Hop On Hop Off

Saturday we were ultimate tourists and bought 2-day passes for the red and blue lines of the city sightseeing bus.  My roommates and I set off to get on at the closest stop which was the District 6 museum. We passed quite a few places including the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC), St. George’s Catherdral, Castle of Good Hope, and Mount Nelson Hotel, but these are all fairly near our location and within walking distance so we decided to save those for another day.

The bus is double decker with the majority of the top portion roofless so you can sit outside and enjoy the unimpeded view.  The first place we got off at was Camps Bay.  It is also by the Atlantic coast, but it is on the other side of Lion’s head and Table Mountain than us.  The beach was absolutely gorgeous.  This side of Table Mountain has what is known as the twelve apostles, which are the names for the buttresses on the back of the mountain that channel the wind down and create a very strong breeze.  Ironically there are 17 of them not 12 and no one remembers why they are named this; “It has been lost in the ages of time” according to the bus audio tour. The wind is called the Cape Doctor because it blows the city smog out to sea leaving fresh air behind.  The wind is so powerful on certain parts of the coast that it comes in low and all the short trees are angled inland very steeply. The wind then rebounds off the buildings and mountain and comes back so the tall trees are angled skyward. 

After driving around more stops we switched to the wine tour bus that took us to Groot Constantia Wine Estate.  It is the oldest vineyard in South Africa.  Here we toured the old manor house and wine cellar from 1692.  Then we proceeded to go have a wine tasting.  They let you pick out 5 wines.  Then they pour you a third of a glass full of wine for each selection which is very generous.  One of our selections was the wine they are most famous for – their Sauvignon Blanc.  Then we picked the most expensive ones that they let you sample.  We started the wine tasting with only 25 minutes before the next bus left so we had to taste very quickly.  By the time we finished and got back on the bus, we were feeling very good. In fact we thought we were going to miss it and ran through the pathways to get there on time. 

We got off the next time at the V&A Waterfront.  When it got dark out, we rode the giant Ferris wheel to look down at all the lights of the city. It took us around 5 times so we got our fill of the night sky.  Then we went to the City Grill for dinner. Kenyatta ordered the special – zebra.  I tasted it and it was very tender and quite delicious.

Several phrases used in South Africa:

• Robot = traffic light.  As in turn left at the second robot.
• Just now = in a couple hours.  As in they run on “Africa” time.  Saying the meeting is “just now” means that it will occur in a sometime.
• Sorry = excuse me.  As in they want your attention for something.
• Biscuit = cookie.  As in the snack you leave for Santa is a biscuit. 
• Flapjack = pancake.  As in I want syrup on my flapjacks.
• Cab = taxi.  As in the call the cab to pick you up.
• Black taxi = minivan.  As in the black taxi is cheaper than the bus.
• Air time = cell phone minutes.  As in I go buy air time for my pay as you go phone.