Day 1- Arrival in Cape Town

the view as we drove in
view from the city
Upon arrival at Johannesburg, being more VIP than we'd like, we had two nice people from the agency guide us all the way to domestic departures (we had to go through passport control, get our checked bag, recheck, then go through domestic security).  We then wasted a lot of time in the not very interesting Johannesburg domestic departures terminal (Including eating a rather alarmingly lemony lemon poppyseed muffin).  I slept the whole flight to Cape Town.  We were met by a driver in Cape Town (after we departed the plane on the runway) and he drove us into the main city.

As we drove, we saw miles of shanties, interspersed with government built housing.  Our driver commented that this is a mostly African district.  Based off the drive, there still seems to be a lot of racial segregation in the housing here (he noted both the African District, and the Indian district).    

Our hotel (More Quarters) is plush.  I’m wearing a fleece robe as I type this (thats also because its surprisingly cold here)- we have a mini kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom (which has a shuttered window into the bathroom?).  Plus wifi (maybe for the last time this trip).  Upon arrival someone took our bags to our room, and the hostess (an intern from Holland) gave us some pointers on Cape Town as we ate yummy cakes that are served with tea.

The hostess also warned us not to look too touristy and to keep our hands on our stuff, so I took very few pictures.  The city itself is not particularly scenic so this isn't a huge loss)


After settling in we went out to see the sights and beat jet lag (although neither of us was feeling especially tired).  We wandered down to Greenmarket Square, where I bargained for some souvenirs.  Not that bargaining is necessary, Rand is 13:1 on the dollar (we payed 15 dollars for a dinner with drinks).  

left- An elephant made with soda can tops, right- a hippo with bottle caps
We then wandered through the Company’s Garden, filled with exotic trees from around the world.  We happened to see the Houses of Parliament as well.  After that, an early dinner, and now (7 pm local) we are off to get some snacks before resting up for our 7:30 departure to climb Table Mountain in the morning.  

Coincidentally, a man just came and put hot water bottles under our sheets- just what is needed on this not that warm and rain spattering day.

A giant rubber tree
Squirrels made it to Cape Town

Parliament (with a statues of Queen Victoria)

me sitting in a very large swing seat

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Towells take America