To the Cape of Good Hope.....
This morning we are off the southwesternmost tip of the African continent. By we, I mean Chris and I. Both Paul and Gary decide they are not up for the trip. I suggest that Paul see a physician before we head off to the middle of nowhere. It would be a great opportunity to get himself righted so he might enjoy the balance of the trip.....We'll see!
I have had a miraculous recovery. While still coughing, I feel constitutionally well. Last night Paul trudged off to Gibsons in the V&A mall (it was almost in Namibia!) and brought us back milk shakes. Never underestimate the power of ice cream.
Captained by Johnny, the bus heads down the coast road which is mostly residential. Tony used to live here as a younger man. His family was in the textile business and had taken a large loan for goods from a South American bank immediately before anti-apartheid sanctions were levied against South Africa. Their business collapsed and they were forced to move. Real estate price today: 5,000,000 Rand......location, location, location.
Lots of beautiful beach suburbs pop up as we journey south. Attracting the vapid, both Will Smith and Nicholas Cage own properties overlooking Camps Bay near Clifton. We are hugging Table Mountain. From this side we can see the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range.
Extending above Camps Bay running in the direction of Hoyt Bay, the range has twelve easily distinguishable peaks, sandstone buttresses in an impressively steep line.
We are crossing over to the False Bay area. Named because Vasco de Gama made a right turn hoping to head up the African Coast only to be stymied when land appeared.
African penguins are our quest today and cute little things they are, sporting a white underbelly and black tailcoats. The white belly helps disguise them from sharks looking up to the sunlit surface. Johnny parks the bus and we trudge off onto the sand. Fortunately, that only lasts for about fifty yards and then there is a path, lined with vendors. Tony was very specific that there would be no shopping until after the penguin experience.
Tickets purchased, we enter the seaside exhibit and walk down a wooden boardwalk through the dunes. Before long a lone penguin pops up. Everyone is taking photos like this was the last bird in existance only to discover that around the bend there are hundreds.
The penguins have a water side colony flanked by rocks resembling beached whales, jumping onto the sand from the sea, waddling all the way. There are moms nesting and some fluffy babies. They are a serene bunch.
There is more than one viewing platform and I like this role reversal shot of the penguins admiring the tourists.
Heading back, Chris and I discover a really nice bricks and mortar store but unfortunately our money is locked up back in the bus.
Now to the Cape of Good Hope. The topography changes the further south we travel. Things are more scrubby, bent by the prevailing wind. The line to enter the park area is very long but moves quickly and we are soon at the parking area. Along the way, we see some baboons, a slightly irritated one bringing up the rear. I can almost hear Tony booming, Come along, now. No diverting!
There are lots of people queuing for a shot of the Cape of Good Hope sign. Designed as a two-sided mirror image, I think the idea was to keep one side empty while those that feel the need for a passionate embrace ( and they are a motley crew today) can use the other side. It took a while to get this passionless shot.
We are surrounded by tide pools, the water at times teal. We climb a stone path leading higher up the ridge for some photos while admiring the surf crashing onto the rocks.
It is a myth that this is the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. This theory was hatched by an explorer who felt the cold water from the Benguela current, originating from Antarctica, mixing with the warm water of the Agulhas current that originates from the east coast of Africa, here at the entry of False Bay.
Winds had pushed the warm water into the bay. The true meeting point is about 100 miles up the eastern coast.
It is only a short distance to Cape Point, at the southwesternmost tip of Africa. Here we lunch at Two Oceans, a lovely restaurant hanging from the cliff above the water. All our meals have been consistently good and this was no exception.
We enter a funicular for the trip to the light house. This is a true funicular, a term they throw around here for almost any conveyance. It is only a short pull up to the rocky top. The views are spectacular. Many of us climb the stone stairs to the base of the light for the best view.
It is getting late but we have another stop to make at the
Kirstenback Botanical Garden. Developed using a grant from Cecil Rhodes, it is nestled at the back side of Table Mountain where the rainfall may approach sixty inches in a good year. It has been a while since they had a good year.
While it is not blooming season and we have the drought to contend with, it is apparent that the garden is very well laid out. Strewn with benches for reflection and paths dotted with incredible sculpture, our passage around the perimeter was somewhat hurried but enjoyable. There is a very nice gift shop here with a variety of goods for sale.
Somehow we missed rush hour and arrive at the hotel around 6:30 PM. I am anxious to see how Paul is doing.
Dr. Tyga, a lanky South African, studied medicine in Belgium, worked with Dr. Christian Barnard for a time and now is part of a practice that just services the hotels.
He arrives at 7:30 AM with a huge suitcase, a mini MASH unit. Paul said he had a thorough examination and dip urinalysis, concluding that bronchitis, enteritis and severe dehydration were the diagnoses.
Paul was left with a thermometer, packets of rehydration salts, probiotics, was told to stop taking Cipro and Immodium and left a schedule to record temps and amount of fluids.
I am off to the grocery store to buy 1.5 liter bottles of water and more ice cream.
Doc will return tomorrow at 7:30 AM.
.
