The night skies here are are different to those up north. In summer, when we have clear skies most of the time we see the southern constellations – Orion, Pandora’s Box, The Southern Cross and more.
When the moon is full, it is so bright, hikers take a night walk up Lion’s Head. The planetarium which is close to The Company Gardens has a display of the night sky and the constellations for visitors. For a list of other local museums Google IZIKO.
The more serious star gazers might want to take a trip out to Sutherland and the observatory. Sutherland is probably the coldest place in South Africa in winter and not a lot goes on there. Which is why the observatory was built there. Sutherland is in The Karoo, which is semi desert and the landscape is totally different to Cape Town.
Picture courtesy of SA Tourism
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.
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.
