Getting Down in Cape Town

I know I've said this about every port thus far, but I mean it when I say that I'm moving to South Africa. This is a country that has its problems, to say the least, but I feel so at home here. I have never felt like I belonged anywhere more, except maybe Santa Barbara. Life plan: a home in Santa Barbara, a home in Cape Town?

I still have another three days in Cape Town, but so much has happened already that I figure I better blog about my adventures now before I forget them all as more adventures occur!

Arriving in Cape Town was mind-blowing. I got up at 6am (yikes!) to see the sunrise over Table Mountain. (If you can't picture it, Google it--it is the most beautiful and strange mountain I've ever seen!) Then, after the sunrise, we docked at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. It is like a mix of the Victorian Era and Pier 39 in San Francisco. It is not the genuine South Africa, but there is a HUGE mall and after a month without the comforts of home, a mall is FINE by me! : )

After walking around, grocery shopping and running some errands, I hopped on an SAS bus headed for the District Six Museum. District Six was an township that was declared a "white area" during apartheid. This ruling displaced hundreds of thousands of "non-whites." Now, near the area where so many lost their homes, and subsequently part of their culture and part of their lives, stands a beautiful and personal museum where locals have commemorated this tragedy. It was very beautiful. Then, we hit the bus to visit a few Cape Town townships. I don't believe I can quite put into words what it is like to be in a township in South Africa. I can say that although apartheid is over, in some areas, things have barely changed. In the townships there is poverty, crime, severe, severe alcohol abuse, and hopelessness. At an illegal pub, we tried homemade beer made from corn. It looked like milk and we all had to drink from the same giant, metal jug! It was disgusting to say the least, but I don't regret for a minute trying it. When in South Africa, right?

I would just hope that everyone in their lives, if they truly want to be aware of the condition of the people of our world, will visit South Africa and experience, if even for a few hours, as in my case, life in a township. I don't even think many South Africans have experienced township life, especially the white South African population. This fact became strikingly clear when, that same day after the township visit, I hopped on another bus with one of my theater classes to see a play at a local theater company. Suddenly I was thrust into a world of opulence and wealth. And, might I add, this world was mostly white. It was shocking for me, coming from Southern California, where every street corner showcases any given ethnicity at any time. This country is one that is just on the verge of change, of shift, and it is remarkable to experience now what the US went through after our own civil rights movement in the 1960s.

The next day, yesterday, I hiked Table Mountain. What a hike! The vegetation was surreal--Africa looks NOTHING like America! We rode an amazing cable car down the mountain once we reached the summit. The cable car rotated and reminded me of the glass elevator in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. After the hike (and a shower!), some friends and I took a cab to the Greenpoint Market, which only happens on Sundays. Let's just say I bought a FEW things! After some resting, I hit the town for dinner and some nightlife with a large group. South Africa gets a little scarier after dark, sure, but it also comes alive when the sun goes down.

Today I woke up bright and early to hit Stellenbosch for a day of wine-tasting. Liz and I hired Stephen, a registered tour guide, to tour us around the wine lands. He picked us up from the ship in an Audi (!!!!) and we hit the road! From 9am to 5pm all I did was drink wine, eat food, and taste chocolate. Not a bad life, to say the least! Liz and I splurged on ourselves for this luxury tour and we both agreed it was worth every penny. We learned, first of all, how to do a wine-tasting (LOL), how they make wine in South Africa, and a lot about the different, South African wines. I'm an expert now, of course. After a long, hard day of drinking wine, Liz and I returned to the glorious waterfront mall and did some more shopping! I just can't be stopped here!

Now, I'm off to bed early because I have to be up at 5am for my Safari tomorrow! Wish me luck--I hope to see the "Big Five of South Africa": lion, elephant, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe. Cross your fingers that I see all these animals!

I'll write more when I have more stories to tell! Miss and love everyone!