Cape Town IV - Part 1

The thing I like best about visiting Cape Town this time of year is the weather. After the dark wet winter we get at home it is great to experience some summer sunshine so early in the year. 2009 has been no exception and I am sitting here posting to this blog from my sister-in-law's house in Plumstead.

The journey here was blissfully uneventful and went rather quickly in fact. We picked up the hire car and headed for N's Mom's place... and promptly crashed out - well I did, N went and had her hair done at Maybert's. Day 2 and we met up with MO, JO and GO for a trip across to Robben Island - where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated between 1964 - 1982. Visitor's are taken around the island on a coach which stops every so often for the tour guide to explain various details about the island and famous South African historical figures. The guy we had was irritating and spoke in a deliberate melodramatic style, his voice ascending and descending in a way that began to wear a bit thin after a while. The guide we had at the actual prison (a former political inmate) was actually quite a bit better and explained the set up quite well. We saw inside Mandela's cell and I took the customary photos. Afterwards it was a quick walk back to the quayside where we caught the catamaran ferry back to Cape Town.

Dinner that 2nd evening was spent at the Waterfront at one of the excellent Ocean Basket restaurants where I deftly scoffed a platter for one (or was it two!)

Day 3 - Was predominantly spent shopping (after breakfast/brunch at the Deerpark) for a special braai prepared by my sister-in-law (LAB) and her husband (big C). Little C came with... to the shops and whilst N and LAB did the shopping I pushed little C around in her pushchair. We picked up the Ls (or ARSEY to give them a collective name) at 7pm and brought them back to Plumstead. MO, JO, GO, NS and TS along with Mom and GC also came along to make the evening complete. The chocolate brownie dessert was exquisite well done LAB!

Day 4 - Began with N and I on a mission to pick up some kids toys from a supplier and taking them to Mom's shop at Pinelands. After that it was a quick drive back to rendezvous with LAB who took us to see the cricket at Newlands. South Africa v Australia in a one day international... this was the first time I have been to a big cricket game and I was actually quite impressed. To be honest I have usually found cricket boring but as this was under a limited number of overs it made things especially exciting and naturally the batsman throw caution to the wind when they near the end of the innings. South Africa eventually won which was quite satisfying especially as the Australians are notorious as being sore losers.

Day 5 (Good Friday) - Another late start for me... I always manage to sleep well in SA - mind you I manage to sleep well anywhere these days! After the obligatory quick visit with N to the local shops (accompanied by my niece little C) we had a lunch of pickled fish and hot cross buns... a strange combination but one that is traditional in these here parts. We met up with my father-in-law and his wife A at LAB's and that is where we are now as I write this post...

To be continued...