Back To My African Roots

While visiting Cape Town, there is so much to see and do; from the friendly people to the majestic table mountain, this is a vacation spot of note. The beaches of Cape Town are gorgeous, Clifton being the one of the most popular beaches, though I would not suggest swimming, as the water is freezing. It is a beach to see and be seen. There are so many different tours to go on, though I would definitely recommend Robin Island, the island where the ever-popular ex-president Nelson Mandela was held prisoner during the apartheid era. The wine tours in Stellenbosch are a nice way to spend a relaxing day while learning about the wine-making process and venturing through some beautiful wine estates. The green square flea market is a must for those who collect African masks, statues, animal skins, etc. A bargain can definitely be found there. Cape Town is a beautiful city and will fulfill any traveler--I cannot wait to return.

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The public transportation is very good around Cape Town--the taxis and shuttles to and from the beaches run all day and are only R100. There is also a really good bus system with which you could get anywhere in Cape Town. While going on tours, the transportation is provided.

We had booked this trip months in advance, as I knew that December in Cape Town is their high season and very busy. So, in doing this, we secured a really great rate of $50 per night due to the really good exchange rate at that time. It was not far from the airport, which was a good thing, as after a 22-hour flight, you don't want to have to do anymore sitting. We pulled up to the hotel and were greeted at the front desk with big smiles and great service. We were pleasantly surprised at the efficiency of the hotel. The appearance of the hotel was also very good. It looked brand-new and was clean at all times.

We were promptly shown to our room, but when we got there, the door did not lock, which we were very uneasy about. We called the front desk, and they immediately sent up their maintenance man. He could not fix the door, so we were moved to another room without any incident.

The rooms were large, and ours had a great view of Table Mountain. The hotel was in walking distance to the Victoria and Alfred waterfront and Table Mountain, although I wouldn't suggest walking there, and a taxi ride did not cost a lot. The hotel also helped out with tours, where to go, and how to get there. I loved how close it was to everything and would definitely return.

Heading down to the Victoria and Alfred waterfront from our hotel was a quick 5-minute taxi ride. When pulling up, it looks like a regular shopping mall you would find anywhere in the US. The inside of the mall is also very similar, just different brands and stores, but once outside, it's a different story.

As you walk outside, you are greeted by the Cape Town harbor, with spectacular views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. There are also a lot of stores outside, though most are all different types of restaurants. On the deck, there is always some kind of entertainment going on, from magic shows to the ever-popular Zulu gumboot dancers. Hearing them sing and dance brought tears to my eyes. Coming from south Africa, it just reminded me the wonderful culture from which I come. They put on an amazing show, and I would highly recommend bringing your camcorder for the authentic African adventure.

To get to the island, you are taken aboard a luxury boat owned and run by the ex-prison guards of Robin Island. It only takes about 20 minutes to get there. This island used to house political prisoners, the most famous being the ex-South African president Nelson Mandela, as well as thieves and people with leprosy. The tour is done by the ex-prisoners and is very informative. It is sad and shows how many injustices where carried out, yet somehow there is still a sense of forgiveness on the island. You are shown where Mandela was kept, in a small cell, and where he did his gardening. The tour is only around 1 hour long, but I would strongly recommend this historical and very informative tour.

This flea market is the best I have ever been to. It is a lively and fun place to stroll about on a Saturday, and the best place to find good deals for all your souvenirs. There are so many different stalls with all sorts of different African arts and crafts, local artwork, and jewelery. I would highly recommend bargaining with the locals, as they come down on their prices. The market is open Monday through Saturday, from early morning until around 4pm.

We had wanted to go on numerous tours, but time dictated otherwise, so we picked carefully the ones we had wanted to go on. We decided to go on a wine tour in Stellenbosch. The drive up to Stellenbosch was not far and a beautiful drive, as it was up through the mountains and past several wineries. We drove through the picturesque town of Stellenbosch, which is a university town, and it was really quiet due to the holiday season.

It is such an old town, with beautiful old buildings. We were able to go into an old Dutch home. The architecture is so beautifully ornate. It was awesome to see how the Dutch lived in those days, with mud floors and thatched roofs. Once we had gone through the home, we went into an old store, which sold antiques and South African eats that were very tempting and rather tasty.

Once finished with the town, we headed up to the winery. It was called Sevenwacht, and driving up to it was out of this world. It was also set in an old Dutch home, set at the foot of a huge mountain. Once there, we were greeted and started the tour about how white and red wines are made. It was very informative, and once the tour was over, we were able to do some wine tasting. The wine was extremely good. We sampled both red and white, and I would definitely suggest buying some and taking it home with you. They can package it so that transporting it back home with you on a plane is not too much of a task. You can also purchase cases of it, and they can ship it off to you. I would highly recommend this tour. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or not, this was definitely money well spent.