Sundowners. Day 1.

As with any colony, you stop in the middle of the 'veld' and have some nibbly bits and G&T's and watch the sunset over the African Savannah.

First Game Drive

Out first game drive was spectacular!

We even had two male lions walk right next to us.

Kapama The Room

We were blown away.

There is no other words I can use to describe the moment we walked into the room and both had that stunned silence as we just stared.

Wow!

Kapama first view

Our arrival at Kapama was great. A stunning place and meeting with more friends!

Flying again

Flying to Hoedspruit to make it to Kapama.

Dassies

Dassies are adorable, and evolutionary very interesting. Their closest relatives are elephants and manatees, but they are on their own branch. Might be a dead end?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrax

Table Views

Goofy selfies and stunning views on the best day we've ever had on Table Mountain in many decades.

Table Mountain

We took the Cable Car up to the top of one of the new 7 wonders of the natural world: Table Mountain. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain

Life Grand Cafe

We had an amazing dinner on the Waterfront. What a spectacular day with wonderful people on an amazing place. 

http://www.life.za.com/home?category=Restaurant

V&A evening

Back to the waterfront.
It turned into a stunning evening.
We even took a selfie with Nelson.

Images of Cape Town

The Mother City. 

http://www.capetown.travel/

Distillery

Cape Town is getting famous for the locally made gin. We went visiting one of the highest rated Gin distilleries in town. 

What a great experience with wonderful people and exquisite gin. Thank you Andre! (And Bear is adorable!)

https://pienaarandson.co.za/

V&A Waterfront Lunch

Had a great lunch in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Despite all the tourism, the big part of the charm is that it is still a working dockyard. 

https://www.waterfront.co.za

Ben's

We went to one of the highest rated restaurants in the area. Not because of that reason, just because it was 40 feet from the other condo. 

And it was amazing. So much good food and good wine. Add to that the good company, and you have the perfect recipe for a wonderful evening!!

http://www.bens.co.za/#/welcome

Morning walk

It is winter here.

We went for a morning walk to activate a cell phone, and we were freezing!!

Steam

Last stop in Stellenbosch was a charming place called 'Steam'

By now we were so cold and wet we all had Irish Coffees!!

http://restaurantwebexpert.com/Steam_Restaurant/

Art in 'bosch

Lots of wonderful art in this University town. It is everywhere. Museums, hotel lobbies, restaurants and street corners.

What an amazing place!

Wijnhuis

It was a very wet day in Stellenbosch, but we had a lot of stops available on the way. 

This was a charming place with very good service called the 'Wijnhuis' which translates to Wine House. 

http://www.wijnhuis.co.za/

More Stellenbosch

We got more 'muricans and we chilled as a posse for the day in the second oldest Dutch town in South Africa: Stellenbosch. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellenbosch

Vergelegen

Vergelegen is a historic wine farm established in 1700. One of the oldest (and prettiest) in the area. 

But by now it is a blustery day!

Nice wine tasting and then we had an amazing lunch in the restaurant. 

http://www.vergelegen.co.za/

Lourensford

A brisk morning on a very nice wine estate. 

We had coffee and a little something, and then had a wine tasting. 

Of course!

https://lourensford.co.za/

Around town

Shopping Malls, Fish & Chips and red wine.

Just another day being domestic.

Mountains at Sunset

You can see part of the mountain range from the house.

Stellenbosch

Chilling in the University town of Stellenbosch in the heart of wine country. 

Lots of fun and unusual sights, great food and just a wonderful time. 

(More photos than will fit on this blog!)

Michaelangelo Awards

We were treated to an insiders view of the Michaelangelo Wine Awards being conducted on Longridge Wine Estate.

 

This is one of the world's most prestigious wine awards with more than 2000 entries from as far away as China. 

We observed the master Sommeliers doing the blind wine tastings and after a tour had a long discussion with one of Pieter's friends who is one of the owners/organizers of the awards. 

Wow!!

https://www.michelangeloawards.com/

http://www.longridge.co.za/

Friends and Family

A nice long day with lots of different friends and family visiting during the day.

Ended with a wonderful evening of wine and cards.

Day of chores

First with weekday here was a day of chores. Things we had to take care of.

But we saw some beautiful places and had an amazing dinner with wonderful friends.

Vrede & Lust

Vrede & Lust

Translates to Peace and Desire. 

This might be or favorite winery ever. We have been here so many times, specially the day after our wedding ceremony. 

Thank you Alexi for introducing us. 

https://www.vnl.co.za/

Delaire Graf

We decided on a short trip for the day. Only two wineries. 

First stop, Delaire Graf. 

Sat up on the mountain top looking out over the valley on a beautiful day. 

http://www.delaire.co.za/

The Other Home

First sight of Table Mountain from the airplane.

Now we are just visiting and already drinking wine.
C'est La Vie

"O Kaap, O Kaap mooiste kaap
Jy maak my hart weer baie seer
Jou ghantam kom mos altyd weer en weer."
.

Istanbul Airport

Arrived in Istanbul.

Big wonderful crazy airport.

 
Got a room at the airport hotel and slept so well.
Then at 1:55 we boarded the plane for Cake Town.

 
We are on our way!

Miami

Miami airport.

We made it onto the plane. Next stop: Istanbul!

First flight - MCO to MIA

We are on board the first flight to Miami.

Ruth (Kenn's Mom) dropped us off and we got through everything with no issues. Good sign for the rest of the travels!