Dec 9, 2009

South Africa - Part 2

After an unforgettable couple of days in Zambia, we embark on our next adventure - the tre chic and very European city of Cape Town, and its surrounding coastal towns. What a phenomenal treat! Cape Town is like no other city we had visited before, more like a combination of various cities fused into one. Think Rio, Barcelona, San Francisco, London and Denver morphed into a unique, culturally diversified with a tumultuous, but very interesting history - that in a nutshell is Cape Town.


We arrived to our place of stay to find a Cape colonial Victorian from the 1940's turned Boutique Spa Hotel, and were instantly smitten. Welgelegen Guest House, which in Afrikaans literally means "well situated"; was centrally located, incredibly comfortable and catered to any and every individual need. The manager - Fiona - made sure to personally introduce herself and offer her services every single morning. From the mini bar stocked full with fine wines, cheeses, chocolates and champagne, to the complimentary laundry service and fantastic breakfast spread every morning (this is not your typical continental breakfast) we couldn't be more pleased! Highly, highly recommended and well worth the price!

We were told weather in Cape Town is quite unpredictable due to ocean currents from two opposing body of waters that envelop the area, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, respectively. However, on our first full day there we awoke to gorgeous sunny rays and warm winds - the perfect time to visit the famed Table Mountain. Our hotel was located within 10 minute driving distance from the beautiful flat-topped summit from which views of the cape are unparalleled.


The climbing of this precipice is not for the faint-hearted or out of shape. It is an intense, 3 hour, uphill crawl, I mean climb :) And my goodness was it worth all the blood, sweat and tears!












After that climb, we decided taking the table car down was a wonderful idea!



We explored the Water Front, ate incredible sea-food and drank great mojitos, took romantic strolls through the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, drove down the Cape to explore False Bay, Cape Point and Boulder's beach where beautiful black and white birds made for perfect company...
















Love when my "strong and silent type" hubby occasionally shows his Silly Shenanigans




Here are more of our favorite captures from this amazing City and surrounding areas:






































































































Next up, Part 3, More of The Cape and Wine Country...