Hi Everyone,
Yesterday we took four cars to the tip of the continent, Cape Point (at the Cape of God Hope). The Atlantic meets the Indian and the mountains in the distance look like science fiction. We had beautiful clear weather and could see the kelp, boulders, boats, and birds. I know my bird-watcher friends would have loved watching the large various sea birds catching the drafts along the cliffs. Plants too---1000 species of indigenous---two types of fynbos (fire bush) that only occur here. I need Rob and Pat Wikel for help with identification. We climbed to the lighthouse (there is a sign pointing in multiple directions with kilometers to points in the world: NY, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney....)
We stopped on Boulders beach to see the penguin colonies. We could actually get close enough to touch them. Tim, who has a thing for penguins---a bond, he says, declared it was his best time ever. We took a group photo on the rocks and when Alyssa called us together, the penguins suddenly perked up and waddled over to where we were going like obedient schoolkids.
Had lunch in Simons Town, which looked to us like harbor towns either in California or New England. Very beautiful and very unlike most images of Africa.
We capped off the semester with dinner at the Crypt, a restaurant in the basement of a cathedral. This was an underground meeting place during apartheid and thus its underground location is more than architectural. We sat at three tables, drank South African wine and toasted ourselves and many of you. Our days in Cape Town have certainly been more upmarket, especially in restaurants. Nice way to end the semester, which has sped by.
Now we are all off in different directions---some will stay in Cape Town, others will travel to Johannesburg, and others to Lesotho. I'll be giving travel updates, for those of you loyal emailers. Thanks for the mail.
Take care,
love, Betty and Team Africa