Cape Town Day 1

We arrived at the Cape Milner Hotel in Cape Town about 4:30 pm yesterday afternoon and would have loved to have gone for a walk but was advised not to by the hotel manager, not at this hour anyway 😳. Even the 3 guys in our group who are in their 60s were given the same "not safe" message so we all decided to have dinner at the hotel and to explore another time. It appears The Waterfront which is a huge shopping/entertainment precinct is the only place to feel completely safe so we'll check it out tomorrow. Our very comfy room here at the hotel feels so spacious after the train cabin.

Cape Town's rainy season normally has started by now causing Table Mountain to be shrouded in fog, but luckily for us, the rain is a bit late. So today being sunny and warm was ideal for a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain. First though was a 1/2 day tour of the city sights - the 12 Apostles (of which there are about 18), Lion's Head Peak (only looking, not hiking), and the beautiful homes of Camps Beach and Clifton Beach along the Atlantic seabord.

Our guide, a young man of colour (Indonesian & Malay heritage) explained to us the complexities of Apartheid as it exists today even though it was abolished officially in 1994. Thirty years since the end of Apartheid, South Africa still grapples with its legacy. Unequal access to education, unequal pay, segregated communities and massive economic disparities persists, much of it is reinforced by existing institutions and attitudes.

Our morning tour ended at the foot of Table Mountain where we were able to take the cable car 1086 metres to the summit of this super impressive sandstone & granite mountain. More often than not, the top is shrouded in mist with a howling gale blowing but today it was as clear as a bell. How lucky were we!!
Walking tracks, viewing platforms, cafes and gift shops made it very commercial but still extremely impressive.

Our next mission was to catch an Uber to The Waterfront precinct which makes Darling Harbour in Sydney and the Melbourne Docklands fade into insignificance. Being the only safe place for tourists to walk, shop and dine, the place was buzzing with music, retail, dining, and tourist cruises.Læs mere