Buzzing Around The World With Fellette & Doug

TABLE MOUNTAIN...

It is only a name until you have seen it. Cape Town, is Table Mountain.

The Golden Gate, San Francisco; The Opera House, Sydney; Big Ben, London; Table Mountain, Cape Town.
 
We went to bed approaching South Africa from West, this morning we woke up approaching it from the East! I will only assume that the captain did some fancy navigating last night to give the early risers the most magnificient views of this approach to Cape Town. At 6 AM when the coffee arrived, the view on the TV bow camera showed the silhouette of Table Mountain. I hurriedly dressed, grabbed my camera gear and was up top in about five minutes. A blanket of fog with a visibility of less than 100 yards greeted me, fog horn and all. I thought I was dreaming. The wind started to stream the coffee out of my cup as I neared the front of the top deck. A few brave souls were up there eagerly looking for the first glimpse of land in three days. then proceeded back to the cabin for more coffee. I was in the cabin for two minutes when the TV again showed the view we were all looking for. Back out on deck again, this time there it was in all its glory just as the captain had hoped for.
 
We were shortly docked at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Centre, a massive complex of shops and attractions the size of Granville Island. Our favourite fish and chip shop was 100 yards from the ship.

The ship was promptly cleared and people streamed ashore to waiting busses and shops, and a few had waiting friends. Many were off on three day safaris. For the next week or so there will be a fair number of people off the ship on extended excursions.
 
Fellette and I walked off and topped up our cough and cold supplies! That took 10 minutes. We then boarded a hop-on hop-off double decker bus and toured the city and the surrounding area. Downtown, got off and walked the streets where the sound of drumming and stomping greets you on the corners as schools raise money by doing native dancing. No selling cookies or Coupon Books here, you get out and dance! We then walked up Government Lane to the Mount Nelson Hotel. This is also an area that brings back good memories of an earlier trip with friends from Wolverhampton.
 
We jumped on the bus again, the Gateman at the Mount Nelson saluted as we drove by, and got off at The Castle, built in 1666.

It is now well back from the waterfront, but then was on the foreshore, we had lunch and then toured this historic site. We jumped on the bus again and up to the base of the Cablecar to Table Mountain, I splurged for an ice cream but declined to ride up this time, as we had an evening out planned.
 
We eventually wound our way back to the ship where the complex is absolutely teeming with people. It is a Saturday and the locals come here to stroll and eat and enjoy the atmosphere.

I dropped into the local wine shop and bought a bottle of  Vaughan Johnson's "Good Everyday Cape White," $3.00. Eat your heart out AJ. If it is palatable I will spread the word. This is the last stop to get wines at a decent price. Can you imagine the price in Naples?
 
Talk to you later.
 
We are here for three days and there is so much to do I haven't got much time to write!

posted by Doug and Fellette @ 10:36 PM