271 to Golders Green

 The tour bus around Cape Town was the order of the day today. We picked it up outside the hotel and cruised along the beach side to the waterfront called the V & A.

This a huge development which is on reclaimed land and is a cross between Covent Garden and The Albert Dock. Far too touristy  and commercial for us and luckily we got the agent to move us to Camps Bay when we were planning the itinerary. 

So back on the bus through the business district and Muslim Quarter, which was very colourful, before the bus trundled up to the Table Mountain cable car terminal. The views here were expansive but it is disconcerting when they say you might have to walk back down if it gets too windy.

Tour buses are always full of interesting facts and today was no exception.

Then it was back to Camps Bay to ready ourselves for another food fest, this time at a place called The Blacksheep. Tomorrow we move to Stellenbosch and explore the wine lands...hic!!

This is Africa

 TIA for short, but given recent news best not use the abbreviation as it has different connitations in UK.

Anyway we are finally on holiday in Camps Bay near Cape Town. The hotel is an old Manor House rebuilt in 1929 after the previous one was demolished. The house shows many features and furnishing from its days as a family home, with additional properties neighbouring the house being purchased to allow the hotel to boast 19 rooms, albeit only 4 sit within the original.

We have a Degas above the bed, and other artifacts draw ones attention to the heritage as you walk round. Before you ask though it was built with diamond money, not money from the slave trade.

In TIA terms, we have already had two planned electrical outages, and no water for several hours. There are plenty of tomatoes though.

Yesterday was a settling in day, crowned off by a steak dinner with wine for less than £50!!

Today we have done Chapmans Peak, Simon's Town, as you would, and Boulders Beach.

Boulders beach is home to a colony of African Penguins. Very strange to see then in such a hot environment.

Tonight it is off to the The Codfather, a famous fish restaurant, then tomorrow it will be tour bus time. I anticipate a busy two weeks.