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Streuth! QM2 arrived into Cape Town on 24th to a live band and full gale! Tricky mooring which needed a tug to help push her onto the berth. At least the advance plan worked and we met our driver for the run to Highlands House and meet up with Nigel & Lyn. Too windy for Table Mountain so took the scenic route round Chapman’s Peak and Hout Bay after lunch at Quay 4 on the V & A Waterfront.
Dropped N & L off again and re-embarked for our last night aboard (well, we had paid for that dinner!)
Disembarked finally on Wednesday and set off for Table Mountain, followed by the Blue Marlin restaurant for a marvellous lunch at Miller’s Point and then down to see the penguins at Boulders – all ashore as they are only just finishing their moult, plus it was still blowing a full gale and everyone was sand-blasted!
Back in time to go to a recommended Italian where most of us ate something not quite right and poor old Nigel was laid out on Thursday. After a lazy morning round the pool P & I were well enough to go out to Robben Island – very thought-provoking. Everyone well enough for La Colombe at Uitseg that night, which was, once again, fantastic.
Friday was relocation to Franschhoek day, so our driver took us wine tasting at Boschendal, La Motte and Dieu Donne, where we had a lovely lunch overlooking the valley. We were booked into a cosy guest house recommended by Jill & Paul where we had excellent rooms on the ground floor right next to the pool – amazing! The weather was getting hotter and hotter, so the pool was essential! Friday night is jazz night at La Petite Ferme and what a treat! Tasty supper with wine included as the sun set across the valley – so romantic!
Saturday breakfast in the open air, short walk for essential shopping, out to La Petite Ferme again for a gourmet lunch and still getting hotter! That took most of the afternoon, but we wanted to have a look in Tracey’s Diamonds, so dropped N & L off at the Huguenot Museum. Tracey’s had a marvellous selection and a marvellous price range, but we did find some super ear-rings!
Right next to La Fontaine we found another smashing restaurant – Le Bon Vivant – which offered an amazing selection of nouvelle cuisine dishes.
Sunday N & L had to set off for Plettenburg and Avis delivered their car about 10:30 and off they went. The day was still getting hotter, so a quick walk up to the museum and stroll down the main street saw us ready for the driver to collect us and take us to our next stop at Huijs Haerlem in Sea Point for our last night – it had been 38C in Franschhoek and, frankly, really too hot! Still 33 in CT, so the pool was a God-send!
Lovely dinner near the sea and into our last day -
Monday – had to be The Waterfront, so packed up and down we went.
Astonishing location, incredible shopping and history with helpful panels all over the site to give perspective from the 1600s to the present day. Found lots of souvenirs and an African restaurant for lunch.
Writing this surrounded by suitcases as we have a cup of tea round the pool – taxi comes in just over an hour to take us to the airport. It will be so sad to leave, especially as today is a lovely temperature, sea breeze and scattered clouds! Really looking forward to Heathrow in 2C.
What a holiday, we will just have to come back!
In no particular order:
