Sep 06

Sorry for not writing much is hard to pull ourselves away from the pool!
Wow has been an action packed trip. We got to Joburg on Friday and have been going non-stop.
Was great to see Tristan and Lisa and meet up with all the crew.
Saturday was the Hens/Stags do and was a great day/night.
The boys went go karting and dressed tristan up as 'baby-shoes' (lisa's pet name for him) which included nappies, hat, bib, babyshoes and tommie tippie cup for him to drink out of.

Was a late night for the boys and a few sore heads the day after.
Us ladies also had a great day, having cocktails in the afternoon and going to this amazing restaurant club called Afrodisiac/Voodoo lounge. We had our faces painted african style and this amazingly gorgeous black african was dressed up some kind of wild tiger type creature kept coming up behind us scaring the be-jesus out of us. There was great african music and we danced into the night..

The next day we travelled to Hermanus and watched the whales (southern right) just off the shore, they were so close and we had lunch at a lovely place called Burgandy and watched the whales from where we were dining.

Yesterday was the Wine Tours of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Had a great wine tour and lots of tasting, cheeses, breads, wines, port, brandy.


Went to one place Franschhoek Pass Winery, OMG was the most amazing house I have ever seen in the side of the hill, tuscan style, huge (can't even explain it, will have to show you the photos).

Just so you all know, I have taken soooooooo many photos, don't even think one slide evening will cover it! (Nick your lens has come in very handy, sly photos of the baboons and yesterday taking photos of the cheetahs - nice and close).

We have been interested in things we wouldn't have thought, like the squatter camps/villages, there are so many of them and just can't quite imagine their lives.
The people are really lovely, I just ran into a bunch of giggling black girls, when I asked why they were laughing at me they said 'nice smile, nice body but we want your sunglasses' was quite a laugh.
Our tour guide Gary has been great value and has been totally flexible with our demands and we have taught him a few things too we think. He keeps introducing the boys as All Blacks, although mostly people just laugh at us.
Nice to have a quiet day today, think we'll go back to Camps Bay as is it lovely and sunny and maybe into town to listen to some jazz tonight.
Tomorrow we depart for Joburg, so looking forward to seeing Lisa and Tristan but a little sad to be leaving this wonderful part of Africa.
Also sad to hear the Crocodile Hunter is dead, Lauren, Marc, Piper and Tanner were off to seem him next week. Hope tanner is feeling better loz.
Love to you all.

Adventures to be continued....

It is getting harder and harder to get to an Internet Cafe, not because there is a shortage of them, but because we are having such a great time!
Is the twins 31st birthday today and steve and glen have gone off to play 18 holes while ragani and I hit the shops. Rick and Kit have decided to climb Lions Head (which is quite a walk).
The last four days have been action packed with tours every day.
The first day was the Cape Peninsula Tour,

the next was a tour of the city and up the Gondola to Table Mountain
. Some higlights were the Marley Quarter (brightly coloured painted houses)
and the District Six Museum - District Six was a region of the City that the Government demolished and people were forced onto the streets and other areas. Some only having 4 hours to leave before their houses were bulldozed down.

The main highlight of the day was catching the ferry to Robben Island. Was amazing being escorted around the prison by one of the former political inmates and seeing where Mandala was kept and the stories of their hardships. Was very humbling.

Wow - Capetown is such a beautiful place, doesn't quite feel that we are half way around the world - some places seem so familiar. We were met by Gary our wonderful host and taken to our fantastic little boutique accommodation. Beautiful rooms overlooking the beach and lighthouse, with a delightful and apparantly trendy Italian Cafe below us - no shortage of convertible porshes, lamborghinis, BMW, audi tt's etc.

We spent the first few days getting accustomed to the area and spent much time at the fabulous V&A Waterfront.

Amazing restaurants, shops, marina and the culture is really great. Lots of groups singing, playing music.

Good mix of locals and tourists and definantly the place to be. The weather has been kind to us 22-23 degrees and took a lovely sailboat out one day - even had to giveway to a huge oil rig on its way to Angola.

Steve and I took a lovely stroll (10km in our jandals) to the beach on friday - Camps Bay. The most amazing beach, white sands, palms lining the streets and again the trendiest bars, cafe's lining the beach road. All of the flashest Mansions lining the hills.

Yesterday we moved to our next accommodation the LUXURY Waterfront apartments overlooking the whole marina complex. The most amazing place we have ever stayed. 3 bedroom/3 bathroom all equipped with baths, boudours (sp), marble floors, tiles, amazing kitchen, complimentary wine and free chocolates - just like de spa ones!

Ragani and Glen arrived yesterday and so lovely to see them both. We had plenty of celebrating and lots of beers (also in comisiration for losing the rugby too), vodka and pizza later all fell into a deep sleep.

Went for a Cape Peninsula tour today right to the bottom of the cape, walked up a very windy hill to the lighthouse, saw random baboons steeling some tourists bag.

Also saw zebra, antelope and some gorgeous little cape penguins. Ended by walking through some amazing gardens - Kirstenbosch.

Love to you all
a.