Enjoy!
First Stop: Two Oceans Aquarium
As you can see here, this is a giant red bus. It is modeled after the famous London style multi-story buses where you can sit on the open top. I (naturally loving adrenaline rushes) opted to sit at the top part of the bus. This is how the bus system works: there are two types of buses Red and Blue. The Red bus takes you around Cape Town (the city only) and takes you to 17 stops, one of which is the table mountain cable car. The Blue bus takes you around the entire peninsula and to two vineyards. My friends and I opted to take the blue bus because we wanted to do a bit of wine tasting :-).
Next stop: Long Street
Cape Town is known for it's party scene. The city boasts one of the most world renown party scenes. I'm not surprised. With how many bars and lively people this place has to offer, it's no wonder CT has that reputation-especially in the summer.
Mount Nelson Hotel
One of the few five star hotels in the city. Extremely expensive. John Lennon stayed here once. It's a ten minute walk from my flat :-)
UCT ( University of Cape Town)
I work for UCT. No, I don't work on the main campus, but I do work for a division of this school. It has a stunning campus and is considered to be the best university in sub-Saharan Africa. It looks nearly carved into the mountains from a distance, so I hope to visit sometime to explore.
3rd Stop: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
One of the most scenic places I have been to so far. The gardens are homes to thousands of different flowers, trees, and various other shrubs. Artist's (local and international) display their work in the gardens (predominantly sculptures) to sell.
Statue of Nelson Mandela
Mandela's Gold
The botanical gardens have a type of flower you won't find anywhere else in the world (pictured above). It's called Mandela's Gold and it looks like a flower of the iris family. It's quite odd and pointy looking, but I took a few pictures anyway. It took twenty years to develop, and because of Mr. Mandela's contribution to humanity, and to the betterment of South Africa, the country awarded him the honor of having the flower named after him, and having a miniature sculpture in his honor in the gardens right next to where the flowers are planted.
It doesn't smell like anything either.
Groot Constantia Winery
As many of you know (and have seen with your own eyes) I am a wine enthusiast. I love wine, especially good wine. Bad wine makes the best sangria, but that is another story for another day. As I have said earlier, this tour takes you to wine country, which Cape Town is world renown for. Today I visited the oldest winery in Africa called Groot Constantia. It was established by some Dutch dude in 1685. If you want to visit the site here it is: www.grootconstantia.co.za. It explains everything and more about the wines they make here. They specialize in white wines and are home to baboons.
Baboons
I saw two while at the winery. They were waltzing around looking for something to entertain themselves. The tour bus warns of feeding or trying to play with them as they are vicious creatures who are terribly intelligent. They have learned how to break into cars and homes, steal purses at lightning speed, and bit small animals and people. People who are designated "baboon watchers" walk around the winery (as well as other parts of the city) with sticks or bicycle tires cut on one side, and twirl them if baboons get too near. The baboons are the size of small children and extremely hairy.
The Cellar. Isn't it beautiful? :)
Each barrel costs about a thousand dollars each and have a life span of 12 years. They are made of french oak, although (apparently) Portugal has the best wine oak in the world.
The Barrel on the left can hold enough wine for you to have a bottle everyday for 36 years!
Wine Tasting!
Wine making is serious business and it takes many years of practice and skill to be able to develop the necessary tools to really know how to make good wine. I obviously opted to taste the wine, and I have to say my favorite are the 1st, 2nd, and last glass from the left (white, cabernet sauvignon, and the constantia port). We learned not only how to distinguish between different types of wine, but also "proper" wine etiquette, as in how to hold the glass, how to drink wine properly, how to "smell" the wine, and why the glass is shaped the way it is. My favorite overall was the constantia port because it is a dessert wine and very sweet.
Wine Country!!
Hout Bay, and Mariner's Wharf
This is on the other wide of the peninsula. Nearby is a township, and the world of birds sanctuary, but my friends and I opted to do those another day when we had more time.
Clifton beach heading to Camp's Bay
Camp's Bay
Dubbed the "Venice Beach, California" of South Africa. It has numerous bars, bistros, restaurants, and beachside entertainment for all. It is also quite scenic as you can see here.
Robben island in the distance
The little black square in the middle of the water is the remains of an old dutch ship that crashed in the late 17th century.
FIFA Stadium
You know what it is. Good year for Spain that's all I gotta say :-)
Marimba
A type of African Music, which consists of tamborines, xylophones, and drums. Such a pleasant sound, and it makes you want to dance. . .
The best way to end a day. Good drinks with good company :)
I had more than just this, because it was a two for one special. These are strawberry daquiri's btw. My friends and I went to Long street to a bar/lounge called "The Neighborhood".
I hope you enjoyed these.
Stay tuned as always.
Carolyn
No comments:
Post a Comment