Anne-Marie, my cousin Carol's daughter, has recently moved back to Cape Town and she has landed a job at Newlands Cricket Ground. She loves cricket and remembered that Mike is a bit of a fan, too. So she presented him with tickets for the Test Match between South Africa and the West Indies on New Year's Eve and he was just a little bit pleased. So, Saturday morning saw us watching the Test Match at this ionic ground - what a treat! Mike has enjoyed watching the rest of the cricket on the life-size screen TV here at our house in Bergvliet each evening. Thankfully SA won (always good to be in the country of the winning side, whatever sport, I think).
My treat came next - we went on from there to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which is quite the most beautiful spot
. Wherever you go in Cape Town the mountains make a fantastic back-drop and both Newlands and Kirstenbosch are no exception. We started with lunch at the restaurant there which serves traditional African dishes. Quite delicious, especially washed down with a bottle of the beautiful Cape Town Sauvignon Blanc at the usual silly price. We were serenaded by a remarkable group of African singers during the meal; it was very special. This was followed by a lengthy stroll around the gardens where I found a bench possibly donated by one of my ancestors (see picture) - my maternal great-grandmother was a Louw. Another family member ticked off on the Hudson trail.
We had a lovely day on Sunday - we drove across the mountains to Hout Bay and to the amazing African market there at the harbour. Needless to say, we had a wee lunch beforehand at the harbour restaurant which was teeming. This is true of everywhere in Cape Town at the moment. They call it the 'silly season' and it is quite mad - we have tried to book for a couple of recommended restaurants only to be told there are no tables until 1st March!! The beaches are equally busy but I am so happy to see how everyone is getting on so well together; everywhere you look there are blacks and whites picnic-ing together and generally having fun
. What a change from when I was last here! They are a happy people here in Cape Town and everyone is so friendly.
In the evening Carol and Anne-Marie came for drinks and a meal here. They loved the house and in fact, they had looked at the complex a while ago. We were surprised to hear just how much these houses cost. It seems you pay a premium for the security of a gated development and worse, you don't make any money out of the property when you sell/die. Very strange.
On Monday we wanted to see more of Cape Town and so we parked at the V & A Waterfront (Victoria & Alfred - who's he?) and walked the 40 minute 'stroll' into town. It's a lovely and interesting city. Waterfront is all new - the whole area was reclaimed from the sea back in the 1940's. The sea used to come almost up to the mountains but now there is a whole city and housing that goes half way up Table Mountain! We ended up by having lunch back at the port at about 4pm, totally exhausted
. The road system in and around Cape Town is excellent but parking at this time of the year is a major problem.
Tuesday was a glorious, cloud-free day; hot and windy. We decided to explore False Bay which stretches away as far as you can see - lovely white sands and exciting surf (actually, very reminiscent of Australia). However, it is mainly undeveloped and the beaches do not offer the lunches we have come to expect. We enjoyed the drive but headed back to Kalk Bay on the peninsular where we had been told that Lucky Fish & Chips served the best fish and chips in the world. They probably do but we could not resist the 'special' of the day - crayfish. Yummy, so sweet, so delicious! A snooze on a windy but hot beach followed and then we found a new way home across the mountains via the coastal town of Kommetje.
On Wednesday we set off for Stellenbosch to visit an old school friend of Mike's; another chap he hadn't seen for 50 years! Tim Crawley and his wife Pru seemed delighted to see us at their beautiful home in this gorgeous wine-growing area and made us very welcome
. They have planted their own vineyard behind the house and Pru cultivates and sells lemons and passion fruit, too. Mike and Tim seemed to take off from where they left off all those years ago and Pru and I got on like a house on fire. We roasted a fillet of beef on the brie (BBQ) by the pool and drank copious amounts of the delicious local wines.
We stayed overnight and this morning, we went into Stellenbosch to explore this historic town before going on to Somerset West and the Lourensford Wine Estate. Thank you Peter for this recommendation! It is a simply beautiful vineyard where we tasted wines and had a delicious meal at the Millhouse Kitchen. My lamb fillet was superb - see photo. The food in South Africa is soooo good!
Tonight we are enjoying our last evening at our beautiful 'home' in Bergvliet before we set off in the morning to visit Jill Kargaard in Greyton. I have never met Jill but she read 'Beneath African Skies' and recognised the story; it seems we are very loosley related and our mothers were very good friends in Kenya! Afterwards we will motor down to Mossel Bay where we will spent a night before heading on to our next new 'home' at Knysna.
We do enjoy hearing from you all, so please click the 'comment' tab and give us some feedback. The weather here just gets better and better and the scenery in the Cape is so beautiful. We are very privileged to be in this gorgeous country. On the downside, we were appalled to see the endless shanty towns that stretch along the M2 for miles and miles; sadly, the good life isn't working for everyone in South Africa.
Cricket, cousins and old friends
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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2025-02-12
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Anabel
2015-01-08
Sounds like you are having a pretty idyllic time. All sounds beautiful. Bet dad was absolutely delighted with the test match tickets - what a great present!! xx
Jennifer P.
2015-01-09
I am so glad to see other people mark thier days with good Lunches. x
Peter E
2015-01-09
Glad you enjoyed Lourensford.
I wouldn't try cooking steak on a Brie - it will melt! It's better to light the Braai..........
Don't you just wish you were a swallow? France Apr- Oct then the Cape for the rest of the year - Perfection!
Dana
2015-01-09
Sounds like your are having a wonderful time, plus avoiding the winter grays here. Love your updates.
Mike Garside
2015-01-11
I seem to remember that Alfred was Victoria's son, Gillie. Both Di's boat race and mine staged through the Victoria and Alfred Docks. Years ago now....
Glad it's all going well. Only 997 cousins still to check out! xx