Author Archives: Paul
Early morning V&A Waterfront
Hazy oil rig
Delectable gelato
Gelato Mania's huge selection of gelato and real Italian ice-cream was pretty awesome - so much so that we were forced to return the next evening to try a different flavour. Next time you're out for dinner in the Sea Point/Green Point/Cape Town city area, visit Gelato Mania for dessert... or dinner, assuming you like waffles for dinner. ;)
Apartments against Signal Hill
But, in all seriousness, those apartments stacked against the slopes of Signal Hill look like they'd make a great holiday spot, don't you think? A word of caution when booking your holiday accommodation in Cape Town thought - check if the apartment has air conditioning; if it's not specified, it probably does not.
From our De Waterkant apartment
Even though the apartment block was called Harbour Terrace, believe me, it's no where close to the harbour - and the only view of the waterfront and harbour area is a distant one. I took this photo from our balcony on the first morning of our stay. The air was cool and crisp, and it was actually quite peaceful out on the balcony - after the distant doof-doof sound that emanated from local bars and clubs until the early hours of the morning. ;)
French crêpes in Cape Town
On spotting the stall along Camps Bay's Victoria Street (near Blues), I eyeballed the words "French Pancake" and decided that these probably weren't the real deal. But, when I walked up to the stall I first noticed the Nutella (a filling that's really popular in France), and then realised that the owner really was French - and that the pancakes were indeed real crepes.
I chatted with the owner for a while and learned that he makes both sweet and savory crepes called galettes (made from buckwheat flour), and that he's at Camps Bay most days, unless he's out doing a private function.
Cloud banks and stadiums
The bigger picture
Speaking of the One & Only hotel, here's a tip, for fee - their lounge and bar area is great place to visit for a relaxing cup of coffee under 5-star service. ;)
Waterfront from Signal Hill
The coffee of champions
Nothing like an autumn sunset
Sunlight betwixt itchy-scratch grass
Sunset through pine trees
The Genealogical Society of South Africa
I wondered who Mr and Mrs Hodgson were and thought I'd use Google to see if I could find out. When searching for their names, the first hit on Google was to the Genealogical Society's website, and a photo of this exact headstone. Isn't it nice that people actually take the time to walk around graveyards, taking photos of the headstones, and then spend the hours afterwards uploading and tagging the photos?
However permanent we think headstones are, they're not necessarily as permanent as we may hope, and it's really nice that sites like this archive the memories, making them both more permanent and easily accessible.
Flowers on your grave
Pretty weed seed
It's like the beautiful models we see photographed in magazines - they're often actually not quite as good looking as you may think; it's often just the make-up artists, photographers, and expensive equipment that make them look so darn awesome. I'm not implying that their particular body structure, attitude, and abilities have nothing to do with it, but it's also true that people (perhaps like you) who you'd consider ordinary can look quite astoundingly attractive given similar treatment that models are given.
Enough of that though. :) Remember to check out the competition to win tickets to the Elgin Cool Wine and Country Festival. The competition closes tomorrow, 3 April.
Win tickets to the Elgin Cool Wine and Country Festival
On Saturday 3 May 2014, flocks of families will descend on the Elgin valley, and wine estates will welcome visitors to the full-day Elgin Cool Wine and Country Festival. I won't rehash the details, rather read about what the organisers have in store for you on the festival's website.
If you'd like to win three tickets to the festival, find my email address on my contact page and send me an email with your name and contact details. If you have an interesting reason why you think you should win the tickets, then mention it. I can't say that'll result in you winning the tickets, but you never know. ;)
Oh, and, if you are going to the festival, show me some comment-love below - I painstakingly put the Google Map below, showing each wine estate's location. Some of the estates were REALLY difficult to find on a Google Maps and some of them don't even have working websites.
Barbed wire fences
Blue-sky vineyards
Barren fields and wild game
If I recall correctly, I spotted a number of buck (perhaps springbok), as well as two or three ostriches scouring the field for bits and pieces to nibble on. I'm not sure, but I think this field belongs to Clara Anna Fontein, a private game reserve just outside of Durbanville.
I've actually never visited the reserve, but if you're in Cape Town and don't have time to visit our country's larger reserves, then consider doing a game drive at Clara Anna Fontein. I don't believe they have any of the big game, well, unless you consider blue wildebeest big game - but they do have zebra, springbok, ostrich, bontebok, eland and a variety of other wildlife roaming their small part of the Renosterveld.
Golden-orange vineyards
Seriously-speaking though, walking about on farmlands dirt roads in dry windy weather leaves one covered in an uncomfortable grimy-feeling layer of fine orange powder mixed with perspiration. Autumn's cool ~21°C weather is far, far, more desirable - and besides, the skies are bluer and filled with billowing clouds, and the farmlands are a beautiful mix of green and orange.
Shriveled black grapes
Tart red / sweet black
I decided to try one of the black and one of the red ones - just to compare. The black, slightly deflated, grapes were fairly sweet while these red ones were pretty much the opposite - a little tart. So, i had another slightly deflated black grape. :)
I'd never actually walked along a vineyard, eating grapes, and while I only had about 5 in total, I have to say that it was a somewhat pleasant experience. You should try it some day.
Autumn vine’s leaves
How many men does it take to put up a sign?
Has autumn arrived?
Love box
Milkshake no more
Visit Royale Eatery. Have a burger. Drink a shake. You're sure to enjoy it. :)
Jugs ‘o water
It's interesting how this norm in America is most often not even a consideration in South Africa, and how at times one has to ask for water more than once before it arrives - almost as though the staff delay the free drink so that one orders more paid drinks.