Flouritious v Boela

Wine tasting in Constantia. some visit one or two of these cool climate sensations. We visit them all !! Annemarie is one of the most popular Haut Bay Physiotherapists and treats a few of the top Winemakers in the area. She takes two days holiday from her private practice to tour us through the vineyards. A polite phonecall to Boela at Groot Constantia and Flouritious the Viticulturist at Klein sends the chums into a lather of competitive zeal. Both outdoing themselves in a rush to prove their hospitality and wines superior to the other.

Kate and I feel very lucky to be caught in the middle of such a malestrom !!

We buy a case of the Vin Constance from Flouritious, still tipsy from the indulgent tasting deep in the museum cellar.

Boela tempts us with his blanc de blanc shampoo.....can’t call it Champagne now, can you ????

Capetown

The flight from Kruger to Capetown’s brand new airport is “hectic” as they say in these parts.

We turn for the final approach into an 80kph head wind. The only plane that lands that day.

Chris waits for us at the baggagae reclaim and displays his trademark polite “ nothings a problem “ personality as he spends the next few days suggesting diversions to the disgusting weather. Robben Island ferry crossing is cancelled because of high winds and rough seas. Thats the end of seeing mandela’s view of table mountain from his cell. The gondola to table mountain reveals fog thicker than in Sherlock Holme’s London and no view. Kate shops. I have a few swims. One at the 101 year old Long Street Baths. Victorian grandeur in need of a bit of TLC, but a friendly venue all the same.

Chris and Annemarie look after us in Haut Bay. 

Update on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 06:42AM by Mark Bender

The Grand Restaurant on the beach at the international destination that is Camps Bay.

We join Chris and a dozen of Annemarie’s nearest and dearest for a sundowner followed by a slap up meal. Last table to leave a dedicvated crew reconvene at the new nightclub just down the road....straight into a launch party for the revamped Cosmopolitan magazine.

Models swinging their lithe hips as fat businessmen shipped in the bottles of Absolute and tables of Bubbly. What an entertaining night. I feel a hangover coming on !! 

Safari Time

The BAE twin prop lands ontime into Kruger Park Airport and we hook up with Stan the transfer man. British. In SA since 1971. He talks non stop on the transfer to the game lodge. Full of insight into contemporary South Africa. A voice of experience....and a steady driver. Surprisingly he avoids all the pedestrians on their way home from school and the hopeful sitting at street corners waiting for the offer of work. Kate and I arrive at Kapama River Lodge, a cup of tea and slice of fruit cake, introduced to Noel (guide) and Alfred (tracker) then we join   the Belgian family for our first game drive.

 

Update on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 06:32AM by Mark Bender

i have spoken to a few people who have been on safari. pretty much all of them rave about it but i had no idea what a majestic sight a herd of elephants, a journey of giraffes, a pod of hippos or a dazzle of zebras can be. kate and i have prize seats behind noel the american anthropology grad  safari guide with an unequalled passion for the african bush. she finds an eagle, leopard tortoise and cheetah just as fascinating as a dung beetle. in the mornings we are woken at 5am for a 5.45am drive....after a cup of strong black coffee that is...snuggled up with a fleece blanket over our laps. antelope gamboll, giraffes peer over their breakfast treetop at us. we get use to meeting the lions. over the 6 drives even get to know their personalities....the hippos frollic playfully at a waterhole and the buffalo meander, all 200 odd, down to join them. in the evenings we stop for sundowners ...my new favourite time of the day when the great white hunter makes a temporary camp to chew some biltong and sup a beer or pre dinner brandy deep in the bush as the sun goes down. one evening as the belgian chats with us we are disturbed by a young rhino and his mum crashing through the bush. heading straight for us... everyone slowly back on the landcruiser please.

Update on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 06:35AM by Mark Bender

my favourite time of the day is that easy midday siesta in our lovely room...on the terrace playing chess....in the bath looking out over the bush......a glass of rose...and kate’s smiling face.

SAA

FUCK !!!!

Kate suggests that I check the flight details and I do.....to find that the 9pm flight to Joburg left at 9am this morning.....tears.  Panic and the lovely Melissa calms us while South African Airways remedy the situation. We will be at the game reserve and on safari for Wednesday 4th and the evening game drive as if nothing has ever happened... what a plonker I am !

Umberston Street E1

Finally after a torrid time with HSBC Kate and I take the keys to the flat we have been coveting for the last few months. Those late night phonecalls from Australia and e mails to Sam at Fyfemcdade have settled the outcome.

A place to hang some of Kates art and a place to call home. Jamie Manuel and his gang of Mr Shifters do the honours and hump the few belongings up the lift to the 6th floor. Melanie, Tsunami and Angela love the view. Loz and Syl think its cool. The Lahore Kebab House is just around the corner. Kate and I just need to rent it out. Anyone interested ??not a victorian feature in sight.