The Dark Continent, part 3

Friday, April 12 -- Cape Town, South Africa

     We would spend only one night at Babylonstoren, a real shame because it is a remarkable place. Harking back to the earliest days of Dutch settlement in the late 17th century, it is a working farm in the Drakenstein Valley. We had an incredible organic breakfast and embarked on our all-day tour of the wine country.
     South Africa's wine tradition dates back to the 17th century and the early Dutch settlers. Close to the Cape of Good Hope, the wine country has the benefit of a Mediterranean-style climate, ideal for vineyards.



Our room at the Babylonstoren, complete with fireplace and wine.




Breakfast included a baked granola fruit tart.




We toured the gardens at the farm.




A panorama shot of the view from our luncheon restaurant, Tokara, in the wine country.




Another view of the wine country from Tokara.




At the Thelema Mountain Vineyard, we sample the one of the winery's specialties. 



The view from our hotel for our final three nights in South Africa, the Taj Cape Town.

       The Taj Cape Town was the site of the Travel Leaders International Summit, a gathering of 54 travel professionals. After the evening reception, we settled in for the first of our three-night stay in Cape Town.


Saturday, April 12 -- Cape Town

    Business meetings took up our Saturday morning, and then we walked over to the historic Mt. Nelson Hotel, where we had a hotel inspection and lunch. Our group split up for different tours, and ours was a half-day panoramic tour of Cape Town, highlighted by a tram ride up to Table Mountain. The weatherman gave us a break with bright sunshine and warm temps.
      Cape Town is the second-largest city in South Africa and home of the national legislature. Founded by the Dutch in 1652, it was the first European settlement in the country. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and was the home of the anti-apartheid movement that revolutionized South African society in the 1990s.
     


The outdoor pool at the Mount Nelson Hotel.





How to get to the top of Table Moutain? A rotating gondola ride.




The view from Table Mountain---the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.



Cape Town Stadium, which hosted matches in the 2010 World Cup of soccer (known here as association football).




At the top of Table Mountain.



Cape Malay Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town's most visited areas.

     After our tour we dined on the waterfront at the One and Only Hotel, Japanese-style. Many of us turned in early to prepare for a full day of sight-seeing on our last full day in South Africa.


Sunday, April 14 -- Cape of Good Hope

    Heading west from Cape Town, we entered the Atlantic Seaboard area, with beaches, cliffs, promenades and hillside communities. I was reminded of Italy's scenic Amalfi Coast. Our destination was the Cape of Good Hope.
      We had thought that the Cape was the southernmost point of Africa, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian, but it is not. That is Cape Agulhas, about 90 miles to the east-southeast. But ships traveling south along the western African coast begin to turn eastward at the Cape of Good Hope, which was first rounded by European sailors in 1488. It is a spectacular place, and if you visit Cape Town you should definitely have the Cape on your list of tours.



On the way to the Cape.





At a section called Boulders, a colony of African penguins!





Travel Leaders International Summit at the Cape of Good Hope.    

      Back in Cape Town for the evening, we had a "White Party", one of the new trends of the social circuit. White was the dominant attire, and we made the most of it. The event was at the Vergelegen Estate, a winery. Our transportation to the winery was a special treat, in vintage pre-war automobiles.

    It was a great evening, with wonderful food and of course more South African wine. Although we would be heading home the next day, our flights would not depart till late in the evening. Party time!


Monday, April 15 -- Cape Town and the journey home

     We spent our final day relaxing, shopping and some also did a little more sightseeing to the Robben Island prison, where Nelson Mandela was held for most of his nearly 30 years in captivity. We hit the shopping district, in search of native art. We were directed to a place called Streetwires, a cooperative venture that not only sells artwork, primarily works in wire, but which provides steady work for over a hundred previously unemployed people. 


A wire ostrich at Streetwires.

     In the afternoon we packed---some of us had to buy extra suitcases. Our flight back to the States departed at 11pm, starting a very long night and day of travel: 11 hours to Amsterdam, and after a 3-hour layover, about 7 hours to Minneapolis. One of the wonders of international travel in the jet age is being able to go from one side of the world to another in just a day. When the first European settlers came to South Africa, their voyage took a lot longer.
    We tend to think of Africa as a place of jungles and wild animals, exotic tribes and primitive cultures. And while all that is still there, Africa has a cosmopolitan side, with gleaming cities, vibrant art and music, and great dining. If you have a chance to see today's Africa, don't pass it up.