We didn’t initially think of going to Dubai. However, since Emirates Air appear to be one of the better and more affordable airlines for economy class flights, we decided to throw in a three day stop-over in Dubai en route to London. It must be oil money offsetting the price, as the saving was substantial.
Also helping us to make our choice was a chance to spend time with family who live there.
Mosque, Dubai
Our flight didn’t disappoint. Emirates Air on-board entertainment has a selection of nearly everything from current and classic movies to Best-of TV shows past and present. The music selection was massive ranging from country music, the latest chart offerings through to solid rock numbers.
The seating space seems roomier than other airlines, which helps on a long haul flight. Not that Dubai is too far from Cape Town; our flight was 8 and ½ hours. They gave out warm cloths to freshen up before we left and a copy of the menu with 4-course meals. I had the vegan meal and my other half had a low calorie, low cholesterol meal. We also had some lovely French wine with our meal. We didn’t sleep much as the flight wasn’t long enough. I watched Slumdog Millionaire and my other half watched re-runs of Fools and Horses.
Fake ski resort, Dubai
We arrived in Dubai Airport at 05.00 am. We had booked into Ibis Hotel in Deira and we were told a shuttle bus ran from the airport to the hotel. Our bus driver arrived after about ½ hour and took us to the hotel. We were very early but they agreed to check us in at 10.00 am so we had a snack in the reception area while we waited.
We paged through tour brochures and probably picked the same tours as everyone else. They all had variations on the much the same thing. As we made our choice of tours we sat watching people with mounds of bags check into the hotel. It never ceases to amaze us how much luggage people travel with. We always stick to the limit for fear of penalties, yet we saw people staggering under their luggage. How do they get away with it?
Beach, Dubai
Once checked in, we freshened up and had a short sleep. I had been to Dubai before in June and the heat and humidity was particularly uncomfortable. I was pleased that in the last few days of April it was warm but not unbearable. Next, our tour guide for the Dubai City Tour collected us. We soon realised that all tour guides in Dubai are always foreigners.
In fact the only jobs the Emiratees seem to hold are in government, banks or shareholders in business. What was even more surprising is the Emiratees only make up only 20% of the total population of Dubai. The rest are workers and “ex pats”. Asians from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and those regions make up 50% of Dubai’s people and the final 30% of the population are Europeans, Australians, and South Africans etc.
Foreigners come across for work and money opportunities. They pay tax, for water, for education, and the usual things one would expect. Most people working in Dubai earn good money but the cost of living is high. Conversely the Emiratees don’t pay tax and get state grants for just about everything. Truth is they don’t have to work and one can’t help but wonder if any do as they fill the millions of shopping malls all hours of the day and night.
Outside a souk, Dubai
Dubai likes to think of itself as a shopping destination. And if shopping is your thing, you’re in the right place. There are many shopping malls with the same shops. The usual big names like Gap, H&M, Next, Benetton and even the South African store Woolworth was there but with signage in Arabic. The high-end shopping malls have designer stores with luxury goods. There is even a shopping mall with a ski resort in the middle. We watched people going up ski lifts in real snow through the glass windows.
All the shopping malls we went to were spotlessly clean and air-conditioned with plenty of coffee shops. The sight of the Emiratee people sipping coffee in their traditional clothing is a common one. The men wear a white dishdasha robe with a checked or white headdress. The woman cover up in a black abaya with a black headdress and sometimes even a black facemask or a burka.
In closing the three part series on Cape Town, here are a few things to try or places to visit while you are in Cape Town.
1. Go for afternoon high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel or The Nelly as she is known locally. Mount Nelson
2. Visit Atlas Trading, Wale Street, Bo Kaap for an incredible selection of spices, incense and more.
3. The organic food and craft market at the Neighbourgoods Market in Salt River, or the City Bowl
Market, Hope Street. Get there early. They can get seriously crowded. neighbourgoods market city bowl market
Long Street
4. A leisurely stroll along Lower Main road in Observatory for bric-a-brac, old books, anything. It’s a great place to pass time.
5. Green Point flea market and Milnerton market late Sunday mornings.
6. Coffee at Giovanni’s Deli in Green Point, they’re open early till late. They make the best coffee and their deli foods are to die for. Think balsamic roasted onions, aubergine carpachio, delicious chocolates and sumtuous wines.
