Gate 1, South Africa Day 2, Cape Town

We were able to sleep a little later today as the bus didn't leave until 7:45 today. But first the hotels amazing breakfast.

We are staying at the Radisson Blu Residences and Hotel and there is a buffet breakfast that is part of our package. This is the fruit, cheese and meat section.

There is a hot crepe station with sauces, fresh vegetables and cottage cheese.

Freshly squeezed orange juice, other juices and liquid yoghurt.

Cereals and dried fruit and nuts.

Hot dishes containing; potatoes, baked beans, scrambled eggs, sausages and bacon.

Breads and pastries

A coffee machine that makes a very acceptable latte. You can also ask the chef to make a fresh omelette or eggs benedict.

 Back onto the bus and obviously we were not going to Table Mountain today; low cloud and drizzle!

We were driven around Cape Town, landmarks pointed out, some were  attractions like museums and galleries, others were necessities; closest pharmacy, good restaurants etc. This is the fort built by the Dutch East India Company. It used to be right on the sea front (in fact spring tides and storms would flood it) but is now well back from the reclaimed shore line.

In the foreground is the moat of the fort, then our bus and behind that "The Parade", the large square where the people gathered to hear Nelson Mandela's speech when he was released from prison. You can see the low hanging cloud.

The bus dropped us off to walk up to the Company Gardens, the central city park. "The Company" refers again to the Dutch East India Company.

There are many examples of Victorian architecture in the city.  Renier talked about the history of conflict between the Dutch traders and the indigenous people, between the Dutch and the British and the utilization of Malaysian slaves. He has spoken briefly about the democracy that was established in 1994 and the different peoples of the country (whites, blacks, coloured, malaysian, Indian)

We had to ask permission to walk up to the park as a film crew was set up. We walked past tents holding period costumed extras staying dry and old American cars. Note the Alabama license plate. Turns out they were filming an episode of Dr Who.

Hadada Ibis. We were rained on, off and on, while walking through the park.

It had originally been the fruit and vegetable garden for the Dutch South Africa Company and was worked by the slaves. This is the slave bell. From the bus we were able to see the Malaysia area of Cape Town, where the slaves moved to when they were freed. The houses are all painted in bright colours, streets are cobbled and it has a real neighbourhood feel to it.

Egyptian Geese. Renier compared these to Canada Geese in that, although they can migrate, they stay wherever there is ample food.

Stopping at the beach was on our itinerary but no-one was interests as it was windy and raining.

Next we walked around the Victoria and Alfred waterfront area.

Lots of boats, converted warehouses, shopping, restaurants, cinemas. On a nice day I am sure it would be hopping especially as it is Sunday and everywhere else is closed. People don't work on Saturday afternoon or Sunday here.

I think these are Cape Cormorants, nesting on one of the piers.

The Shimansky diamond store had a small museum and

we learned about how diamonds were formed, where they were found and (a pretty "whitewashed" version , to quote Christine) the history of diamond mining in South Africa. Really their hope was to sell us diamonds so they weren't going to tell us anything terrible.

The work area were we heard about the cutting process. We then had juice or wine and the opportunity to buy. We didn't!

While waiting for the diamond shoppers, I wondered into an art gallery. This is Beachcomber by Kim Mobey.

Celestial Horse by Weesnthal and Presloo has pegasus on one side and the stars as seen from Table Mountain on the other.

This artist, Boyce Magandella, painted on blankets; After the Shopping.

and Homecoming.

I came back to the hotel on the bus while Chris, Jason, Tessa, Kristin and Noah stayed down at the waterfront to do some shopping and have sushi for lunch.

Tessa and my hotel room. Very modern in design and decor.

Although Renier is upset by the rain (because he anticipates we are upset by the rain and it makes some of our activities impossible or uncomfortable) I suspect most here are glad to see it. There is an extreme water shortage and everywhere there are signs encouraging conservation of water.

A timer in our shower. This time of year rain is very unusual (it usually comes in the winter) although the wind is normal.

It is normal, in hotels, now, that they request that you re-use towels but they take it to the next level here; Save lives.

Gate 1, South Africa - Day 1, Cape Town cont.

After leaving Hout Bay we drove along a very narrow, twisty road beside the Atlantic that is often closed due to landslides. It was Saturday and there were many runners and cyclists enjoying the opportunity to train for an upcoming cycle race and marathon that will be held on that route in the next few months.

My pictures are not very good for this section as the clouds were rolling in from the ocean and creeping up the headlands.

There was an ostrich farm just before the turn for the Nature Preserve and we had a brief opportunity to take pictures. As it happened we did actually see a wild ostrich in the preserve.

There was a huge fire last year in the Preserve and thousands of acres are currently rock and burnt bushes with some areas beginning to green up.

Beside the road, baboons. We had to take pictures through the bus windows as they are clever and quite aggressive. Renier said that they can open car doors, get in and close the door. He once had one get onto the minibus he was guiding and had quite the time getting rid of him.

They equate humans with food and will not only get into vehicles but will also get into homes, making quite a messy nuisance of themselves.

The weather began to clear and the Atlantic took on a beautiful blue.

Our next opportunity to get of the bus was at the Cape of Good Hope (originally named the Cape of Storms by the first Portuguese navigator who declared that it was impossible to reach India that way). Two currents collide here creating storms and difficult navigation.

Foliage here is low to the ground and scrubby due to the frequent strong winds.

It was low tide and we could see extensive kelp beds,

seals

and Greater Crested Terns

Next stop; Cape Point

and a walk up to the original lighthouse.

After one too many shipwrecks it was determined that this lighthouse was too often shrouded by clouds and one was built lower down.

From up there, there were lovely views up the coast and in to False Bay.

Back on to the bus

we slowed down past another troop of baboons. This one had a large male

and many babies

on their mothers backs.

The baboons were drinking the water that had leaked from vehicles air conditioning, on to the road. South Africa's drought has probably bought about this behaviour.
One of the nice things about our guide, Renier, is that he will change the itinerary on the fly. He decided that rather than rush us at the penguin beach we would eat lunch a little earlier.

Salad, grilled sea bass and a local pudding with custard.

Kristin and Tessa. We had a brief opportunity to "paddle" in the ocean at the busy public beach next to the restaurant.

Noah and Jason opted to swim.

A short walk took us to the Boulders Penguin Colony at Foxy Beach.

These were the "greeters", the first 2 we saw as we walked down the boardwalk.

I will apologize at this point. You may want to skip on as I took tons of penguin pictures

They were just so appealing

2 breeding pairs of African Penguins were moved to this location in 1982 and the colony has thrived.

They moult during December and mate and begin nesting from |January on.

Part of the beach appeared to have nests but I saw no indication of eggs yet.

There were some young, brown and fuzzy, birds in evidence.

but most were in their distinctive

black and white plummage

just going about their daily business

while we, up on the boardwalk,

clicked away like crazy.

Most were on the beach or on the rocks

but some were in the water.

where they fish for squid, pilchards and anchovies, swimming at an average speed of 7km/hr.

Goodbye to the greeters

and back to the bus

The original plan had been to take the cable car up Table Mountain in the morning but clouds at the top had dictated that we try later in the day. The whole point is the view! On our way to the base we had to turn back as the road was closed due to a fire (the area was being evacuated). We were just not meant to do it today!

We did get some spectacular view of the mountain from Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, our next stop.

All native plants

We were back at the hotel by 5:30 and had time for a quick lounge by the pool and swim before our welcome dinner. It was a very busy first day, even without Table Mountain. Hopefully we will get to do it tomorrow.