Cape Town

After the 20 hours haul from Windhoek to “The Mother City” , I was delighted by a place that proved to be the nicest city I have seen in Africa. Initially a Dutch settlement to cut the journey from Rotterdam to Jakarta in half, it turned British and grew larger while the Dutch moved on to “The Great Trek”. Colonial houses remain largely in tact and are major tourist attractions. Surrounded by the “Table Mountain” and “Lions Head” the city center is at the most south-eastern point of Africa. Basically a European city with an African twist. Long Street is the cheapest and hippest place for young people. Bars, clubs, boutiques, Kebab take always and liquor shops are everywhere, while dealers, parking safety “officials”, drunken people and thieves hanging on the street below.

The “Waterfront” is the posh shopping area for privileged citizens and tourists. It was completely reshaped for the World Cup and is only a short walk away from the famous Cape Town Stadium which is now home to the Kaizer Chiefs. Old Dutch style houses are responsible for the charm the Waterfront has. Smart restaurants make it sophisticated and the lack of traffic enjoyable. Cruise ships, whole oil rigs, plenty of fishing trawlers and yachts are scattered all over. There is a ship yard in the middle of the pedestrian area which allows unusual insight.

The whole southern coast of Cape Town is a big waterfront with smelly seaweed, nice parks and smart mansions. You pass the Stadium you walk through a beautiful golf park with lakes and neat gardens and end up a Sea point. If you would walk all the way you’ d end up at the actual “Cap of Good Hope” where penguin’s seals and baboons live.

I walked up the Table Mountain all the way from Long Street and all the way back. It took me 7 hours and was very hot. The sun is out most of the times and a wind is always present. The view from on top is astonishing and took the last breath I had left.

A cosmopolitan city at the end of the world (the closest industrialized country is about a 10 hours flight away) reminded me a lot of Buenos Aires. I love the two cities equally.