So here it is, my last full day here in beautiful Cape Town. Joe's flight was not until seven this evening, so we still had some time to enjoy the city together.
There is a rather large market comprised of stalls selling textiles and crafts that is set up in Greenmarket Square, maybe a 10 minute walk from our hotel. We set out for there after breakfast. Mom, in an email to me last night, requested a bag that could be taken grocery shopping (so she doesn't have to use plastic bags. Part of her Green Initiative I suppose), and I figured I could maybe nab one there. It didn't take long to spot one that I liked, made by a large black woman who kept on calling me "baby". As I was "her first customer of the day" she knocked down the price by 50 rand. I doubt this was true, but the new price was agreeable enough that I didn't feel the need to bargain. Both parties in the transaction were satisfied. With my new purchase in hand, we moved on.
The two of us just wandered about for a few minutes, then decided to give our a walk a bit of direction, and went down to the V&A Waterfront one last time. It was an incredibly beautiful day today, so why let it go to waste? We strolled through the crowds briefly than parked ourselves on a bench for a while. Joe stopped in once more into Dodge City, where he got a little something to eat. We hung around for a bit longer, but eventually had to head back, Joe had a plane to catch.
Things have been quiet since Joe hopped in a taxi destined for Cape Town International. I went back for a bit to Greenmarket Square, as I wanted to pick up a few more items for people back home, and sat down on a bench and people watched for a while as well. I also strolled Long Street, looking for nothing in particular. I finished off with a meal of chicken and chips in the hole-in-the-wall next to our hotel and made a quick stop into a grocery store. And now here I am, in for the evening.
I have a flight at the same time tomorrow, so I still have part of the day. I probably won't do too much exploring, I think Joe and I covered a lot of ground and saw everything we wanted to see. I can say that Cape Town was a fantastic place to visit, and I think I can speak for Joe as well when I say we had a thoroughly enjoyable experience here. The weather (for the most part) was unbeatable, the back drop of Table Mountain alone must make Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and some of the natural beauty here on the Peninsula is second to none. While not an architectural spectacle on the order of say, Istanbul or [insert any number of European cities here], the city center ain't too shabby either. The wrought-iron balconies of Long Street reminded me of my time boppin' around the French Quarter of New Orleans with my partner in "all things cool", my Uncle Paul. Cape Town isn't without its flaws though. Going out at night, even with someone else in tow, can be a hassle. Joe and I had to grow accustomed to pleas for monetary assistance and offers of drugs. Even during the day, you can't be guaranteed that a persistent beggar won't catch site of you. At night things certainly do feel uneasy, and during our stay here we were sure to keep our night-time dinners to Long Street, patrolled by a number of Public Security Officers. Cape Town is statistically one of the most dangerous cities in the world. While much of the violence is sequestered in the Cape Flats, evenings in the City Bowl do not feel safe. It is not the most pedestrian friendly city either, with the left-side driving likely to confuse most westerners and the beginning, and little discipline is shown by South African drivers. As our guide Ursula put it: "As pedestrians, we have no rights here". Public Transportation could be a little more convenient as well. Without it, the costs of seeing some of the city's farther reaches like Camps Bay and the rest of the Peninsula quickly become pricey endeavors.
But it is difficult to find any city that is perfect. Despite its flaws, Cape Town offers so much, and as one of the world's iconic cities, really should not be missed. With proper travel practice and situational awareness (a good tip from John Cusack...I hope my readers remember what I mean here), one should have a wonderful time in South Africa's Mother City. I know I did.
This is going to be my last post for this trip. I don't think I will post up anything tomorrow before my flight. Look for an update upon my return to central New York late on Sunday. This is Adam Kwiat, Cape Town, South Africa.
There is a rather large market comprised of stalls selling textiles and crafts that is set up in Greenmarket Square, maybe a 10 minute walk from our hotel. We set out for there after breakfast. Mom, in an email to me last night, requested a bag that could be taken grocery shopping (so she doesn't have to use plastic bags. Part of her Green Initiative I suppose), and I figured I could maybe nab one there. It didn't take long to spot one that I liked, made by a large black woman who kept on calling me "baby". As I was "her first customer of the day" she knocked down the price by 50 rand. I doubt this was true, but the new price was agreeable enough that I didn't feel the need to bargain. Both parties in the transaction were satisfied. With my new purchase in hand, we moved on.
The two of us just wandered about for a few minutes, then decided to give our a walk a bit of direction, and went down to the V&A Waterfront one last time. It was an incredibly beautiful day today, so why let it go to waste? We strolled through the crowds briefly than parked ourselves on a bench for a while. Joe stopped in once more into Dodge City, where he got a little something to eat. We hung around for a bit longer, but eventually had to head back, Joe had a plane to catch.
Things have been quiet since Joe hopped in a taxi destined for Cape Town International. I went back for a bit to Greenmarket Square, as I wanted to pick up a few more items for people back home, and sat down on a bench and people watched for a while as well. I also strolled Long Street, looking for nothing in particular. I finished off with a meal of chicken and chips in the hole-in-the-wall next to our hotel and made a quick stop into a grocery store. And now here I am, in for the evening.
I have a flight at the same time tomorrow, so I still have part of the day. I probably won't do too much exploring, I think Joe and I covered a lot of ground and saw everything we wanted to see. I can say that Cape Town was a fantastic place to visit, and I think I can speak for Joe as well when I say we had a thoroughly enjoyable experience here. The weather (for the most part) was unbeatable, the back drop of Table Mountain alone must make Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and some of the natural beauty here on the Peninsula is second to none. While not an architectural spectacle on the order of say, Istanbul or [insert any number of European cities here], the city center ain't too shabby either. The wrought-iron balconies of Long Street reminded me of my time boppin' around the French Quarter of New Orleans with my partner in "all things cool", my Uncle Paul. Cape Town isn't without its flaws though. Going out at night, even with someone else in tow, can be a hassle. Joe and I had to grow accustomed to pleas for monetary assistance and offers of drugs. Even during the day, you can't be guaranteed that a persistent beggar won't catch site of you. At night things certainly do feel uneasy, and during our stay here we were sure to keep our night-time dinners to Long Street, patrolled by a number of Public Security Officers. Cape Town is statistically one of the most dangerous cities in the world. While much of the violence is sequestered in the Cape Flats, evenings in the City Bowl do not feel safe. It is not the most pedestrian friendly city either, with the left-side driving likely to confuse most westerners and the beginning, and little discipline is shown by South African drivers. As our guide Ursula put it: "As pedestrians, we have no rights here". Public Transportation could be a little more convenient as well. Without it, the costs of seeing some of the city's farther reaches like Camps Bay and the rest of the Peninsula quickly become pricey endeavors.
But it is difficult to find any city that is perfect. Despite its flaws, Cape Town offers so much, and as one of the world's iconic cities, really should not be missed. With proper travel practice and situational awareness (a good tip from John Cusack...I hope my readers remember what I mean here), one should have a wonderful time in South Africa's Mother City. I know I did.
This is going to be my last post for this trip. I don't think I will post up anything tomorrow before my flight. Look for an update upon my return to central New York late on Sunday. This is Adam Kwiat, Cape Town, South Africa.
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