Capetown Lion

This is as close as I have come to seeing an actual lion in Africa. It is a lovely painting that hangs in the lobby of the condo complex where I am staying. My guide Frank said that most of the Americans who come here are surprised that Capetown is an actual city and not a jungle with wild animals running throught the streets and the locals wearing loincloths. I had to admit that before coming here, I had no idea what to expect. It has been a wonderful surprise. I could easily live here.

Bok

One of the South African women on the tour was annoyingly describing how good each of the various bok tastes and the many different ways they can be prepared to eat. How can anyone eat these beautful animals? And what was she doing on a tour in a conservation park that is trying to keep these animals from becoming extinct?

Zebra Crossing

Wild Animal Park in Worcester

A 2 hour drive northeast of Capetown takes you to a wild animal preserve. Getting to the safari jeeps was hindered by an elephant blocking the road.

Table Mountain View of Capetown

Best View of Capetown

A Cablecar takes you to the top of Table Mountain for the ultimate view of the city. It holds about 20 people and the floor actually rotates to give everyone an equal chance of getting award winning shots of the ride up. The view at the top is the best!

Nelson Mandella and Capetown

For many Americans, Capetown is known for Apartheid and the years during the early 1960s when Blacks were forced to move from their homes and stripped of their basic rights by the government. Nelson Mandella became a champion of equality during this time and later became President of South Africa and a Nobel Prize recipient. Today in Capetown, you can tour the prison where he was held for so many years. The photo is of the building where he gave his first speech when he was released from prison. He stood on the balcony to speak to the park full of people below.

Capetown's Table Mountain

The city is surrounded on one side by the Atlantic Ocean and the other 3 sides by mountains, the most well known being Table Mountain. Many times morning mists will shroud the top of the mountain and the locals call this mist "the table cloth."

Capetown, SA and San Francisco

Before I arrived here, several fellow travelers commented that Capetown is a lot like San Francisco, and I have to agree. It does have the hills and sections of colorfully painted Victorian homes and buildings. It also has great locally made wines, fantastic food, and a wonderful friendly feel to the town. I could easily live here.

Thank You Expedia.com

This is the view from my condo in Capetown South Africa. I thought I was getting an inexpensive hotel room but Expedia surprised me with a fully equipped 2 bedroom condo on the beach. Is it my Birthday??
You do have 3 choices of water here. Upper left is the freezing Atlantic. It comes directly from the Antarctic here, so it is a bit nippy to swim in it. Secondly is the lagoon (middle) that flows from the Atlantic but is warmer. It even has a sunken barge that you can use for diving into the lagoon. And third is the pool. I love just looking at everything and sampling the excellent local foods and wines.