Random thoughts….
Cape Town and the surrounding areas we visited are just gorgeous…from the waterfront to Table Mountain, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape Point/Cape of Good Hope, Franschoek and Stellenbosh (wine country). However, the country has a long way to go to resolve its many problems. Unemployment is at 25%, illiteracy is 23%, and 11% of the population has hiv/aids. On the other hand, Cape Town feels like a big city with a friendly and welcoming vibe nearly everywhere we went. Each of our stopping points had free wi-fi, fabulous staff, and lovely accommodations. From others we talked to however, it is not typical of SA—those who had visited the northern half of the country indicated that there was a third world feel with an entirely different atmosphere from Cape Town and its surrounds. Indeed we saw many impoverished areas near the city, but the overall impression is welcoming, with lots to see and do, and absolute stunning landscapes—though the racial divide still seems quite evident.
We chatted with lots of interesting people from all over the world…a few Americans, but mostly from everywhere else. In addition to native Cape Tonians, we met visitors from India, London, Ireland, France, Scotland, Belgium, Pretoria, Australia, Germany, and more.
Eating: Great service everywhere we ate. Staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. Prices are cheaper than US—only had one dinner that cost over $100 (including tip) though almost all of them would easily have been more than that at home. Recommended tips are only 10% too! Ate lots of fish these ten days including: kingklip (regional favorite), mussels, clams, sole, hake, yellowtail, salmon (almost every morning), white salmon, prawns, sushi.
Overall, a terrific journey and a unique experience! Highly recommended! See next post for a selection of pictures (still narrowing down from the thousand shots--gotta love those digital cameras!)
Restaurants
Baia (decent fish, located in the V&A Waterfront, in the mall)
Panama Jacks (cute place off the beaten track, good fish)
Bayside Café (stumbled in, only fair)
Codfather (fabulous fish platter, no menu—pick from the display, pay by weight, good sushi)
Pepenero (great waiter, beautiful floor to ceiling windows facing the waterfront, though after sunset when we were there,)
Il Leone (terrific pasta)
Willoughbys (yummy sushi)
Tasty breakfasts everywhere we stayed—great homemade breads, lots of salmon. Good desserts everywhere, great sushi, good fish, great service!
Must haves that we remembered to bring:
Extra battery for camera
Power strip for charging 3-4 gadgets
Came in handy:
Cell phone purchased in Cape Town
GPS for rental car (essential!)
Should have brought:
Wool hat
Binoculars
Didn’t need to bring:
Splitter for computer headsets
Headsets (received one on each leg of the flight plus on the Red Bus)
Sunscreen (never used it)
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