This morning we are off the southwesternmost tip of the African continent. By we, I mean Chris and I. Both Paul and Gary decide they are not up for the trip. I suggest that Paul see a physician before we head off to the middle of nowhere. It would be a great opportunity to get himself righted so he might enjoy the balance of the trip.....We'll see!
I have had a miraculous recovery. While still coughing, I feel constitutionally well. Last night Paul trudged off to Gibsons in the V&A mall (it was almost in Namibia!) and brought us back milk shakes. Never underestimate the power of ice cream.
 |
| Lion's Head Mountain wreathed in clouds |
Captained by Johnny, the bus heads down the coast road which is mostly residential. Tony used to live here as a younger man. His family was in the textile business and had taken a large loan for goods from a South American bank immediately before anti-apartheid sanctions were levied against South Africa. Their business collapsed and they were forced to move. Real estate price today: 5,000,000 Rand......location, location, location.
Lots of beautiful beach suburbs pop up as we journey south. Attracting the vapid, both Will Smith and Nicholas Cage own properties overlooking Camps Bay near Clifton. We are hugging Table Mountain. From this side we can see the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range.
 |
| Camps Bay |
Extending above Camps Bay running in the direction of Hoyt Bay, the range has twelve easily distinguishable peaks, sandstone buttresses in an impressively steep line.
We are crossing over to the False Bay area. Named because Vasco de Gama made a right turn hoping to head up the African Coast only to be stymied when land appeared.
African penguins are our quest today and cute little things they are, sporting a white underbelly and black tailcoats. The white belly helps disguise them from sharks looking up to the sunlit surface. Johnny parks the bus and we trudge off onto the sand. Fortunately, that only lasts for about fifty yards and then there is a path, lined with vendors. Tony was very specific that there would be no shopping until after the penguin experience.
Tickets purchased, we enter the seaside exhibit and walk down a wooden boardwalk through the dunes. Before long a lone penguin pops up. Everyone is taking photos like this was the last bird in existance only to discover that around the bend there are hundreds.
The penguins have a water side colony flanked by rocks resembling beached whales, jumping onto the sand from the sea, waddling all the way. There are moms nesting and some fluffy babies. They are a serene bunch.
There is more than one viewing platform and I like this role reversal shot of the penguins admiring the tourists.
Heading back, Chris and I discover a really nice bricks and mortar store but unfortunately our money is locked up back in the bus.
Now to the Cape of Good Hope. The topography changes the further south we travel. Things are more scrubby, bent by the prevailing wind. The line to enter the park area is very long but moves quickly and we are soon at the parking area. Along the way, we see some baboons, a slightly irritated one bringing up the rear. I can almost hear Tony booming, Come along, now. No diverting!
There are lots of people queuing for a shot of the Cape of Good Hope sign. Designed as a two-sided mirror image, I think the idea was to keep one side empty while those that feel the need for a passionate embrace ( and they are a motley crew today) can use the other side. It took a while to get this passionless shot.
We are surrounded by tide pools, the water at times teal. We climb a stone path leading higher up the ridge for some photos while admiring the surf crashing onto the rocks.
It is a myth that this is the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. This theory was hatched by an explorer who felt the cold water from the Benguela current, originating from Antarctica, mixing with the warm water of the Agulhas current that originates from the east coast of Africa, here at the entry of False Bay.
Winds had pushed the warm water into the bay. The true meeting point is about 100 miles up the eastern coast.
It is only a short distance to Cape Point, at the southwesternmost tip of Africa. Here we lunch at Two Oceans, a lovely restaurant hanging from the cliff above the water. All our meals have been consistently good and this was no exception.
We enter a funicular for the trip to the light house. This is a true funicular, a term they throw around here for almost any conveyance. It is only a short pull up to the rocky top. The views are spectacular. Many of us climb the stone stairs to the base of the light for the best view.
It is getting late but we have another stop to make at the
Kirstenback Botanical Garden. Developed using a grant from Cecil Rhodes, it is nestled at the back side of Table Mountain where the rainfall may approach sixty inches in a good year. It has been a while since they had a good year.
While it is not blooming season and we have the drought to contend with, it is apparent that the garden is very well laid out. Strewn with benches for reflection and paths dotted with incredible sculpture, our passage around the perimeter was somewhat hurried but enjoyable. There is a very nice gift shop here with a variety of goods for sale.
Somehow we missed rush hour and arrive at the hotel around 6:30 PM. I am anxious to see how Paul is doing.
Dr. Tyga, a lanky South African, studied medicine in Belgium, worked with Dr. Christian Barnard for a time and now is part of a practice that just services the hotels.
He arrives at 7:30 AM with a huge suitcase, a mini MASH unit. Paul said he had a thorough examination and dip urinalysis, concluding that bronchitis, enteritis and severe dehydration were the diagnoses.
Paul was left with a thermometer, packets of rehydration salts, probiotics, was told to stop taking Cipro and Immodium and left a schedule to record temps and amount of fluids.
I am off to the grocery store to buy 1.5 liter bottles of water and more ice cream.
Doc will return tomorrow at 7:30 AM.
.
My oh my. Great post. Speedy recovery Pops
ReplyDeleteWhat a cram packed day! Sorry you had to miss it, Skip. Praying for a quick, full recovery.
ReplyDelete