The first day we were in Cape Town, the famous mountain, Table Mountain was covered by clouds (“the tablecloth”). This day, July 15, we woke to bright sun, clear skies and no tablecloth. We were hustled off to Table Mountain and up we rode in the gondola to the top. The views were amazing. Our local guide was Gillian and she told us about what we were seeing, how the land was formed millions of years ago and some of the history of the area.
Before we actually left for our touring we had a guest lecturer, Ibrahim. He had lived through the apartheid years, watched his home be razed in District Six and now was a lecturer for tour groups and others. The story of apartheid is very sad, with some repercussions still visible. District Six was a melting pot before everyone was moved out to make it a white only area. It took 13 years to finally get everyone out at a cost of 15 billion Rand, but all the religious building are standing to this day.
After spending time at Table Mountain, Sunny, Jen, Jacob, Abby and Bob left to do a hike on Lions Head. It was a great hike, so they say, but very difficult using chains and ladders at some points to make the assent. It is higher then Table Mountain, which you use a gondola to get to the top.
Mike and Bette continued with the tour group, seeing some additional areas of Cape Town, before getting to the Kirstenbosch Gardens, located on the side of Table Mountain. We did a short walk through the gardens, seeing the national flower of South Africa, the King Protea. We had lunch in a restaurant, Mayo, in the gardens, having some traditional foods that included a spinach and potato dish and a pumpkin and peanut butter dish. There were 3 different tandoori type meat dishes. All of them were very good.
The gardens were endowed by Cecil Rhodes who made his wealth from diamonds. He was also the founder of the Rhodes scholars and named a country after himself, Rhodesia – now Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Bette went on to the Zeitz Museum – ultra modern art. The building was amazing – the art weird.
After a short rest back at the hotel we had a wine dinner at Constantina. Food was excellent, wine not so much to me.
We finally ended our day – tired but having seen and done so much.
Atop Table Mountain
Table Mountain and Cape Grace Hotel on a beautiful clear day
One of the many spots in Cape Town with a frame to pose in with Table Mountain in the background
(Wi-Fi keeping me from including photos – not great in the wild!)
Bette and Bob See the World 
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