Mountains, Cablecars and Wine Country
The vertical granite walls of Cape Town’ s Table Mountain are a challenge to look at much less climb so today we ride a cable car to the top. My paragliding mishap was one pratfall enough for this trip.
Our group of 28 split in half: one took the ferry to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years. That group then took the cable car up Table Mountain. The other group (including us) took the cable car up the Mountain, then drove to two well known vineyards for wine tastings and lunch, and drove through the small city of Stellenbach, headquarters of wine country, on the way back to the hotel.
The entrance to board the cable car was daunting see for the first time.
Our tour leader for the day was also a wine expert. Such a bubbly personality.
The peak toward which the cable car headed was shrouded in chilly fog and as steep as could be.
A bit of color stood out in the otherwise bleak pinnacle.
The craggy granite looked like something from another world.
After 45 minutes on top we were both ready to head down.
The rest of the day we bused through Cape Vinelands, home to some of the best vineyards in the country.
First stop was the Longridge Wine Estate, famous for its Chemin Blanc white wine. The grounds were immaculate.
We sampled 2 whites, 3 reds and a dessert wine much like an ice wine.
Barb had hard time finding a favorite.
A nearly hidden iris beckoned us back when next in Cape Town.
Our lunch stop was at Glennelly Estate. Another pristine estate.
The lunch was superb: line fish rillette, cured hake (code family), port cheek bourguignon finished with chocolate marquise.
The trip back to the hotel was quiet as many took naps.
Our instructions for tomorrow: place all bags outside our room by 6:15 AM with all unworn shoes deposited in plastic bags (to be later inspected at the Zimbabwe border to prevent hoof and mouth disease from sneaking into the country).
The flight on a small Airlink Airlines plane will take three hours, arriving at Victoria Fall Airport at 12:40 pm. After crossing Zimbabwe we should board the Zambezi Queen river boat (anchored in the middle of the Chobe River between Namibia and Botswana) by midafternoon.
Barb #3
The countryside is much like France. No rain today, but foggy this morning. The cable car was planning to stop running this afternoon due to windy weather. Niles holds onto me when we are touring except when he is taking photos.
We are meeting some very nice people, all seasoned travelers. My best guess is the average age is 75. Niles and I bring up that number.
Until tomorrow……
Our South African Adventure 