Today was our first full day in Cape Town and the first thing on our agenda was to go up to Table Mountain. Table Mountain has breathtaking views of the city, the coastline, and Cape Point to the southeast. It was recommended that we go the first sunny day we could, as many days a cloud hangs over the mountaintop (like a "table top") which would obscure the view. There are 550 ways to hike up Table Mountain, and being the non-hikers that we Waychoffs are, we chose to ride the funicular to the top (a rotating kind of skyride). It was nice and sunny, and noticeably cooler at the top of the mountain. We could see the city below, including the FIFA World Cup stadium, the amazing coastline with the most beautiful blue water, and Robben Island in the distance. We walked around and took lots of photos, then came down and headed to the V&A Waterfront for lunch. The waterfront is home to some of the biggest yachts, and has numerous shops, restaurants, lots of African handicrafts, outdoor cafes and local musicians entertaining the crowds. It was fun to sit outside and watch the seals playing in the water and listen to the African music, which consisted of a lot of drums and also some jazz.
On top of Table Mountain
FIFA World Cup Stadium
View from the top with Robben Island in the distance
Nelson Mandela and I. Nelson Mandela is South Africa's best known and loved hero. He led the fight against apartheid, and spent nearly 3 decades in prison at Robben Island. He later became president. If you haven't seen the new movie "Invictus" about Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team, you should go see it!
"Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will experience the oppression of one by another" - Nelson Mandela
Down at the V&A Waterfront, showing the distance to Singapore!
V&A Waterfront Hotel and shops