We arrive at Michael’s place in Muizenberg
and even before we put down our luggage Elodie screams out: my camera! We must
have forgotten it in one of the shuttles. Trying not to panic we call everyone
to locate the camera. It is in the last shuttle. We can come pick it up says
the driver, he lives on the other side of town, in a dodgy neighborhood… Let’s
go says Michael, our host and savior. This is what a positive attitude does: we
have a great ride through all Cape Town, while Michael explains about
historical events, cultural phenomenons, and ideology. The camera finds its owner
and we drive home in high spirits. No way does he want a compensation. The only
promise we have to make is that we will do the same thing to someone else one
day. The next day we go all three to the Cape: Cape of Good Hope, or Cape of
Storms as it was called before, due to the numerous storms in this area, close
to the meeting point between the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. The name Cape
of Good Hope was given because of the great optimism engendered by the opening of a sea route
to India and the East. After a delicious Tibetan lunch we visit the Jackass
Penguins at Boulders, a whole colony of these small South African penguins live
there. Three young ones try to conquer the ocean and make me laugh a lot as they
stumble under a wave.
photos Cape Town
On the way back, Michael shows
us a statue of the Great Dane “Just Nuisance”, the only dog ever
to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy and buried with full military honor. Another great
day.
The beach at Muizenberg is nice, I particularly enjoy
watching the Seagulls dig for shells that they drop from a great height down on
the beach to break them open. Elodie picks some shells – “I want to cook them”
she says, and I can only believe her when she says they are good. To part from
our host, and also to escape from the rain, Michael takes us to do some
winetasting at Groot Constantia. Elodie knows a great deal about wine and we
share some delicious moments, tasting and laughing.
Saths is our next host. He lives in a beautiful
house just under Table Mountain which we never see because of the clouds. He
shows us all his favorite places to have a coffee in Cape Town, great! He is
good company and introduces us to his ten year old son with whom we spend some
time and play Jenga while Saths is at work. In two days we leave South Africa
and I finish my trip. It feels weird and good at the same time…
The sea is angry and we cannot visit Robben
Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela was kept for 18 years. I will have to come
back one day. Instead we go for a walk in town, and meet for lunch with Mary I met
in Bolivia. We finish the day in the South African Art Museum where we have the
chance to be invited to a private vernissage. A perfect end to the trip,
tomorrow we go home…
photos Cape Town
