Me to Rebecca: yes.
And so it began.
The Germans (Ki?/Kye?/Kie? and Alex) had rented a car for three days and we had snagged the back seat. First we went to Cape Town, where they used a travel map and their German senses of efficiency to make sure we saw what was important. I don't have pictures of the town, though yes it was nice (and shady, which was a welcome change)- it was still just a city.
We were navigated effortlessly to the Castle, where we took a tour. The castle was built in blah blah and it was used for blah blah. If you're interested, Google it. There was a ceremonial cannon-fire which was interesting and we saw olddungeons and were lead down corridors that went deep into the damp buildings. I found some lichens sprawled out here and there, as well as two (2!) dead cockroaches in a dank hole. In the rooms in which soldiers were kept for going AWOL, one can read messages carved into the doors.
There were a few plants that managed to creep up, but it was mostly a crispier environment. Here are also two pictures from my previous trip to Cape Town. I had hoped for more animal contact, but cockroaches are better than nothing, I suppose. No, I didn't wash my hands after this- I licked all my fingers.
We had a mildly uncomfortable lunch right there, and Ki/Kye/Kie promptly found errors on the check, and informed us that at this time, we had seen everything there was to see in Cape Town. We were to move onto Table Mountain next, which had been towering over us all day.
I think the tallest point I've been, is Stone Mountain, in Georgia, so this cart ride to the top of Table Mountain was a big deal. You move fast, while you're spinning (so everyone gets a good view) on a rotating floor. It would be a nightmare for someone with vertigo. Once you're up top, you're free to wander/hike the mountain top. Without hesitation, these views, these mountains, are the most beautiful things I've seen.
When I first got off and looked around, my jaw literally dropped. I was starting to get overwhelmed at it all when some playful man grabbed me, saying, "BOO!" Since I startle ridiculously easily, of course I left my skin in that moment. His friend chastised him, but he said he "had to do it" because I looked so serious. This Australian man didn't realize though, how Sarah sometimes reacts to being startled. Those who have seen me taunted with a balloon know how I reacted.
I will limit the pictures I post here- as I have many more than I think most people are interested in. I'll start with the many lichens that were all over the rocks as well as other plants. I've never seen such a variety (let alone the vibrant colors). I guess all the textbooks were right, they ARE really adapted to living in harsh climates!
There were animals (hummingbird, a dassie [rodent-like], birds and a bearded lizard), though not too many were spotted. The dassie wanted food, but we resisted the temptation. I mean, look at that mug! As usual, I bonded with a local bird, who sat with me for a bit (I had no food).
And of course the plants. Flowers, veg, succulents- so many.
It feels like posting pictures of the mountains themselves is a bad idea, as they won't do them justice- but here are a few. I can't believe more people don't die here, even I backed out of a few pictures due to a healthy fear of bouncing down the mountainside.
Promptly at 6 we left, headed for the beach. Sadly, Germans drive too fast, so the few parking spots we saw were behind us before we could slow down. Heading down the coast, there was a parking area, overlooking a more rugged part of the water. We stopped to at least admire the view before leaving. "To hell with that, I'm not getting THIS close to the water and not putting my feet in there," I thought. I saw a sort of "path" that went down, so I followed it. Passing broken glass (and trash, as always) I skittled to the bottom and hollered up that they had better come down, as there was a small clearing. This is the view from above, followed by what I saw as I emerged from the woods. My lenses were stuck, it's not me trying to be artsy.
The water was full of life, like I've never seen in wading through water. Green/Brown algae, mullosks of all sorts (I examined, but put back), crustaceans....
My Crocs were essential on this outing- I'm thrilled I wear them so often. I could go through the water without worry about the glass, and they had great traction for climbing all over the rocks. Here I'm slipping with style, and being insensitive to the German's fear of being attacked by something....ankle deep. Alas, we had a schedule to adhere to, so I must return to this spot- this exact spot again (with a trashbag) at another time.
Ki/Kye/Kie Quotes:
Upon wandering through an open-air market:
"I hav to get out of ze sun foh a beet and I vait ovah der. Eef you not der in a beer, I vait longer."
At Table Mountain, a guy tried to act as if you had to pay for parking, but Ki/Kye/Kie was not having any of it. As he requested R20 for parking (and Rebecca and I reached for our wallets), he gave the guy a meal bar and said: "No. Pahrking eez free. You hav your bar. Vhen ve come back, maybe we geev you some Rand, but never twenty. {insert licking his hand-rolled cigarette for dramatic effect} Never twenty.
No comments:
Post a Comment