Connecting African Culture Through the Seas
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
Cape Town (known as Kaapstad in Afrikaans) is the most-visited city in South Africa, for good reason. It hits all the marks, with adventure, shopping, beaches, history, culture, fashion, food, and wine all thrown into the mix. A bustling city center full of abundant markets, chic galleries and stylish restaurants gives way to refreshing golden beaches, stunning mountains begging to be hiked, and genteel winelands waiting to be explored.
Much of the town known locally as the ‘Mother City’ has a Mediterranean air, and yet suburbs could be stand-alone villages for all their quirks and individuality. The sprawling poverty-stricken townships on the outskirts, which are common to all of South Africa’s cities, offer up plenty of apartheid history and are a stark reminder of the wealth gap that 20 years of democracy has yet to resolve. And yet there’s a vibrant economy that stretches from the streets to the downtown skyscrapers.
There’s natural beauty in abundance, but equally in the faces of its people: the Cape Malays with their slave forebears and rich Islamic traditions; the Xhosa with ancient tribal roots and warm smiles; locals whose names hark back to England, France and Holland, yet are proudly South African; the Coloureds of mixed ancestry and proudly so. If ever the melting pot cliché held true, it’s in Cape Town.
There so are many experiences to be had in and around Cape Town, whether you’re in town for a day or a week (though a week is better); whether you’ve got champagne tastes or more modest means; and whether your interests run to urban diversions or outdoor adrenaline adventures. From trekking to the top of the spectacular centerpiece, Table Mountain, to sailing round the tip of the continent where two oceans meet; from peering into Mandela’s former cell on Robben Island to discovering the history of the former District 6; from taking high tea at the Twelve Apostles hotel to hanging with hipsters at one of Long Street’s many dive bars, Cape Town stakes its claim as one of the finest cities on the continent.
Safety: One should not visit the townships unaccompanied. When driving on the highway from the airport into town, beware of obstacles in the road. Thieves have been known to place them there in an attempt to get motorists to pull over so they can rob them. If you run over an object, do NOT pull over on the side of the highway; continue to the nearest exit, then stay in your car and call the police. Don’t stare at your phone while walking (especially if you are alone), as distracted tourists can become targets for opportunistic thieves. Stay alert at all times, as muggings have been known to occur. Don’t wear expensive watches, chains, or handbags if you are spending more than a few minutes out in public. Try to use cash where possible, as credit and debit card numbers are stolen frequently.
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
Cape Town has many names. Over the years it’s been labelled the Mother City, the Fairest Cape, the Cape of Storms and the Tavern of the Seas. And it’s perhaps …