What to do in Cape Town? I think enough has been said about the usual physical activities. Although we also have some novel adventures such as dune boarding, mountain abseiling and shark cage diving.
Eating out is usually very good value and local wines are exceptionally well priced. Service is mostly good.
Try visiting the local food and eco markets such as The Neighbourgoods Market or Wellness Warehouse.
With such great weather we have live music al fresco at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Pack a picnic basket and get there early. We also have the outdoor Shakespeare festival at Maynardville. Same thing, pack a bottle of wine and some snacks to enjoy before the show. And if you are here around about full moon, then a full moon hike up Lion’s Head is a must. Again, pack a picnic backpack and get there early or you won’t get parking.
Since I live in Green Point, it is the centre of the world. Well my world anyway. And since the stadium is so close, all that happens there is right in my face. Yesterday was the 3rd attempt to place an even bigger crowd into the stadium. It was a spiritual festival of sorts. I could hear voices and music throughout the course of the day. A kind of backdrop to the other usual noises.
But later in the day when I tried to go to the gym the traffic was bumper to bumper. But then with most of the roads “under construction” – I suppose that is to be expected.
On the other side of the mountain is the centre of another life. This picture of penguins wandering about Boulders Beach in Simonstown. Traffic jam! What’s that?
Photo courtesy of Jemma Fletcher
Many roads are still a long way from ready. In the picture is the road to Green Point Soccer stadium. Well where the road will be one day. Green Point Common is looking a lot like this. A lot of Cape Town is “under construction” right now.
Our soccer stadium is ready. We’ve had two trial runs with a soccer match and a rugby match. Next up is a spiritual festival expected to pull the biggest crowd to date.
The new urban park is getting there fast. I see workers out early in the day and still at it late at night. I see them weekends too. This city is hell bent on being brand new come June this year.
New roads, new stadium, new parks, new cafes and eateries, new transport services, new, new, new …
I just hope I can still find familiar places and spaces when they are done. That we can be the same, only different.
London, Paris, New York, Cape Town. They are all art filled, culturally rich cities. Cape Town manages to be African but compared to Durban or Jozi it is very European in feel. Chapman’s Peak Drive was built by the Italian prisoners of war and feels like the Amalfi Coast. The residents of Franschoek – French corner – celebrate Bastille Day.
Many residents have migrated here from up north for reasons as varied as the laid back lifestyle to the excellent weather. Cape Town enjoys an average of 10 hours of sunshine and 26’C in summer.