7. Join the crowd and do a “full moon” hike up Lion’s Head if you around during a full moon. view from Lions Head
8. Find healthy fast food outlets Kauai or Osumo across Cape Town. Kauai menu
9. The funky fashion and food vendors along Long Street and surrounding streets.
10. A curry or roti at Biesmiellah, Wale Street, Bo Kaap. Biesmiellah menu
And lastly some unique South African foods to look for when shopping or eating out: –
Volvo Race V and A Waterfront
1. Rooibos tea with Ouma buttermilk rusks. Dip the rusks in your tea. That’s how it’s done.
2. For a local sweet treat try Melktert, Koeksisters or Malva pudding.
3. For a dried meat snack, biltong and droewors are favourites. Also available in exotic meats such
as kudu and ostrich.
4. Smoked snoek and curried fish are local fish favourites. You can buy tinned curried fish at the
supermarkets.
5. Waterblommetjie bredie is a type of curry made with a local plant/flower as the main ingredient.
6. Mrs Ball’s chutney is a fruit condiment somewhat similar to Branston pickle.
7. Frikadelle and boerwors are cooked typical meatballs and sausages.
8. Ostrich meat is dark, low in fat and tastes quite different. Try it as a steak, sausage or burger.
Rock formation on Table Mountain
9. Mealie meal or pap and umngqusho (nush) are both polenta type meal accompaniments.
10. Potjiekos is a slow cooked meat and vegetable stew made in a cast iron pot.
11. Pepperdews are a pickled capsicum/cherry tomato hybrid. Heaven on a pizza or in a salad.
12. South Africa wines. Even the bad wines are good.
13. Buchu brandy. A revitalising remedy used by the San people and early settlers.
The Waterfront and Robben Island
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a massive shopping and dining warehouse in the harbour. Since it is a working harbour you can observe fishing boats, cruise liners, tugs and other working boats. It also has boat tours that will take you whale watching, fishing or on a sunset cruise.
If you plan to visit Robben Island, be sure to get in the queue early or you may be disappointed. Book tickets on-line to save time here – webtickets. You will also find the Two Oceans Aquarium at the Waterfront. They have over 3000 sea creatures including sharks. For more go here – aquarium.
Visit the massive craft market in the Red Shed and watch live demo’s by the craftsmen and women. There is a link for more here – waterfront. If you love crystals, visit Mineral World opposite where they have rocks and semi precious stones. At night you can enjoy fine dining and live music right next to the harbour and watch the seals lounging in the water. Robben Island takes its name from “robbe”, which are seals in Afrikaans.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Market off Long street
You will either need to book a bus or hire a car to get there. South Africans love their great outdoors and from the activities on offer here this is evident. Apart from a chance to wander around the gardens and see over 2500 indigenous plants, you can enjoy an al fresco breakfast in one of the restaurants, take a hike up the mountain or enjoy the sunset and a live open air concert with a picnic basket. Find out who is playing on this link – Kirstenbosch summer concerts.
The Cape Peninsula and Cape Point
Cape of Good Hope
This scenic day out is reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast in Italy. The roads are believed to have been built by Italian prisoners of war. It’s a round trip from the city along the one side of the peninsula to Cape Point and back along the other side of the peninsula. Beautiful seaside scenery and fishing harbours are scattered along both the False Bay Coast and the Atlantic Coast. Cape Point is where the two oceans meet. It’s a busy day with antique shops, shark and whale watching, maritime museums, baboons, shipwrecks, designer craftsmen, famous local penguins and lots of fabulous seafood. You can do part of this trip by train from Cape Town but it doesn’t go all the way to Cape Point. Best to book a coach trip or hire a car for the day.
The Winelands
Metropolitan golf course
If the previous day out had an Italian feel to it, this area has a French flavour. Some of the early settlers were French Huguenots and many place names such as Franschoek hint at their influence. They even celebrate Bastille Day. This is another full day out and if you want to taste the wines, book a tour so you can relax and not worry about driving.
The wine farms are quite a way out of the city and there are various wine routes. The wine estates go back eras and are steeped in history. Many of them have elegant dining and award winning chefs. And of course they supply exquisite wines to go with the meals. Much of the architecture is the old Cape Dutch style with elegant curved gables and thatched roofs. Wine estates are often nestled in the mountains surrounded by vineyards.
Bo Kaap
People can be put off coming to South Africa because they have heard of local crime. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which gives advice to travellers says the following, “More than 460,000 Britons visit South Africa every year. Most visits are trouble-free.” Crime tends to happen in hot spots so if you are not sure, ask someone. South Africans will happily give you assistance or advice. For health and safety tips have a look at this post – Cape Town health and safety tips. And for even more tips to make the most of your time in Cape Town follow this link – 20 best travel tips for visitors to Cape Town
Cape Town is more European than the rest of South Africa. You may want to plan another trip inland where the look and feel is completely different. A bush safari or game lodge stay are not to be missed experiences.
