In the picture is the new improved Cape Town Central Train Station.
Yet another day of limited internet access for some of us here in South Africa. Affected internet service providers are scrambling to jump aboard with other providers who have spare capacity. The good news, so they tell us, is the Seacom cable will be fixed by next week. Make sure your provider doesn’t use Seacom if you’re heading this way.
Now, I am not meaning to be unkind when I say this but some visitors look so obviously strange. It could be that visitors to Africa feel they need to bring everything but the kitchen sink with them. Just in case.
But … we can’t help but notice people walking about in outfits with a million pockets and zips that can carry it all at once. These outfits usually come in khaki or a camouflage colour and these same visitors walk around with GPS, Swiss army knife, spare tissues, food bars, super duper cameras and God knows what all else.
The sheer weight must be exhausting.
I know that parts of Africa and even parts of South Africa can be rustic. But in big cities like Cape Town we do have food and toilet paper. It’s not necessary to bring it all and carry it all here.
So Paul, the psychic octopus was right. Spain won the game. Wonder if Paul has any views on non-German matches? I would go Google his latest, if only I could. South Africa are into day 4 of an Internet wipe out. Local Internet access such as banking , e-mails and websites are all fine. But anything further than our borders produces an error message. For once we can’t blame ESKOM. This time it’s Seacom who are the culprits. In fact ESKOM have been quite well behaved lately. (My fingers are crossed as I type)
In the picture is guava roll. I’ve never seen dried fruit rolls anywhere else, so try one in your favourite fruit flavour while you are here. Do also try one of our chocolate pinotage wines. No idea how they get that rich chocolaty taste into a red wine but it is yummy. And for a local desert, you could try Malva Pudding. It’s a baked treacle type desert, usually served with custard. Maybe ice-cream with Amarula liqueur? Milk tart is a mix of egg, flour and milk, baked in a pastry and sprinkled with cinnamon. And then Peppermint Fridge Cake is a super sweet indulgence. It’s like Tiramisu but minus the coffee and sherry and with grated chocolate mint crisp in between the layers.
You should be able to find all of these in a local supermarket. Happy tasting!
Last night’s game between Holland and Uruguay was scrappy and the play was muddled. I was expecting more from Holland. This is coming from a brand new expert on soccer.
I have an axe to grind with Uruguay so I was rooting for Holland. But then I would say almost all of the locals and most fans were also on Holland’s side.
Casa Little Brazil was cancelled! Looks like, if the Brazilians can’t win, then they go home. All the South Americans are out of the Soccer Cup now. Paul the psychic octopus says Spain will win tonight. Let’s see.
I was watching the RMS St Helena sail into Table Bay this morning. She has been the only link between the isle of St Helena and the outside world for years. They have no harbour and no airport on St Helena. The RMS St Helena is the last boat to still carry the title RMS. It looks like the St Helena is steaming the wrong way. Even though I have lived in Green Point for a while, I still struggle to get my head around the idea that when I look out to sea, I am facing north. Cape Town faces north rather than south. It’s complicated. You need to look at a map to understand.
We can expect another onslaught of orange on the streets tonight. It’s the first of the semi finals. We’re off to do the fan walk again and will watch the game at Casa Little Brazil. Loads of people are knocking on the door wanting accommodation. One must assume their being here is a last minute decision and that is why they have not pre-booked a place to stay.
I’ve been reading other blogs on the soccer and some people have complained about accommodation. Since we are residents of Cape Town and run a B and B, I can only speak from our perspective.
Most of our guest are a pleasure and we enjoy their take on the soccer. But I will say that the two Canadians who had a food fight in the room and left food and gravy all over the walls and doors was not cool. Oh and the same two spilt red nail polish on the bed linen and carpet. They didn’t appear to bath or shower in three days, wore the same grotty underwear and when they checked out we had to seriously air the room to get rid of their smell. I only wish we could tell what guests will be like in advance.
A sort of blacklist one could refer to.
I sometimes think that one day I should write my version of a B & B Babylon and tell some of the things guests get up to. Would people want to know?
Some soccer games are riveting and others are ho hum. The Germany vs. Argentina game was one of those exciting games. Those Germans are on form. I’m wondering if they could be the next champions. But then Holland are doing well too?
We had plans to go out last night. The traffic was so bad post the Germany vs. Argentina match that after sitting in the car for 20 minutes and hardly moving we decided to give it a miss and turned back home. One thing I won’t miss is the parking and traffic problems we have had here in Green Point.
Two stories making the news are Paris Hilton in a spot of bother over a strange cigarette and the sad story of the Congolese football legend Ndaye “Volvo” Mulamba who now works as a car guard in Cape Town. He fled his war stricken home country when his house was ransacked and his family killed. Apparently he is near destitute today.
I wish the United Nations ruled the world. I wish we all voted for each other’s governments. I wish we had a world wide community that cared for each other. That way war lords and dictators would be squashed by a majority vote and all money and welfare would be fairly divided. People judge Africa harshly but they forget that these war lords and dictators are getting money and weapons from somewhere.
