Spring in Cape Town

Cape Town. Went with friends for a week (23 March - 5 April), flew from Cyprus (1200$ for both sides).

First thing everyone tells you when you arrive, don’t walk at night. After few days you kind of get the rhythm of it. Nice street, then one block over it’s completely different, then nice again. Nothing bad actually happened to us. But I noticed I keep checking over my shoulder even in touristy places and I didn’t really like that about myself.

Landscape makes up for a lot of it tho.

We drove to Cape of Good Hope. I thought my whole life this is the southernmost point of Africa. It’s not. Actual southern tip is Cape Agulhas, few hours east. But Cape of Good Hope is where it feels like the end. Cliff, wind, two oceans, nothing between you and Antarctica. Two lighthouses there because the first one kept getting lost in fog and ships crashed anyway.

On the way back, we went to Boulders Beach with penguins. They was on the sand between tourists. Knee-high, make a sound exactly like donkey.

In Table Mountain park we saw dassies. Look like fat hamsters size of a cat. Someone told me later their closest living relative is elephant. I don’t fully believe this even after googling.

Wine country is basically different country. 1 hour from Cape Town and you’re in something like Provence but with better mountains. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek. Did three wineries in one day which is too many, by the third one I couldn’t tell the wines apart and was just nodding. Food was the real surprise, tasting menu at one place in Franschhoek cost less than mediocre lunch in Amsterdam. We sat outside, clouds were spilling over the mountain ridge like pouring off a table, stayed three hours.

Kirstenbosch botanical garden is on the back side of Table Mountain. Went to just chill on the grass. Two geese walked up and stood near us for like half an hour, no reason.

Thing I keep thinking about since we came back. Cape Town is the first place I’ve been where the city, the wilderness and the fear all sit on top of each other. You can see a whale from a vineyard. You can have a world class dinner and then not walk home from the restaurant. Still not sure how I feel about it honestly.

Now trying to figure out where to go next and I really think just to return in Cape Town. Anyone been to Cape Town and has recs I missed?

Didn’t make it to the Garden Route and already regretting it.