Off the port stern I can see the coast of Africa recede into the
distance as our ship heads towards the southern tip of Madagascar. The
Indian ocean is calm and the seas stretch to the blue horizon line. It
is a lovely morning to reflect on our South African visit.
We did finally enter the inner harbor at the Victoria and Alpert
waterfront in Cape Town. It was no wonder we had to wait for calm
conditions; the entrance is tiny. We tied at jetty 2 right in front of
the Bay Hotel and once again our port side cabin optimally faced the
view of Table Mountain. Perfect. We all had to do a face-to-face
passport screening before being allowed to disembark, but once ashore
nine of us found our long waiting guide who whisked us off to
Stellenbosch where we toured four lovely wineries. We stayed out
through dinner to avoid the crowds back in Cape Town who gathered for
the U2 concert (to which many of the students went).
On our second day we rented a car and the three of us drove down the
west coast to the Cape of Good Hope. We enjoyed the scenery along the
way and there as well. Peter and I had rented a house six years ago
down on Scarborough Beach and were happy to return to this stretch of
shoreline to share it with Beatrix. It was a lovely day in walked
ostriches walked across the road in front of us and Baboons blocked
our hiking trail to the beach. An Only in Africa experience!
The third day started well with an early morning walk along the
seawall but upon returning, I was struck down by a fever and G.I.
track problems. Beatrix also did not feel well. She and I spent the
day sleeping. Instead of another day of adventure with our rental car,
Peter ad-lib ed on his own.
Day four Peter and Beatrix participated in a SAS field study trip to
the Amy Biehl Foundation. I went on an SAS field study with the
Anthropology Professor to learn about Cape Malay cooking and about the
cultural and historical role that Malaysian and Indonesian immigrants
had on the Cape.
Impressions of South Africa:
This being my third visit, I was interested to see what changes were
notable and what was the same. I found Cape Town improved; cleaner and
more vibrant that before. There is new construction as well. 18 years
after the end of Apartheid there are still many problems and
challenges facing South Africa, but I was buoyed by the apparent
optimism and pragmatism of those I spoke with who acknowledged the
long road ahead for this "new" country. I hope to return. If it were
not SO far away from Seattle, I would spent my winters here!
Our time in Cape Town ended much too soon and now we are again on the
open seas. Ahead is one scheduled day to visit the beaches of
Mauritius and then another stretch of sea time prior to India.
We are well and thriving. Today is day 44. It is also exactly two
months til our voyage ends on April 24th. Tonight we are hosting our
nine "extended family" students to "specialty occasion dinning". It
feels like a fitting time to celebrate and to look ahead as well.
- Melissa
Sent from my iPad
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