Cape Town - Day 1 - September 13

Our late afternoon trip to the top of Table Mountain bought us a little extra time to do a few more things in Cape Town.  We started the day at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which was a true feast for the eyes with both beautiful flowers and fabulous sculptures.  The gardens covering 2 sq miles was bequeathed to the government of South Africa by the estate of Cecil John Rhodes in 1902.  It contains beautiful examples of the native vegetation and  specialized plants.  This was truly a spot that needed a full day to totally absorb its beauty.

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Clives (African  Bush Lilies) were present in a
multitude of colors.  These  very much
reminded me of the 'Naked Ladies"
of California.  Will need to do a  little research.

 

Lovely fern fronds were just starting to open
in the spring warmth.

The Mendala Gold Bird of Paradise is a special cultivar
 created for this environment.

 Driving back from the gardens we did a quick tour of some of the neighborhoods in the city. the Muslim area was most colorful.  We were informed that the painting of these home takes place every year at the conclusion of Ramadan. These beautifully painted areas were a very well kept area of the older sections of the city.

As an added bonus, we made a stop at the huge Victoria wharf.   It is an overgrown, high end shopping center!  If you want it, they've got it.  And what did we want...McDonald;s  Ahhhhh lunch The menu was a bit different but equally familiar.  What was new was a complete delight to Bob.  You guessed it...a bakery counter.  He said it was the best carrot cake he had on the trip.

I'm lovin' it!

After a brief rest back at the hotel we were off on our optional township tour.  The trip was guided by an entrepreneurial woman who started her own business to take tourists to the townships she came from.  She was very honest in describing her move to Cape Town to the township of Langa, in her teens, 20 years ago, when her parents moved out of the country to the city to find a better life at the end of apartheid.  Her parents have since returned to the simpler life but she and her siblings have all remained in Cape Town.

The townships we visited continue to be very depressing to these tourists, even though the occupants seem perfectly happy. Happiness is relative I guess depending on where you have been and where you hope to go. Our township guide was most adamant, and a bit preachy, that the SA people recognize from the teachings of Mandela that they have to continue to look forward and not back. To live in the future and not the past.

This beautiful woman was most gracious in
allowing us to take her picture.

Common laundry areas were present
everywhere.  The women carried buckets
of water from a single common source and
washed their clothing in buckets.

As we walked through the streets we were as much the "objects of interest" as they were.  We were most concerned about the inhabitants felt about us walking through there neighborhoods, bit we were assured it was ok. We were welcomed and greeted and never felt the least bit threatened.

No matter how shabby, the ever present
satellite dish.

These were some of the 'homes' that were occupied by
those still waiting for free government housing.

It wasn't at all unusual to see "salons" on the
open street.

Goats freely waked the sidewalks.  Huh?

Tony tries to capture a group of kids, but squabbling
occurs as they all try to push to the front.

 

Much of the housing we saw was free.  It is government policy that housing is provided to everyone but there isn't enough available for all.  So there is a hierarchy about housing and rents that is very detailed.

Some of the residents used our visit to provide some retail therapy with supposedly locally, hand made items.  At least we didn't see any Made in China labels.  And of course kids, will be kids.  They crowded around to have their pictures taken and hopefully get a piece of gum or bit of candy.  We weren't very well prepared.

'Home Depot'  Langa style/

The townships of Guguletu and Bonteheuwel were simply drive thrus.  We didn't make any additional stops.

Saturday afternoon and the ladies are waiting for their
clothes to dry.