Cape Town and thereabouts

Ah. I can spare a few moments away from this summery existence to finally add some commentary on these previously anonymous photos.

As soon as we recovered from jetlag, Wendy and I headed to Cape Town for four days. My friend Sybrandus kindly lent us the keys to his (and Terry's) house and we made ourselves at home away from home away from homeless.

Cape Town is set in an amazingly picturesque bowl, nestled between the sea and a giant flat-topped mountain named Table Mountain. The scenery is constantly changing, as clouds come and go across its heights. (This is called the "Tablecloth".)

The first day we walked over the entire town, and on day two we climbed the mountain. Then we took a drive around the Cape.

Mobile bedroom, complete with napper:




Meet Charity, one of the many excellent cats we have had the pleasure of visiting this year. She lives with Sybrandus and Terry.





Heading up Table Mountain. Notice that my bag looks conspicuously like my old rear left pannier...


I love these plants:


Here is a view, from the top of Table Mountain, of part of the city and of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years:


Here's what they call the "City Bowl". I love this city.


To the southwest, you see the peaks of the Twelve Apostles, part of the mountains that stretch on down to Cape Point, where baboons roam.




This is Devil's peak, next to Table Mountain and just behind Sybrandus's house.


Hout Bay, where Stefan grew up!


More scenes along the Cape. These thatch roofs are popular here. Stefan has one.




In the old days, at the time of year when ships could not anchor snugly at Cape Town, they went around the peninsula to Simon's Town, about 20 miles away on horseback. The South African Navy has a base here.


Also, Simon's Town is host to a colony of penguins! These are called jackass penguins:




And this one is molting.


more to follow very soon...

Today's backyard hike

Back up behind Stefan's house is the amazing Helderberg, and you can hike through the nature reserve on its slopes.


Typical Cape Dutch architecture


This is what they call a "dam".


Proteas are part of the collection of plants called fynbos, which are stout and hardy to resist the heavy Cape winds. You kind of have to see them to believe them.


Blesbok?

Onward to the Southern Hemisphere

Here is proof that we made it safely to Stefan's in South Africa and we aren't actually still lurking around the USA. After a day of extreme napping we woke up this morning to a walk around the neighborhood and this here breakfast. That's the Helderberg in the back.