Cape Town is a beautiful city with majestic mountains, soft white beaches, vineyards, bustling vibrant night-life, top quality restaurants, shopping and an exchange rate that makes it all affordable. It’s the African Riviera.
Average temperatures are around 26’C and you can enjoy 10 hours of sunshine a day in summer. You won’t have to contend with searing heat or cloying humidity. The climate allows you to comfortably enjoy many outdoor activities. The best time of the year to visit, is from September to April.
Car hire and shuttle services are easily available and affordable. If you want to include a GPS, rather hire from the mobile phone companies than the car hire companies. Follow these links for more – road trips and getting about. Choose the MyCiti bus for your airport transfer. They are well priced, fast and easy to use – airport transfer.
V and A Waterfront
You are likely to experience a typical warm and friendly welcome right from the start of your trip. South Africans are known for their friendliness so don’t be surprised if they chat to you as if they know you.
The standard of food and accommodation in South Africa is good. Click on this link for a feature on accomodation – Cape Town accomodation.
It’s ideal to base yourself in the City Bowl or Atlantic Seaboard as the best selection of beaches; restaurants and shopping are all in or near the city area. Getting around the city is a breeze in a Rikki, which is a vibrant coloured, well priced, London style cab, read more here – Rikkis cabs. Avoid mini bus taxi’s unless you are with someone who knows them and their routines well.
Boulders Beach
Eating out is diverse from high end and classy to fun and funky. Check out the Eat Out and Dining Out websites if you need ideas. And if you can’t bear to move after a long day on your feet then why not let Mr Delivery bring restaurant food to you.
The must see places in Cape Town are: –
1. The City Centre, Camps Bay, the local beaches and Table Mountain
2. The Waterfront and Robben Island
3. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
4. The Cape Peninsula and Cape Point
5. The Winelands
The pink district
To plan your days wisely, first visit the city tourism offices. You will find one on the corner of Bree Street and Castle Street in the city and the other tourism office can be located at The Clock Tower Gallery in The Waterfront.
A Cape Town version of Time Out Cape Town magazine is also a handy source of information. There is so much to do that it would be advisable to allow a good few days in Cape Town. The big advantage of the favourable exchange rate is that you can also including a spa day to make your stay that extra bit special. See more here – spa break in Cape Town.
Simonstown Yacht Club
If you are after more action then you could try shark cage diving or for something authentic try a township tour. See – Mzolis. Do check the weather as the cable car and ferry don’t go out in rough weather but that seldom happens. Follow this link for more links to outdoor activities – what to do outdoors in Cape Town.
Alcohol is not available for sale after hours and on Sundays in South Africa unless at a venue with a shebeen license. Not all petrol vendors accept credit cards, so make sure you have cash for the payment.
The City Centre and Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a world heritage site with over 22 000 species of “fynbos” and unique fauna. You can walk up or you take the rotating cable car but make sure you get in the queue early and dress warmly. There are a number of walks on and around Table Mountain, some of which are only for the fit and adventurous. The cable car is half price after 18.00 pm and you may want to take a picnic basket and watch the setting sun over the city. At night the city lights twinkle from the mountain. For links to hikes and walks go here – day walks in Cape Town and walking on Table Mountain.
Cape Point
You could end your day on the beach with a sunset picnic. Camps Bay beach and Clifton’s coves, called 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th beaches, lie on the other side of the mountain. If you are after a cocktail there are stylish cafes and bars where beautiful people show themselves off opposite Camps Bay beach. The local nudie beach is called Sandy Bay and is further out in Llandudno. No alcohol is permitted on public beaches.
Camps Bay beach
Long Street area has a host of restaurants, funky fashion boutiques, vintage clothing stores, curio shops and vendors of tourist items such as scooters and bicycles. Take time to wander about the museums amid the original Cape Dutch architecture. At the end are the old public swimming baths and following on with the road up Kloof Street is more of the same. Do visit Wellness Warehouse at The Palms shopping centre. Wellness Warehouse is a shrine to all things organic and their buffet meals and fresh juices are sublime. Visit their website here – Wellness warehouse.
At night you will find clubs, pubs, live music and stand-up comedy on Long Street. The gay nightlife is in the Waterkant and Green Point areas. Also known as the pink district.
