Gate 1, South Africa - Day 1, Cape Town

Yesterdays flights, Air France, were both fine but really long and we fell into bed at midnight (South African time) after less than 2 hours sleep in the previous 24. We were up at 6am for a 7am briefing and then off on the bus. We are a tour group of 25. According to our guide, Renier, it can have up to 40 people. This way we each have a window seat on the bus.
The plan was to go up Table Mountain first but it was clouded over and we would have very poor views so we delayed that activity for the afternoon and headed for the Cape.

Our first stop was Hout Bay where we were entertained by the Cape Fur Seals.

There was a large one, on the dock, being fed, and you paid for pictures with it

but there were enough just cruising around in the harbour to keep us entranced with their swimming skills.

Its a working fishing harbour

and I stopped to watch

the fish being processed by hand.

It was also our first chance to see the outdoor souvenir stalls; paintings

stone and wood carvings

wooden, painted bowls

ostrich eggs and so much more. Renier assured us we would see it all again.

Tessa, Christine, Kristin and I with Hout Bay in the background.

It is now 10:30pm and I have an alarm set for 6:30am so that's all I can manage for tonight. I have so much more. I have edited my 300 pictures from today down to 200. So there are still baboons and penguins to post about........., just from today!