On Sunday I climbed Table Mountain for the last time (that is, at least until I somehow make my way back to Cape Town in the future). I used the Platteklip Gorge trail, which is the most direct way up the mountain, but is also basically a giant, stone stairmaster. It took me a grueling…
Category: Cape Town
The Garden Route
Last weekend my housemates and I took a trip along the garden route, a famous stretch of coastline on Route 62 between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The garden route is 300 kilometers of beautiful South African mountains, Karoo plains, vineyards, and game reserves littered with lots of little towns and attractions. Views from the…
Life in Cape Town
Behind the mountains, beaches, wineries, and wildlife that make Cape Town famous are the everyday lives of locals. Void of tourist attractions, what the day to day lives of local Capetonians lack in paragliding and shark cave diving, they make up for with diversity and character. Now that I’ve been living in Cape Town for…
Echo Valley and Boomslang Cave
On Friday I headed to Boyes Drive just above the Kalk Bay train station for a 3 hour hike through Echo Valley. The Echo Valley trail leads up to Boomslang Cave, a cave that cuts right through the mountain. The hike to the cave was very steep and rocky, often requiring us to climb over…
Cape Town Cuisine
Obesity is a well known problem in the U.S. and Americans are often criticized for our processed foods and overeating. Because of that, I had assumed that any other country I visited would serve tiny portions and locals would walk to the local market each morning to pick up fresh, unprocessed food for the day….
Cape Malay Cooking in Bo Kaap
I had been looking forward to visiting Bo Kaap to see the iconic colorful houses since arriving in Cape Town. Bo Kaap, which translates to “Upper Cape” in Afrikaans, is situated on the slopes of Signal Hill just above the city center. Settled in the 1700s by Dutch colonists, the area is made up of brightly…
Kalk Bay
On Sunday, my friends and I took a train to Kalk Bay, a fishing village on the False Bay coastline. The scenic 45 minute train ride along the coast costed R13, the equivalent of about $1 USD. Sitting between the mountains and the ocean, Kalk Bay is known for its rich character and and colorful…
Rock Climbing at Silvermine
On Friday morning I headed to my job for what I expected to be another normal workday. At about 9AM my boss informed me that he would be leaving to go rock climbing with a visiting supplier at around 10:30, and asked if I would like to join. Determined to be open to lots of…
My Birthday Weekend in Cape Town
Last weekend I decided to celebrate my 22nd birthday South African style! I started by attending a rugby match at Newlands Stadium with my housemates. Surrounded by cheering fans, the Cape Town Stormers defeated the Japanese Sunwolves (probably because they knew it was my birthday). I wasn’t really sure what was going on for most…
V&A Waterfront
On Friday I visited the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a popular tourist destination on the Atlantic Shore at Table Bay Harbour. The waterfront is lined with bustling shops and restaurants just steps away from the ocean. Boat captains advertise hour long cruises around the bay to the sound of brass bands and African drum performers….