We get up early and peak out the window to check whether it’s clear on Table Mountain. It’s a beautiful scene, with a crystal blue sky. It doesn’t get much better than this. We’re to be ready by 8:00 to get to the mountain ready for the 8:30 opening.
When we get there, the line up is less than 1/4 of what it was the day before. Bonus. Ash tells us that they run the cable cars empty up and down each morning to make sure they are running properly before the public gets on. The cable cars are circular and have a platform that rotates once around as you take the 4 minute ride up, so that everyone gets a view. I thought that was pretty ingenious because there’s usually a lot of jockeying around necessary to get the rear window view.
On the way up you can see a narrow and precarious looking trail to walk through to the top. We also see some mountain climbers working their way up on a steep rock section right beside the gondola. Ash tells us there are many rescues from the trail and for mountain climbers each year.
Before boarding the elevator up to the gondola platform, we take the requisite “blue screen” picture against a bright green background. Our picture will be superimposed onto a background with us standing in the gondola. I don’t know how much this service will cost, but it’s something I never purchase anyways, so I guess its’ irrelevant how much it costs.
The ride up is spectacular as we rise far above the city. Table Mountain is flat on the top and we spend some time to walk around the perimeter. Ash points out various landmarks, locations of where the original shoreline was before a significant amount of the waterfront bottom was filled and the shoreline expanded outward to build a deeper harbour, and the Cape Peninsula where we will explore later today. I take many pictures where they will reside on my memory card forever. In the meantime, here are some of the shots.
As we descend from Table Mountain, our guide admits he sweated all night that the sky would be clear. He had assured us that it would be clear in the morning. I indicated there was no need. It wasn’t something he could control and there would be an opportunity to re-schedule if necessary.
The trip down the Cape Peninsula was interesting and fun. The Cape Peninsula is located south of Cape Town, stretching southward and ending at the Cape of Good Hope. Our route took us down the east side of the point and back up through the west side. Due to low clearance on the road cut into the cliff side, tour buses cannot travel the west side route.
Near the start of the journey leading out of the city core, Ash points out District 6, a part of the city that is full of empty homes. In 1950, the recently elected government passed the Group Areas Act that allowed local governments to establish “group” areas where only people of a certain race were permitted to reside. Once an area was designated for a particular group, the government had the authority to displace anyone who was not of the designated race and to demolish homes as they saw fit. In the same year, the government passed the Population Registration Act, making everyone become identified as either coloured, white or black. Ash’s family were designated as coloured.
District 6, was an area close to the downtown core that was designated in 1966 as whites only and over 60,000 non whites were forced to leave during the ensuing decade. Ash’s family, whose heritage is East Indian, lived in District 6. The house was sold to the government at an under-market value and the family was forced to move to Coloured rental housing further outside of the city.
We reach the east side of the Cape Peninsula at Muizenberg, a seaside resort town. The huge beach is a popular destination and is well known as a place to learn to surf as the waves are gentle. The next major beach is Noordhoek Beach. Although it’s a magnificent looking beach, there is an undertow making it dangerous for swimmers. Judith was keen to learn that this is the only beach were you are permitted to ride horses. You can rent horses to ride and we saw some out enjoying their beach ride.
The next stop was Boulder’s Beach, where a colony of African Penguins reside. The area has been commercialized with a row of souvenir stands lined up between the parking lot and the entrance to the park. The park has built a boardwalk over top of the beach to prevent visitors from getting too close. I estimate there were about 250 penguins and they were very cute. We hung around there for a long time. Have a look.
The most southwest point of the peninsula is the Cape of Good Hope. But on the way there, Ash points out a wild ostrich.
From the parking lot was an uphill walk to the old lighthouse.
We check out the view at the top of the hill. The old lighthouse has been decommissioned and a new one that is more powerful sits on the rock below.
We drive over to another area of the park to line up to take this picture and then head back to Cape Town.
On the way, we drive through the tawny community of Camps Bay, where houses sell for he equivalent of $10 Million CDN. Judith decided not to buy.
