Cape town
The Portuguese, namely Bartolomeu Dias, were the first Europeans to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope on their way to India, but the Dutch were the first to establish a settlement in what is now Cape Town in 1652. The reason for establishing the colony was threefold: it was approximately half way from the Netherlands to India; Europeans had learned of the value of fresh fruits and vegetables preventing nutritional diseases in their sailors such as scurvy and the region was good for farming; and there was a source of fresh water which they named the Fresh Water River. The indigenous people, the San and Khoikhoi were no match in technology for the Europeans and were easily enslaved or driven out.
Today, Cape Town is the most modern and cosmopolitan city in Africa. It is also the pink capital - the most gay friendly city - of both the Rainbow Nation, South Africa and the continent. The city is built around its iconic landmark, Table Mountain, at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula.
Cape Town viewed from Table Mountain facing northeast. Robben Island is visible in Table Bay.
The city proper and its more affluent neighborhoods are on the north side of the mountain in what is called the City Bowl. To the east are the townships where the poor people live. Many of these are packed with aluminum shacks and less sturdy dwellings. Many black South Africans are moving to the cities to look for work but there isn't adequate housing for them. Despite the current world recession, South Africa remains the most prosperous country in Africa and many people from other African countries are moving there to look for work. This has created ethnic tension between them and native South Africans with whom they are competing for those jobs. Many of the recent reports of violence toward foreigners are directly related to this.
We (Dennie, Fred and our friends Pat and Evan Clark) arrived in Cape Town in the early afternoon on Thursday. The sun was brightly shining when we checked into the Table Bay Hotel so we decided to head immediately to Table Mountain. Although it would be included in our Disney tour on Sunday, the forecast was calling for rain that day. If you have the opportunity to go to Table Mountain when it isn't raining or windy, you take it. So, off we went. The view (above and below) is breathtaking. Clouds will frequently form on top of it or the adjacent mountains, like Lion's Head or Devil's Peak. Birds and a rodent looking creature called a dassie, which are more closely related to elephants, are the most common inhabitants.
View to the southwest towards Camps Bay
A large variety of indigenous plants, collectively called fynbos (fayn-boss) grow on the mountain and the surrounding countryside. This is only part of the Table Mountain National Park which extends all the way south to the Cape of Good Hope. Many indigenous plants and animals can be seen there, including ostriches and baboons. The mountain itself was created from layers of sediment which eventually compressed into sandstone. The surrounding area has been eroded away over millions of years, leaving this towering icon over the city below.
Our visit on Thursday was cut short as the wind picked up and the last gondola down would be leaving shortly. We were lucky to return on Sunday as the rain never materialized and the wind died down. It was still cold but we had another chance to spend time in this beautiful space. This time we were joined by our friends Jen and Justin Dickerson whom we met in Greece and the entire South Africa tour group from Adventures by Disney.
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