Tuesday 16th August 2016: It was 3.30 by the time we arrived at the Radisson Blu from the Blue Train. This is a magnificent hotel right on the sea front, a short distance from the refurbished Water Front, which is the old port area really transformed into a hive of activity, shops, eating, music etc. We checked this out and ate down there. Cape Town seems a much safer place with tourists everywhere. It is the parliamentary capital of South Africa, having Parliament House and is famous for its harbour with a population of around 4m, second biggest after Johannesburg which has 7m. Table Mountain dominates the city - 1000m high - and it is said that it sometimes has a thin layer of cloud on top which is the 'tablecloth'. It has a Mediterranean climate so is green, deciduous trees not shot yet and is very clean. 
 
Wednesday 17th August 2016: Magnificent views of the sun coming up from our breakfast table, a breakwater leading out from the outdoor sitting/eating/ drinking area, with Geraldton's answer to beach erosion - large rocks kept in place by artificial rocks made from cement - hopefully the photos will explain that a little better . 
 
I'm not going to write too much today, just let the photos tell the story. We did a 20 minute helicopter ride first, fantastic, then visited the diamond museum - free tickets given to us on the train - behind the shop front, the time line of diamonds in SA, then the workmen cutting and polishing and making rings and then heaps of the product - so much sparkle, but my one of 50 years has served me well so we didn't come away with any more. We had our own personal guide, Sharon, who was just lovely - you would have loved this Jenny, even more than we did.
We have walked our little legs off today, John's pedometer reading nearly 21,000 steps, having gone into the main city and then back around the new, 2010 Soccer Stadium - this was built for the World Cup and hosted 9 games, one being the semi-final, but it was built under much controversy as it took over golf club land which reduced the number of holes from 27 to 9 and now a section of the population is calling for its demolition due to under usage. In this same area is the Athletics track and stadium with 4500 seating capacity, a series of rugby fields and a cricket field, plus horse stables. 
 
Tonight at 6.30 we have our Meet & Greet with Scenic - apparently Steve Sara is our guide, the same one that the 5 on the train that had just finished doing the same tour had and they say he is fantastic. PS: Double click the first photo to see a slide show.