CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (DAY2)
30 November 2006- Thursday
Capetown Highlights tour- 8:15 departure
Usual a.m. activity and ready to meet the bus for the tour- complimentary water bottle in hand. Only 27 to tour and no wheelchairs. First stop is Table Mountain. The weather is crystal clear and there's not a cloud in sight. We must be the first tour to arrive and there's no wait to take the cable car to the type. The car is circular and has a floor that rotates 360 degrees at the same time it is going up so everyone gets to see all the surrounding scenery which is spectacular. On exiting the building there is a large red sign- "When the hooter sounds, return to the building immediately as high winds are expected." There is a well laid out path with great views and a few memorials to people who died on the mountain. Seems clouds can come in and obscure evrything in an instant as well as cold winds. So if you get lost and aren't dressed appropriately you die of exposure. We do see a few clouds come in but it is a perfect time to be on the mountain. 45 minutes later, we're on the way down with the same panoramic rotating ride. Next we drive throught the city to Cape Castle (which is really a fort, originally built by the Dutch and extended by the British). There is a military museum well done but we only have 45 minutes- I complain to the guide who tells me this is an overview tour and I need to come back if I want to spend more time. There is also a collection of South African art etc. in another building- quick run through and then back on the bus- drive by some historic buildings (there's going to be my usual collection of bad photos taken through bus windows). and finally we do Malay town where a lot of the Immigrants bought in by the Dutch as slaves to work the fields etc. They live in one story stuccoed houses which are painted in bright colors. and are along the southern fringe of the city- that is on the up slope of Table Mountain. The unemployment rate in the country is high- much do to illegal immigrants from less stable african countrys- sound familiar? They have a huge convention center and they ae gearing up for the 19th International Diabetes Convention. Back in time for Lunch- of course. Then spend the afternoon wandering around the pier looking for bargains. there are none. Many of the crvings, masks etc. that I bought for 10-15 bucks are over a hundred here. Even my Zebra skin would sell for hundreds of dollars and they have a 18% VAT. So it's back to the ship with the realization that I've done very little walking around lately. Run into suitcases all over the ship and a lot of new faces. I understand that about 500 are leaving the ship (mostly Brits) and there are another 500 getting on (mostly south africans) that plus the 150 or so that got on in Mombasa and going to Rio makes it a full ship again. Had lunch with a couple from Cape Town and a school teacher from Pretoria who's going all the way to the Antarctic.
For dinner meet my new table mates. First couple is an astronomer who worked for NOA and his teacher wife. He's a vegetarian with Andy Rooney eyebrows- must be a runner as he is lean to emaciated but now I have someone to give my Brussel sprouts to. The other couple are retired Army dentist and she was a DOD school teacher in Germany when they met. With all the commotion on ship and a new waiter things moved slowly but we only got to the entrees when the DOD teacher blew up over a curry salad that was made with canned vegetables- a small scene followed where they chewed out the Maitre de and excused themselves from the table. I'm sure they'll be back- at least I hope so- want to see how this all plays out. Next to these Rosemary seems subdued. Bill and Rosemary control their calorie intake by splitting their entree- since I don't have anyone to split it with I just eat it all.
Entertainment tonight was limited to a movie- Mission Impossible #3. I decide to watch Lost. Get back to the room to find my new steward has turned down both sides of the bed and left a choclate on each pillow- I'm not going to tell him I'm alone and see how long I can get the extra choclate- they are minty and delicious.
Capetown Highlights tour- 8:15 departure
Usual a.m. activity and ready to meet the bus for the tour- complimentary water bottle in hand. Only 27 to tour and no wheelchairs. First stop is Table Mountain. The weather is crystal clear and there's not a cloud in sight. We must be the first tour to arrive and there's no wait to take the cable car to the type. The car is circular and has a floor that rotates 360 degrees at the same time it is going up so everyone gets to see all the surrounding scenery which is spectacular. On exiting the building there is a large red sign- "When the hooter sounds, return to the building immediately as high winds are expected." There is a well laid out path with great views and a few memorials to people who died on the mountain. Seems clouds can come in and obscure evrything in an instant as well as cold winds. So if you get lost and aren't dressed appropriately you die of exposure. We do see a few clouds come in but it is a perfect time to be on the mountain. 45 minutes later, we're on the way down with the same panoramic rotating ride. Next we drive throught the city to Cape Castle (which is really a fort, originally built by the Dutch and extended by the British). There is a military museum well done but we only have 45 minutes- I complain to the guide who tells me this is an overview tour and I need to come back if I want to spend more time. There is also a collection of South African art etc. in another building- quick run through and then back on the bus- drive by some historic buildings (there's going to be my usual collection of bad photos taken through bus windows). and finally we do Malay town where a lot of the Immigrants bought in by the Dutch as slaves to work the fields etc. They live in one story stuccoed houses which are painted in bright colors. and are along the southern fringe of the city- that is on the up slope of Table Mountain. The unemployment rate in the country is high- much do to illegal immigrants from less stable african countrys- sound familiar? They have a huge convention center and they ae gearing up for the 19th International Diabetes Convention. Back in time for Lunch- of course. Then spend the afternoon wandering around the pier looking for bargains. there are none. Many of the crvings, masks etc. that I bought for 10-15 bucks are over a hundred here. Even my Zebra skin would sell for hundreds of dollars and they have a 18% VAT. So it's back to the ship with the realization that I've done very little walking around lately. Run into suitcases all over the ship and a lot of new faces. I understand that about 500 are leaving the ship (mostly Brits) and there are another 500 getting on (mostly south africans) that plus the 150 or so that got on in Mombasa and going to Rio makes it a full ship again. Had lunch with a couple from Cape Town and a school teacher from Pretoria who's going all the way to the Antarctic.
For dinner meet my new table mates. First couple is an astronomer who worked for NOA and his teacher wife. He's a vegetarian with Andy Rooney eyebrows- must be a runner as he is lean to emaciated but now I have someone to give my Brussel sprouts to. The other couple are retired Army dentist and she was a DOD school teacher in Germany when they met. With all the commotion on ship and a new waiter things moved slowly but we only got to the entrees when the DOD teacher blew up over a curry salad that was made with canned vegetables- a small scene followed where they chewed out the Maitre de and excused themselves from the table. I'm sure they'll be back- at least I hope so- want to see how this all plays out. Next to these Rosemary seems subdued. Bill and Rosemary control their calorie intake by splitting their entree- since I don't have anyone to split it with I just eat it all.
Entertainment tonight was limited to a movie- Mission Impossible #3. I decide to watch Lost. Get back to the room to find my new steward has turned down both sides of the bed and left a choclate on each pillow- I'm not going to tell him I'm alone and see how long I can get the extra choclate- they are minty and delicious.
Labels: Nairobi to Rio 2006
posted by DT at 11:42 AM
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