Day Thirty Three - Cape Town and Winery Tour

Today's blog is a pot pourri of the Cape Town tour guide's information as well as the blogger's impressions.....

2010 world cup soccer stadium is a White elephant as Cape Town is a rugby and cricket town, not soccer.

Running through town is a bridge that is unfinished in the middle section.  One half has been converted into an indoor parking lot and the other half is used by the film industry - rents out for 50,000 Rand per day to movie companies.

Theories of why the  bridge has never been completed:

1- due to development of townships during Apartheid

2- engineering error - that the two sides actually won't meet properly

Dutch first arrived in 1652.  They were  instructed to set up refreshment station - looking for trade route - Dutch realized that if you controlled station., you controlled the seas.

The towns all have a European flavour with modern and cubism thrown in.

Table Mtn - lower level - 630m  Top level - 1086 m

 One of 7 natural wonders of the world.

 Scandinavian Pine tree - not native to South Africa, obviously. 

Gov't wants to take it down but the people refuse to agree as roots keep sandy soil intact.

Was planted to stabilize the sandy earth of the sloping hills and mountains around Cape Town. 

 5.5 million people live in Greater Cape Town but census is apparently out by about 14%.  Our tour guide, for example, was missed in the census.

Cape Town is bordered by sea and mountains but still spreads out 90 km inland with many suburbs making up the greater city and its population.

Population of South Africa - 57 million.  Johannesburg largest city.

Main language - English but 3 languages spoken Xhosa, Afrikan and English in Cape Town

Upper Cape Town - land given to freed slaves.   Back in the 1800's, the natives painted their homes to let the community know what their skill was (ie. tailor, undertaker, butcher, etc.)

Colour of house stated what you did.

These homes which are now in very valuable real estate were never reclaimed by the government and today, in memory of their ancestors, the homes are painted bright colours of red, pink, blue, yellow - it is very distinctive and eye- catching!

Men sitting in the streets are day workers.  They earn  80 - 180 rand ($8 - 18) a day, no strings attached.  They hope to get picked up each day for work.  Either by shipping or construction co.

Castle built in 1654 in 5 star bastion shape.  Front part now a museum.  Back part still used by military.

City Hall, officer stands on guard below the balcony where Nelson Mandela gave his first freedom speech upon release from prison.

Dutch reformed church still used today and is oldest church in Cape Town.

Long St. between Wale and Buitensingel - party street.  At 2am, more traffic than during day.

MacDonald's has been around for 15 years. Burger king for 2 years and Dominoe's Pizza coming.

Crime rate.  80% of people in and around Cape Town related to tourism so they take good care of their visitors and it is known as safe.

During English reign, judged your status by wrought iron work around home.  

In the old part of Cape Town, there are no skyscrapers due to height restrictions.  Looks like old Holland. Heritage dept. stopping demolition of old buildings.  Special permit to deconstruct if you keep front facade of building.

Biggest convention held in Cape Town was Diabetes  with 15,000 people.

We are in Cape Town at a good time. Pre tourist season.  Not a good place to be during Christmas time.  Weeks, days or hours for reservations and tourist spots.  Even fine dining.

Tall, jutting mountain called Kings Head.  There is also Devil's Peak, Table Mountain, then King's Head, then Signal Hill.

British and Dutch fought over control in early 1800's. 

Climbing a hill heading into the east of Cape Town, the view if the Atlantic is beautiful!  Properties start at 50,000,000 rand (5 million dollars).

We stopped at an amazingly picturesque site which was like a perfect combination of Vancouver, the Amalfi Coast and Halifax all rolled into one.  So stunning that it hardly looked real.  One tiny negative.  The white sand and blue water and rolling waves are of the Atlantic, a freezing 9 - 11 degrees.  :(

Twelve Apostles mountain range were named by a drunken Dutch sailor washed ashore.  (there are actually 16 peaks).

Camps Bay Drive ...like the strip..,you just need a bathing suit and a credit card....all venders have electronic means of purchase.  Palm trees, street artists, beautiful bodies.

Townships are where the street workers live.  60% unemployment and most of what they earn goes to transportation in and around Cape Town.

Constantia Wine Valley

5 wineries

Vineyards on the mountainside.

It is named after the second eldest daughter of the second Governor of South Africa who gave freed Dutch people the land to grow produce to sell to the seaman.  People take great pride in their Gardens and spend a lot of time and money on them. Properties start at 9 million rand.

Vines go back to 1655 but initially were not good.  When the French came,  they perfected the grape growing and wine improved.

Lunch at Groot ("Big") Constantia out in the outdoors under a huge shade tree overlooking the City of Cape Town and the vineyards and the surrounding mountains.  Fabulous!l

Cape Town has one of the smallest ports in Africa but second biggest in South Africa.

What an amazing day of incredible views and fascinating history....am exhausted!  .....,,JT