April 9

Our plan was to get going early on our first full day in Cape Town. Afraid I couldn't sleep, I had taken a sleeping pill. For the first time in years, I slept soundly through the night. Shelley was to pick us up at nine. I slept until 8:45 so we did not leave until 10:30. It was hot and sunny so our first stop was a beach. Shelley drove us around the cape on the coastal road that was lined with beaches and playgrounds. Although both of us would have liked to stop, Shelley convinced us that the water would be too cold because we were on the Atlantic side. She was taking us to Fish Hoek, a beach on the warmer Indian Ocean side. On the route we saw posh neighbourhoods terraced on the mountain, evidence of a serious fire three weeks earlier and spectacular views of mountain, bays and beaches.

Fish Hoek Beach was not disappointing. However the warm Indian Ocean was only 16 degrees. The only way you could move forward through the water was to wait until your legs felt numb. I would have liked to go out deeper and actually swim, but it was far too cold. There was a boundary of buoys and nets not too far off the coast. Shelley told us that there had been shark sittings and to keep safe, you had to stay within that boundary. 

We spent two hours relaxing, soaking up the rays and chatting before we were ready for lunch. Shelley took us to a wonderful restaurant right on the beach in Simon's Town. There was a craft market just off the parking lot and singers harmonizing beautifully as they performed well known African songs. The market was filled with stone sculptures, masks, beaded jewelry and bags, and hand painted wooden bowls. Our lunch on the terrace was fantastic and included shandies as well a Baileys type of liqueur made from an African fruit over ice. After our meal we tested the water, still cold but not quite as numbing and walked along the road to Boulders Beach which is part of the National Parks system. As we walked along to boardwalk, we saw the small African penguins. The boardwalk took us right to the ocean edge where we watched the awkward shuffling of the birds on land and their graceful transformation in the water. We also saw penguins taking care of their chicks in nests that were dug into the ground or formed inside of concrete arcs laid out by the park rangers.

We both wanted to move on to the mountains for sunset but by this time it was already 5:00 and we were too late to catch the last cable car up. Instead Shelley took us to the Rhodes Memorial. It is situated up on a hill with an incredible view of Muisenberg and the city. Shelley had mentioned going to the beach at sunset for a picnic, but we were too enthralled by the statues of lions lining the stairs and the spectacular vista of city and mountains to move on before sunset. 

We ended the day at an Italian restaurant just two blocks from our apartment. The food, wine and Italian ice cream desserts were a perfect end to this wonderful day. Both Gila and I think that Shelley is a wonderful person. She seems to understand the experiences we would like to have and is willing to do almost anything to please us. She is very down to earth, open and easy to talk to. She has informed us of the black white divide that still exists as a result of the end of apartheid and the corrupt habits of some of the country's politician. Not only are we seeing the sights but we are also learning a great deal about everyday life here. Now that we have this amazing guard and guide, I can't imagine seeing South Africa without her. 

If the weather is suitable tomorrow we will head out to Robben Island. If not, we will take in some museums. Either way, I can hardly wait.