Cape Town

During the Christmas holidays, the Area Offices tend to empty out and the work flow slows to a trickle.  It is a great time to take the opportunity to see some more of this amazing country.  We decided to go to Cape Town since we were not sure we would get any other chance.  During the holidays many South Africans go to Cape Town so it gets crowded and sometimes things are all booked up.  We were able to find a flight to Cape Town and we were very fortunate to find a rental car, a hotel in Cape Town and a B&B in George so we booked them while we still could.  The Winns had already made reservations so we managed to link up some of the time with their schedule.  The Deamers also came down at the last minute and got a great deal so all of us did Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Castle of Good Hope, and the Two Oceans Aquarium together.  It was super enjoyable but your heart really went out to the people down there with the severe drought they have been experiencing.  They are talking about the city running out of water about the 12th of April if they do not get any rain.  Our overall impression is that Cape Town, known as the Mother City, is definitely a slower pace than Joburg and not only more laid back, but friendlier and safer.

We flew into Cape Town got our rental car and then drove the Garden Route over to George. We enjoyed the area around George and also over at Knsyna where the Winns were staying.  We had "pudding" at Elder Jacque Van Reenan's home in George.  We learned that pudding means dessert not necessarily pudding.   We had waffles and some super delicious homemade ice cream.

The Knysna Heads (or narrows) where the boats have to navigate into the bay.

The wharf in Knysna at sunset.

Cape Aguilhas where the warmer greener Indian Ocean meets the colder darker Atlantic Ocean

The Cape Aguilhas lighthouse. 

The Southernmost tip of Africa where the two oceans meet.

The view of Cape Town from Signal Hill.

Table Mountain - the most famous landmark in Cape Town.

The cable car up to the top of Table Mountain.

Cape Town - The Mother City from Table Mountain.

The imfamous Robbin Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

A Rock Dossie eating bushes on the top of Table Mountain.  It is closely related to the elephant.

Sister Sharon Winn and Sister Evelyn Deamer admiring a handmade quilt at the Kirstenbosch Gardens gift shop.

The Winns, the Whytes and the Deamers on the elevated canopy walk above the tree tops in Kirstenbosch Gardens.

The South African penguins (formerly called Jackass penguins) at Boulders Beach.

Penguins nesting on the beach.  Sometimes they steal some nesting material from a neighbor.

The clouds flow down the face of Table Mountain like vapors from dry ice.

Table Mountain from the Victoria & Alford wharf.