Slowly
slipping past the breakwater and into the South
Atlantic, we gazed at one of the most remarkable
cityscapes in the world. At the waterfront, ships
of all nations were discharging cargo, while just
beyond, the city buildings wrapped themselves around
the harbor.
Towering
impossibly huge and dominating the landscape was
the unmistakable view of Table Mountain, while
accompanying mountains framed the city bowl and
tumbled into the sea. Looking closely, I could
see the clouds that were earlier caressing the
top of Table Mountain had lifted and the cable
cars to the top I had hoped to travel on were
once again open, albeit a few hours too late for
me.
We
had flown into South Africa four days earlier
and planned on spending our time getting to know
the city and the surrounding region. Having visited
Cape Town once before in a stop that was measured
in hours and not days, it was my goal this time
to make it to the top of Table Mountain. This
famous landmark so dominates the city it seems
impossible to imagine Cape Town without it --
or to visit Cape Town and not enjoys the view
from its top.
So
it came to be that I learned Lesson One: When
visiting Cape Town, take the first chance you
get to visit Table Mountain when the weather allows
it. As often happens, our first day produced beautiful
weather - warm, sunny and hardly any wind - while
the next several days the cable cars were closed
because it was either too windy or too cloudy
at the peak. It was only on my last day that the
mountain was open again, and by that time, I had
already boarded my ship for a passage to the UK,
once again missing the view from the top.
Ultimately
it hardly mattered, for while Cape Town may be
known for Table Mountain, there is far more worth
discovering in this city and its surrounding regions.
From the relaxed and peaceful winelands in the
countryside to the realities of a nation still
dealing with the end of Apartheid, Cape Town was
full of contrasts, both physically and culturally,
and affords an excellent starting point for further
excursions into Africa.
Arriving
at Cape Town in the early afternoon after the
arduous but necessary half-day flight, I had no
desire to head into the city and navigate unfamiliar
busy streets right away. Instead, I rented a car
at the airport and drove the opposite way: away
from the city and into the country and South Africa's
winelands. (CONTINUED...)
