CAPE TOWN

Only a few miles away from home.

I knew I was going to love Cape Town before the plane even touched ground.

I got chatting with Chris, a local Capetonian, on the airplane after my deformed tray table failed to provide a good eating platform. Chris was in the shipping industry, accustomed to travel, typically spending 4 months at sea delivering containers to various countries worldwide, and 2 months home with his wife and kid, Robin. He was incredibly friendly and gave me a few suggestions of things to do, like go up Table Mountain, and have a look around Cape Penninsula. He also taught me a few words in Afrikaans! Buie Dankie! No, I don't want to buy a donkey. ha ha.

It was a pleasure to meet someone as kind and friendly as Chris. After we exited the airplane, Chris introduced me to his family and even offered to show me around Cape Peninsula himself! The offer was too good to pass up, so we planned to meet again and do our own tour on Thursday.

CHRIS & SHARON & COLE

It was a memorable day. We zipped along the penninsula, just four of us, Chris, his wife Sharon, and his nephew Cole. The highlights included seeing the Penguins at Boulders Beach, the gorgeous coastal scenery, and the view of the Cape of Good Hope.

BOULDERS BEACH
Boulders Beach is home to a colony of penguins! SO CUTE!





CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
Many people belive that the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost point of all of Africa, and also the point where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans meet. Surprisingly, it is neither!


It was so cool of them to volunteer to show me around. What wonderful people.

My friend Ray told me that his sister owned a backpackers in Cape Town called Ashanti, which also happened to be the same place Chiara recommended I stay. It was a good place, and I enjoyed meeting the other travelers. I also was lucky to meet up with Ray's sister, Amy, and talk with her about her travels!

(PICTURED: Amy at Journeys) Amy was a real sweetheart and super interesting. She is an American, but she has been living in Africa for 7 years! She met a South African man and has been living in Cape Town ever since. I enjoyed learning about her life: she owns a clothing shop called Journeys, located on the famous Long Street, and she goes shopping in Thailand for stock! This, in addition to having her own cookie baking business while also taking care of her 3 year old son makes her a very busy, but happy, woman! It was nice of her to make time to show me around a little bit. She took me to one of her favorite local restaurants called Birds cafe.

I took the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain.
(PICTURED: A view of Table Mountain, Cape Town's most famous landmark, from the Waterfront)
I met another solo female and hiked across the plateau from the Cable Car to Maclear's Beacon.


And of course, I went shopping in Cape Town! My backpack is too small!!! I went up and down Long Street, the Waterfront, and still had some time to take a hurried stroll through the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood.


Bye Cape Town, see you next time!