Cape Town

Table Mountain from Tableview beach
see all photos »

Cape Town has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and 'No', I'm not saying that just because I live here!! It just IS. Having seen a fair bit of the world already, I am able to compare it to other places. I lived in London for 4 years thinking that I wanted to begin a new life somewhere in the UK! Ha... no ways! London is dynamic and the English country is quaint and beautiful but a pity about the endless grey skies + rain. From there I travelled to numerous other exciting cities and hiked in some stunning mountains and met some incredible people, but for a place to live, nothing on this planet so far can compare to Cape Town. Everything is here. Mountains, oceans [both the Atlantic + the Indian], lakes, game parks, beaches, forests, flora + fauna, modern cities and rural villages, a perfect climate, diverse cultures, Robben Island [Nelson Mandela's prison] and a relaxed + laid back lifestyle to boot!! There are pubs, clubs and restaurants to keep just about everyone happy.  All of this within easy travelling distance from Cape Town city itself.

Sunset on Table Mountain through the masts.
see all photos »

I suppose I sound as if I'm blowing my trumpet here! Not really. I'm just very proud to live in such an amazing city and never ever take it for granted. Cape Town has, in my mind, only one negative and that is the wind in the summer! We call it the South-Easter or the Cape Doctor. There is a love/hate relationship between the locals and the wind. When it blows endlessly at a wild rate of knots for 2-3 weeks [or more] on end, we all find ourselves cursing it and losing our tempers somewhat. On the other hand, when it does decide to stop for a short while we want it back!! Without it, the pollution hangs heavily over the city bowl and the peninsula + the heat gets quite ridiculous!! We humans are a difficult bunch to satisfy but without this crazy wind we'd be living in a permanent haze of smog - hence being named The Cape Doctor - because it all gets blown away.

Another departure from my home city

Devils Peak from the yacht club.
see all photos »

OK, now back to the pending travels... Even tho' I own a home here I decided to move out, rent it and stay in a backpackers!! Have to get into 'travel mode' you know!! I'm impatient to climb onto that plane to new adventures. David [or SuperDave as he's known], is the manager of the backpackers and my travelmate. He will be kicking off the trip in grand style by cruising 'in the lap of luxury' for the first 3 weeks from CT to Southampton. He leaves on 2nd April to live it up in grand style. I will join up with him on 24th April in Amsterdam - for the "real" start of our epic adventure.