Three weeks ago I was wondering if we would ever get rain. Today I am wondering if it will ever stop raining.
Winters here in Cape Town start late and can be seriously damp. We live in the Cape of Storms and every year we have a couple of hectic gales that lash and bash our city. In the picture is an old building and I recall a few years back coming up the road to find the roof in the middle of the road.
Luckily we never get the very worst of it as Green Point is somewhat sheltered by the mountain. When it blows on the foreshore trucks are felled and ladies skirts blow up around their ears. The foreshore is a 2 km strip of reclaimed land. The original city stopped at the castle but between 1930 and 1940 they created the harbour and area where the convention centre now stands.
Here are some foods you should consider trying while in South Africa. First up is a Pepperdew. It’s a tomato come chilli hybrid that we eat on pizza, in salads or mixed into a dip. It has a slight bite from the chilli mixed with the sweetness of tomatoes.
Other foods to try if you get the chance are a Potjie (little pot) which is a whole meal slow cooked in a cast iron pot on a fire. Maybe consider ostrich meat which is very low in fat? Try it as a steak or sausage.
Rusks are a sort of not too sweet, chunky biscuit that we dunk in tea and eat soggy. It’s not rude to do that here and it tastes a lot nicer that it sounds.
We call a barbecue a braai. A braai is a weekend institution and most weekends on a sunny day the aroma of meat on a fire pervades the suburbs.
A bredie is a stew and we have one called Waterblommetjie Bredie. Little waterflower stew. They taste much like green beans.
You could also try pap or umngqusho and gravy. I can’t pronounce umngqusho, it’s full of clicks in Xhosa. Just say nush and people will understand you. Pap is usually served crumbly and similar to polenta. Umsgqusho is a sticky bean and corn side dish that we eat as others do mash potato. I buy it ready-made in a can at the local supermarket. Happy tasting!
The night life in Cape Town pretty much happens down Long Street.
By day, Long Street, which as it happens is a very long street, is a bevy of cafes, trendy boutiques, curios, vintage and antique shops.
But at night, Long Street really comes alive. Clubs, pubs, restaurants and bars all vie for business.
One of my favourites is Zula Bar and their C.O.M.E. or Comedy on Monday Evenings. You can learn so much about the collective culture of people from stand up comedy. Find out who the line up is on their web page.
The Waterfront, Green Point, Waterkant area and sections of the city also have nocturnal activities. From the usual to the unusual. Drum cafes, jazz bars, art classes, theatre, ballet, art film houses, circuses and cocktail bars. Trawl the Time Out on-line guide. Cape Town is a featured city. Click here Time Out Cape Town.
The global recession has hit some countries hard. While we are not immune to the effects of the economic downturn, we’re not suffering quite as badly as some. There are many reasons.
One reason is we have a stable banking system. There are acts in place to protect us from borrowing money we cant afford to repay. We have been lucky that our banks have not collapsed as has occurred in some parts of the world.
We are a mineral rich region. South Africa exports a variety of produce from gold, diamonds and minerals to wine, fruit and vegetables.
Another reason is that we are an emerging economy and the standard of living for many is still not as high as some parts of the world.
Our currency also makes us an excellent value destination for tourists and shoppers. Tourism is a major source of revenue here. Visitors can experience a safari holiday with game, a sun and powder beach holiday or a wine farm and gourmet food meander. Scenic drives taking in regions such as Route 62 or the Garden Route provide visitors with a chance to experience breathtaking natural beauty and our warm hospitality.
South Africa has 29 Blue Flag beaches. The two closest to Green Point are Camps Bay Beach and Clifton’s 4th Beach. Clifton has a series of coves which are called 1st Beach, 2nd Beach, 3rd Beach and 4th Beach. You walk down a lot of stairs to get to those coves so make sure you don’t pack too big a bag. Coming back up all those stairs may prove a challenge. Our nude beach is a bit further along towards Llandudno and is called Sandy Bay. You can see the wrecks of the Antipolis and the Romelia out that way. Alcohol is not permitted on our beaches.
In the picture is a Biltong Bar. Biltong is a local delicacy. It is a cured, dried meat. I am going to admit that as a vegetarian of 30 years now, the only time I ever wish I ate meat is when there is biltong around. I am immune to the smell of a roast or a BBQ but biltong still smells good to me. Locals take their biltong very seriously. It comes in game or regular meats and it can be wetter or drier. The spices vary considerably and the length the meat has aged all affect the flavour and thus individual preference.
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.
