Climb Every Moutain

Our African adventure began in Cape Town after 30 hours of travelling. We were met by Randy and Sue (Kristy's parents) in the lobby of our hotel (Portswood) right by the harbor. Our first view of Africa was walking around the harbor, seeing Table Mountain on one side and Robbin Island on the other. Our first dinner was typical African cuisine. Please do not ask what we ate but it was 5 black pots with different meats, veggies and flavors with a side of rice.

Our tours in Cape Town included:
Day 1

• Driving down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope
• Visiting a penguin colony (must have been 300 penguins unique to S. Africa lying around the sand)
• Walking around the Kirstenbosh Botantical Gardens (expansive, wild (we saw ducks and guinea fowl fighting) and our favorite section was the useful plants)

Day 2

• We INSISTED on walking up Table Mountain although our "guide/driver" didn't think it was a good idea and said it would take 2 1/2 to 3 hours. We started hiking behind a group and quickly passed them to get into our hiking pace. Ok that is not exactly true b/c Kristy was at the front and in usual Kristy style took off with dust flying everywhere. That lasted for over an hour until the steps got larger and larger the day got hotter requiring more rest breaks. Making it to the top in 1hours 45 minutes sweaty, tired and a little smug (to use Randy's verbage).
• We took some pictures, rode the 4 minute trolley down and were on our way to winelands.
• We ate at Spier but heard reports the wine was not great so we headed farther north
• We tasted at two other Wineries: Delaire and Boschendal. We really liked the second winery because your tasting is out under a large oak tree and you choose the wines you would like to try.

Day 3

• We began in Capetown passing Government bldgs., colorful muslem areas but the tour got more interesting when our guide took us to District 6. An area right outside the city that was demolished by bulldozers so "white homes" could be built and 55,ooo "colors and blacks" had to move to townships.
• The second stop was a black township - "Langa". We learned our guide had been a student during the fight against opression and received a heartfelt explanation of the history as well as where the future is going. One natable comment was that when Nelson Mandela was the President he asked both sides to forgive each other. He also visited the wife of the leader who inprisoned him and apologized to her and told her he forgave her. Isn't that incredible. Sue and Kristy had read "A Long Walk to Freedom" prior to the visit and it added so much more to know the background.
• Next stop was Khayelitscha -the largest township with 1.2 million residents. At one point we stopped the car and as far as you could see in any direction were shacks (8X8 with tarp for a roof) and Mandela homes (10X10 cement buildings that are being built and given to everyone who lives in the township). Very humbling experience!
• The Final stop was Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and many other polictial prisoners were held during apathied. The best part of the tour was the maxium security pison where Mr. Mandela was held was led by a former polictal prisioner.

We ended our time in Cape Town with a fabulous seafood dinner at Bahia on the waterfront.