Cape Town, a mecca for culture, outdoor recreation, and nature, intoxicated us with its beauty and international atmosphere. We jumped out of bed early for a freedom (we feel so free off the ship!) run- a jog with the “running club” on the ship. The club is essentially a small group of casual runners who take advantage of land running opportunities in each port. By far, Cape Town offered the best a runner could hope for: perfect temperatures, fabulous scenery, safety, and a promenade to run alongside the ocean on. My Boston-bound (2012) husband knocked out about 35 miles over the course of four morning runs; my mileage clocked in waayy less than half that!
For our first full day we decided to cruise around the city atop a fire engine-red double-decker bus, aka “the red line.” Can you see me in the front row??? Yep, it’s touristy, and the most efficient way to get to know the area. The main benefit of the red bus is the ability to hop on and off at the various stops and then catch another bus, which run every 15 minutes. The tour includes an audio guide in 6 different languages, including a kids’ version. I absolutely loved the red line; the only drawback is there are not enough hours in the day to spend time at all the stops.
Cape Town shines as a modern, pristine, cosmopolitan hub. The picturesque waterfront blends seamlessly into the sleek buildings downtown. Urban revitalization has been its goal since the 1950’s, the decade that birthed many construction projects. Until then the ocean completely covered the downtown area! But the price of progress was steep; the black townships were pushed out to the suburbs and have been stuck there ever since. One of the most well-known oppressed neighborhoods is called District Six. It was working class neighborhood, also home to artists and musicians. In 1968, the government razed their homes based on the erroneous belief that people of different races could not and should not live together. Today, 85% of District Six remains brown scrub grass and weeds, a monument to this appalling movement. Coming to a consensus on how to rebuild the neighborhood continues to be a bureaucratic nightmare.
One of the highlights of the red line tour showcased Table Mountain. I would have loved to have climbed this “Tavern of the Sea” as the sailors used to call it, but the hike is too challenging for children. Instead we zipped up in the cable car, which was exhilarating! I overheard William say to his friend Kaila, “The view is breathtaking!” Kaila, her mom Christine, and grandma Tomiko rode the red line with us this day. William also referred to it as “Cable Mountain” a few times after that. The kids scampered over the rocks and we explored the trails and viewpoints. Everyday the clouds pour over the summit, creating the “table cloth” effect. Table Mountain’s chiseled, craggy cliffs and distinctive flat top symbolized hope and freedom to political prisoners out on Robben Island. Incidentally, Table Mountain is in the running for one of the new Seven Wonders of the World –and it definitely has my vote!
The bus wound through a couple of swanky oceanside enclaves, Camps Bay and Clifton Beach. According to the audio, Camps Bay is the place to see and be seen, day or night. We managed to find a kid-friendly café for lunch that didn’t break the bank, and then checked out the beach. The turquoise water is as frigid as Oregon’s Pacific Ocean, but plenty of sunbathers dominate this sun-blessed beach. With stylish hotels and chic dining, Camps Bay is reminiscent of the Riviera. Pretty dreamy!
We capped off the day at Two Oceans Aquarium and a spin on the Wheel of Excellence (our bus tour included our admission tickets for Table Mountain and the aquarium); it definitely was a fantastic day for the kiddos. The Ragged-Tooth sharks stole the show at the aquarium; William asked to go back every day. I got outvoted 3-1 to try the ferris wheel (aka Wheel of Excellence), but the 15 minute leisure ride proved worthwhile for all the spectacular vistas of the waterfront and city. By now we had fallen happily under Cape Town’s spell.
P.S. Wondering who/what the red Lego creature is? It’s made out of Coca Cola crates and stands as testament to Cape Town’s commitment to recycling and sustainability!
Hola Chica! We are in the library using your blog for QAR and for Comprehension strategies! Everyone is engaged! Several are writing to you!
Thanks for the birthday wishes…age has it’s attributes and I am still finding out what they are! love, Susanne
My favorite part of this post is picturing sweet William saying “this view is breathtaking” … That seriously made my day!
It sounds like Cape Town has captured your heart in more ways than one – It’s hard to imagine a city so divided, and I’m sure the clean, touristy part of your experience was a little harder to swallow, knowing the history of how it came to be and how it still exists today. But the kids faces shine with happiness in these pictures – how cool for them to be able to do “normal” vacation activities like an aquarium and ferris wheel half way across the world … and to experience a natural wonder of the world at Table Mountain. The scenery really is breathtaking – William’s got that right!!
What a great place! It’s history makes it a difficult and complicated place to love, but we too loved our time there–one of our favorite stops. We sure love to read your posts and smile with empathy at your description of the rough seas. Keep them coming–the adventures are wonderful!
PS You missed a snow day in McMinnville yesterday…
Thanks, Heidi. I thought of you often in CT. We used all your tips!