We went out last night to an old time hang out – Quay Four at the V and A Waterfront. Have to say – been there, been there, been there. And it’s always a great night out. It’s not the sort of place where you chat over fine food.
This is more like a boogie, laugh and have loads of fun type of place. The V and A Waterfront has masses of cafes and eateries with views of the boats at work and play. You can find just about anything to eat. Budget conscious diners may want to head to the food hall. The V and A Waterfront is also a shopping centre and has a massive craft market for curio shoppers. Don’t forget the Aquarium, Robben Island ferry and sunset boat tours all kick off from the harbour so you may want to take a full day out.
The Ferris wheel has moved inside the Waterfront and there is an ice rink for the festive season. Visitors from up north might be inclined to give the cold a miss and hang out in the warm sunshine. Visit what’s on in Cape Town for more on what is happening in Cape Town. And don’t forget that one of the two main Tourist Info offices is at the Clocktower at the Waterfront. You will find brochures on all there is to do. Extreme sports, township tours, food routes, hiking trails, pink guides, craft route, whale watching, what to do with kids, museums, winelands, . . . Cape Town has plenty to do. Just make sure you have enough time or you will have to come back.
I have been meaning to go to Mzoli’s for so long now. The thing with being a local is that there is no great rush for me to go anywhere, I can always go next week or the week after, hey I got the rest of my life to get there.
I was so bitterly disappointed when a trendy beach side bar that I had been meaning to visit closed before I got to see it. A friend who is a tour guide suggested we go to Mzoli’s for lunch and I grabbed the chance. I am glad I did a weekday lunch as I have heard Mzoli’s is absolutely packed full on weekends. Jamie Oliver posing in front of Mzoli’s and calling it sexy has helped make it a new must see place in Cape Town.
Lunch Mzoli’s
It’s an affordable day out. You go to the butchery and pick a piece of meat. Accompaniments include pap, steamed bread or umnqusho. I am vegetarian and not partial to pap which is a smooth creamy corn dish. I asked for umnqusho or stamp and beans as it is known in English. It comes with a spicy salsa like salad which is called chakalaka. Yummy stuff! I buy it in tins at the supermarket. My favorite is mild butternut chakalaka. The tinned version is very different to the freshly made chakalaka. But still great.
We bought beers at the bar and relaxed and chatted over our meal. Mzoli’s is in Gugulethu which has a fair amount of informal housing. I love the way old shipping containers are recycled as hair salons. Old corrugated iron is turned into houses. There are even double storey shacks. No wasting going on here. You got to love it!
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.
The weather is warm and summer is almost upon us. Typical daytime temperatures for Cape Town in November are early 20’C with sunny days and cool evenings. The weather warms up progressively with February and March being the hottest months. Cape Town has a distinctly Mediterranean climate.
Today was the South African Toy Run®. Not unique to South Africa but similar in concept to other Toy Runs. Locals gathered in 19 centres across the country to drive in convoy and donate toys for underprivileged children.
The topic on every one’s lips here continues to be the murder of Anni Dewani, wife of Shrien Dewani. Most of us have had calls from friends and relatives abroad who have been swayed by the negative publicity this sad event has generated. It’s turning into a media mess of accusations and slurs.
Dr Danny Jordaan said before the 2010 Soccer World Cup, “South Africa has hosted more than 150 major events since 1994, including the Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup and the Indian Premier League, after India was deemed unsafe … and there was not a single incident.” Soccer World Cup 2010 attracted half a million visitors who came and left without incident. I do not believe the derogatory comments in the press about South Africa and it’s people are justified or warranted.
The usual top five must-sees in Cape Town are:-
1. Table Mountain Park and cable car
2. Robben Island and V and A Waterfront
3. The Cape Peninsula and Cape Point
4. Kirstenbosh Botanical Gardens
5. The Winelands
It’s what all our B and B guests come to see. That is apart from soccer during the Soccer World Cup. Needless to say these excursions are very popular. A word of advice. Book trips like Robben Island and Table Mountain in advance if you can at webtickets. That way you can avoid the queues and hopefully make sure you get to see them. One more word of advice. Check the weather before you head out. If the weather is wet and windy, phone first. Both Robben Island ferry and Table Mountain cable car do not run in bad weather
One of Cape Town’s not to miss experiences is the glorious sunsets. A stroll along Sea Point Promenade is a perfect way to observe the fiery skyline. Or you could find a place anywhere along the coastal road to stop and sip a cocktail with the setting sun as an accompaniment. Just be aware that the new drink driving laws are being enforced with a vengeance.
The association with crime and South Africa has been brought up again with the murder of Anni Dewani, wife of Shrien Dewani, in Cape Town. A few posts back I said that crime almost always occurs in hot spots and that plain common sense should keep you safe.
The international media have had a field day with the story. UK journalists had a go at our national police commissioner Bheki Cele. “Can you assure us no other tourists will get killed?” was apparently asked of him.
I do think it incumbent on tourists to observe basic safety protocol. Surely that should apply no matter where you travel? With regard to this story there are a good few things I would never have done. I am fairly certain that the 5 star hotel where they were staying would also have offered good advice.
I would not go to a hot spot at 11.00pm at night. I would only travel to a hot spot with an approved driver or tour guide. I would never go to a hot spot with a stranger. I would know exactly where I was going and would in all likelyhood have known that the restaurant they were looking for was closed. I know that I would never have been in that car, with that person, in that place, at that time. Never!
That’s not to say I have never been to a township or that I don’t go out. I have and I do. Locals are watching this case unfold. We would also like to know what happened. Visit our webiste for all the best safety and travel tips we have come across. Click here – health, safety, travel and money saving tips.
