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I had the privilege of meeting Mary last month on her first visit to Africa. While she was on an overseas University study program. The future Doctor had decided to take the opportunity to explore the Cape Peninsula and Cape Point.Β Instead of taking a day off after a very demanding work and travel schedule. I have to admire people like that.Β Because mustering the energy can sometimes be too much for most of us at the best of times!
I picked Mary up at her accommodation in Camps Bay at 9:30 AM and we headed off to Hout Bay. We arrived and were lucky to get on board a charter almost immediately. As it was leaving for Duiker Island. The seas were calm considering that just around the corner in Table Bay, the cape South Easterly wind was announcing itself.
Mary had spent a lot of time in the Bahamas catching ferries so I need not have worried because this lady had earned her sea legs already. We embarked on the hour-long cruise getting to know each other and I was telling her a little bit about South Africa. With many tourists on board and a full ship, we were still guaranteed of getting a good view as the Captain swung the ship a full 360 degrees around so that everyone could get a good look-see. The Cape fur seals were delightful to watch.
We made our way back and after disembarking, but by this point.Β Β It was clear Mary was in trouble ….. she needed CAFFEINE and she needed it soon! We grabbed a coffee and off we went to our next stop, Cape Point, the most Southern point on the Cape Peninsula.
With a good long drive ahead of us and some challenging terrain to walk, it was time for lunch. I took Mary to the Cape Farmhouse. Situated in the heart of the deep south, this laid-back restaurant with its rustic charms and delicious homemade food was the perfect stop. We enjoyed an array of starters from locally sourced mussels to fish samosas and delicate calamari … and some more caffeine!
The drive from the entrance to the Cape Point lighthouse is a good 30 minutes of driving through unspoiled nature. We saw a few of the locals lying around and taking in some sun.
We reached the parking bay of the lighthouse and proceeded to take the funicular to p to the top. I mentioned earlier that the wind was crisp, we were now higher than before and the wind was crisper and now slightly stronger too! That didn’t stop us and off to the top of the point we journeyed. It’s at this point where I cannot write anything to describe the views. All you can do is take a look at the photos or come see them for yourself.
With beautiful panoramic views, we headed back down and went on some exploring through the reserve in search of the ever-elusive Cape Point Zebra. We didn’t spot them!
Our second last stop was to see the African Penguins in Simonstown. We walked from there across to Boulders Beach where people are not inhibited by barricades. However and can walk among the Β Penguins freely … If the Penguins allow you to! The Penguins must be so used to us humans staring and gawking at them, that I think they have learned to pose for the camera professionally!
Alas, all good things must come to an end and off we were back to Camps Bay, but not before stopping off on Chapmans Peak for a sunset view over the bay in which we had early cruised. Add in a glass of sparkling wine from a local producer and a beautiful end to the day.
Thank you, Mary, as I said in the opening paragraph, a privilege to have met you. I hope to see you on our beautiful shores again soon. Also, I wish you all the best with your studies I know that you will excel in whichever direction you decide to go, whether it be Medicine or Business.
