doctor” which is a rather strong south-easterly wind. The “Cape Doctor” blows away pollution and gives Cape Town some of the cleanest air in the world.
But it also means that a day out on Camps Bay or Clifton’s beaches can leave you sandblasted. But while those beaches are being battered, the beaches from Granger Bay through to Sea Point can be pleasant as they are protected from the fierce winds.
The Cape Coast is not known as the Cape of Storms for nothing. Many a sailing vessel has come to grief along our coastline.
In this picture you can see the engine block of RMS Athens which still stands off Mouille Point since her demise in The Great Storm on 17 May 1865.
John Dimond wrote in his book on wrecks near Green Point Lighthouse that – a report in local newspaper, The Cape Argus, said “We have since learned that the vessel has entirely broken up, and that not one of her crew has come ashore either alive or dead.”
From 1780 to 1966, Dimond lists 30 wrecks just in the area from Mouille Point to Green Point.
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.
A relative from up north is staying in Cape Town for the month of March. She is taking a gap year and is doing volunteer work. So while in Cape Town, she has been doing a bit of touring with other volunteers, most of whom are from abroad. She said that what stuck in her mind was how surprised visitors are when they see how big Cape Town is. Our statisticss are freely available at www.capetown.gov.za but the 2007 census showed Cape Town had 3,4 million people living in 2, 461 km2. And that same year we had 1,763,631 foreign visitors and 5,5 million local visitors.
While I was going about Green Point taking pics, this guy beckoned me to take a photo of him. As I took aim, he sat up straight in his big vehicle and broke into the most beautiful smile. He wanted to see himself afterwards. Something about being captured on film pleased him. We had a brief chat and he told me his name is Patrick Jack.
That is what I love about my home. The people here are warm and open. We are not a perfect society but there is a palpable warmth about us. It feels like home should.
Green Point Common or the new Urban Park as it is now called hosts a myriad of sporting events.
The area around the common is even wider and incorporates swimming races at sea or to Robben Island as well as various boat races from the Oceana Powerboat Club.
Hamilton’s, one of the oldest rugby clubs in South Africa is a hive of activities most of the time.
Last week Wednesday a block away was the Men’s Health Lighthouse 10 km road running race along The promenade.
This week they are gearing up for the Argus Cycle Tour which is next weekend. The marquee tents are going up and next weekend zillions of people will invade our space.
The million dollar question being asked in South Africa is … how will Bafana-Bafana fare in the Soccer Cup? Will we be proud or die of shame?
Since I know nothing about soccer I have two ways of finding out. I ask people who consider themselves experts and I follow the sports reports, opinions and blogs. Our boys are not in good shape right now. Time spent scrolling through the comments after a Bafana-Bafana game gone wrong is better than a night out at stand up comedy. Disappointed fans give vent to their feelings in the funniest words.
Let’s just say that short of a miracle commensurate with the parting of the water by God for Moses, there is a good chance South Africans are not going to see their team still standing in the finals. Who then do we deem our honorary team so we can feel part of the games?
Photo courtesy Andrew Cross