We arrive home late in the afternoon and decide that a nap is in order followed by salads for dinner (our meal choices to this point (except breakfasts) have been appalling...).
On the way up you can see a narrow and precarious looking trail to walk through to the top. We also see some mountain climbers working their way up on a steep rock section right beside the gondola. Ash tells us there are many rescues from the trail and for mountain climbers each year.
Before boarding the elevator up to the gondola platform, we take the requisite “blue screen” picture against a bright green background. Our picture will be superimposed onto a background with us standing in the gondola. I don’t know how much this service will cost, but it’s something I never purchase anyways, so I guess its’ irrelevant how much it costs.
The ride up is spectacular as we rise far above the city. Table Mountain is flat on the top and we spend some time to walk around the perimeter. Ash points out various landmarks, locations of where the original shoreline was before a significant amount of the waterfront bottom was filled and the shoreline expanded outward to build a deeper harbour, and the Cape Peninsula where we will explore later today. I take many pictures where they will reside on my memory card forever. In the meantime, here are some of the shots.
 |
| A circular gondola |
 |
| Coming into the Lower Station |
 |
| Panorama View of the city |
As we descend from Table Mountain, our guide admits he sweated all night that the sky would be clear. He had assured us that it would be clear in the morning. I indicated there was no need. It wasn’t something he could control and there would be an opportunity to re-schedule if necessary.
The trip down the Cape Peninsula was interesting and fun. The Cape Peninsula is located south of Cape Town, stretching southward and ending at the Cape of Good Hope. Our route took us down the east side of the point and back up through the west side. Due to low clearance on the road cut into the cliff side, tour buses cannot travel the west side route.
Near the start of the journey leading out of the city core, Ash points out District 6, a part of the city that is full of empty homes. In 1950, the recently elected government passed the Group Areas Act that allowed local governments to establish “group” areas where only people of a certain race were permitted to reside. Once an area was designated for a particular group, the government had the authority to displace anyone who was not of the designated race and to demolish homes as they saw fit. In the same year, the government passed the Population Registration Act, making everyone become identified as either coloured, white or black. Ash’s family were designated as coloured.
District 6, was an area close to the downtown core that was designated in 1966 as whites only and over 60,000 non whites were forced to leave during the ensuing decade. Ash’s family, whose heritage is East Indian, lived in District 6. The house was sold to the government at an under-market value and the family was forced to move to Coloured rental housing further outside of the city.
We reach the east side of the Cape Peninsula at Muizenberg, a seaside resort town. The huge beach is a popular destination and is well known as a place to learn to surf as the waves are gentle. The next major beach is Noordhoek Beach. Although it’s a magnificent looking beach, there is an undertow making it dangerous for swimmers. Judith was keen to learn that this is the only beach were you are permitted to ride horses. You can rent horses to ride and we saw some out enjoying their beach ride.
 |
| Noordhoek Beach |
The next stop was Boulder’s Beach, where a colony of African Penguins reside. The area has been commercialized with a row of souvenir stands lined up between the parking lot and the entrance to the park. The park has built a boardwalk over top of the beach to prevent visitors from getting too close. I estimate there were about 250 penguins and they were very cute. We hung around there for a long time. Have a look.
The most southwest point of the peninsula is the Cape of Good Hope. But on the way there, Ash points out a wild ostrich.
From the parking lot was an uphill walk to the old lighthouse.
 |
| It’s a long walk to the very top |
We check out the view at the top of the hill. The old lighthouse has been decommissioned and a new one that is more powerful sits on the rock below.
 |
| The Cape of Good Hope |
We drive over to another area of the park to line up to take this picture and then head back to Cape Town.
On the way, we drive through the tawny community of Camps Bay, where houses sell for he equivalent of $10 Million CDN. Judith decided not to buy.
We arrive home late in the afternoon and decide that a nap is in order followed by salads for dinner (our meal choices to this point (except breakfasts) have been appalling...).
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