Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

[Peasie]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<span style="font-size: 14pt">I love the colors and the mountains. Spectacular!</span>

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jazz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My first impression of Cape Town was how clean the place was. In Zambia there were people that swept the side of the roads first thing in the morning. No machines, nothing automated, just simple men and women with straw brooms and bags in which to put whatever garbage there was. I did not see men and women sweeping in Cape Town, but from my limited perspective, the public sanitation crew was doing a great job and overall, the people were extremely friendly. Maybe it was the fact that this was an &quot;artsy&quot; and major tourist-inviting town.

Though we were in the downtown core, the traffic was surprisingly light.

The morning had been a full one so far. Meeting John and our quick walk through &quot;the Garden&quot; to Mandela Square, the happy coincidence of the exhibition of the life and times of the man himself and my visit there, and listening to Rasheed, the drive to Cape Point as well as the place itself promised to be interesting. I found myself looking forward to it.

Some sights along the way....









</div></div>

OMG these pictures do not look real!!! I love the colors on the roofs and the waves look impossibly fake! how beautiful! my goodness! </div></div>
I know what you are feeling. I was in awe at some of the views myself....

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compray</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beautiful pics and report so far. I'm glad I came on today. </div></div>
Thanks much. I appreciate you tagging along...

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-size: 14pt">I love the colors and the mountains. Spectacular!</span>

</div></div>

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<span style="font-style: italic">Still along the way to Cape Point...</span>








These guys were not quite as active as the happy feet character in the movie of the same name. If you haven't watched it, go rent it. It is very good.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa


Preening...


Getting somewhat up close and personal.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

On the drive we saw some baboons and Rasheed decided to stop. It seemed like they were often spotted along this stretch of road because a number of other vehicles had stopped as well. There were signs everywhere not to feed the baboons because they could become aggressive. In addition, there were workers here and there who I assume were on hand in the event that there were some not too friendly interactions between humans and animals.

As the baboons were on the other side of the road and we were a bit past them, all but one of us decided to get out of the van to get pictures. It was then that this guy below did something that was hilariously funny. Well, at the time it was.





We watched as he / she left the rest of the group and made what seemed like a direct line for us. For a brief moment, we wondered what to do in a situation like that . Rasheed had told us not to take any bags as they might think it contained food and would try to take it. Unknown to us, SW, who had remained inside the vehicle, had decided to eat an apple. Apparently, this baboon saw that and having crossed the road, ignored us and quickly went towards the van. The doors were closed so no problem there, or so we thought. We watched in disbelief as the baboon opened the door and got in . No sooner had he done so when the door on the other side flew open and SW was running towards us yelling like she was crazy. Donald Quarrie, in his prime, was no match for her By this time everything she said was flavored with her Bajan accent and dialect which made it even funnier. We howled in laughter because the scene was like something out of the movies.

According to her, she was eating the apple and minding her business when all she knew was that the door opened and in the next breath the baboon was sitting beside her. She dropped the apple and bolted as fast as her little legs could carry her (thankfully, the van had passenger doors on both sides). By this time, Rasheed was trying to get the animal out of the van so he grabbed a broom that he had in the back and was trying to shoo it out. He was trying to be brave but it seemed he was just as scared of the thing then as we were. After what seemed like forever, the animal came out and sat on the side watching us. Trying to restrain ourselves, we scrambled in on the other side and quickly closed the doors.



But the drama wasn't done. SW said she could not find her camera Dear Jesus! We searched high and low but could not find it. Did the baboon take it? Looking at him/her, it didn't seem like it. One thing we knew, at least I knew, was that I was not going back out there to look for it By this time the rest of the baboons had come over and were looking on. Who knew what else they might do? I did not want to find out



Thankfully, we found the camera wedged between one of the front seats. It seemed when SW dashed out, she went one way and the camera went the other way. Once we started driving again, the incident was the talk all the way to Cape Point. SW could have been hurt and thank God she wasn't. But man, it was hilarious and something none of us will forget anytime soon. As a matter of fact, we still talk about it from time to time.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<span style="font-style: italic">So, a few tears lighter from all the laughing along the way, we finally got here without any more drama... </span>






This much we had figured out

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa






Tourists could travel on this - a funicular - up through the mountains to a lighthouse.

[Cultcha]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Great report Church Dude!!!

Good thing the baboon didn't mek off with the van.

[Stormmey]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Church Dude, great pics!! hilarious about the Baboon opening the car and getting in

Especially like the rock formation pics and the mountains. Great report!!

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KF_Milo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great report Church Dude!!!

Good thing the baboon didn't mek off with the van. </div></div>
No kidding Thanks for tagging along

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrsStormmey1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Church Dude, great pics!! hilarious about the Baboon opening the car and getting in

Especially like the rock formation pics and the mountains. Great report!!
</div></div>
Hey Stormmey Thanks for checking in and yeah, every time I think about that baboon, I conjure up images of what Milo said

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa


The lighthouse in the background is where the shuttle, the funicular, takes the tourists. I wasn't interested in going up there to check it out.
However, instead of walking to the Cape, we drove - a relatively short distance. Some sights along the drive.






The warm Mozambique-Agulhas current from the Indian Ocean and the cool Benguela current from Antarctic waters converges here.
Though the signage says this point is the most south-western of the African continent, that claim has been disputed.

[Diplomat]

Re: Cape Town, Jo'burg - South Africa

Despite the dispute, I felt a sense of awe standing and dipping my feet in what was arguably the edge of the continent. In some respects, this was as good as it got.




Saw this guy/gal on the drive back.


The waves were quite something on that day.


A brave soul...