After my Italian holiday I am going back to work today. But it could be worse than a six day Cape Town rotation.

In Cape Town it is gray and cool when we open the plane door. Spring is expected to show its cool, rainy side this weekend. However, the strong Cape wind often blows the clouds away quickly. So we are full of hope for a nice layover.

Sunset Sailing

It rains heavily during the day and I rest a bit after the night flight. This is the first time I have done this in Cape Town. The last two times I was in Cape Town (in 2022 & 2023) we always did something straight away.

In the evening the sun comes out and the rain has stopped. We meet for a catamaran sunset tour. Almost the entire crew is here. We make ourselves comfortable at the front of the catamaran and enjoy the view. There are a few others on board, but that does not bother us. The seals frolic in the harbour basin and the Table Mountain rises above the city in all its splendor. We slowly sail out of the harbour and the sun shines golden in the evening sky. Two penguins swim by! I am excited that we want to do the Cape tour on Sunday. We sail towards sunset, past the city, the big football stadium, Table Mountain, Lions Head… it is so beautiful… The sun shimmers in the windows of the chic houses in Sea Point and Camps Bay.

We are wrapped in blankets and enjoy our drinks. Only when the sun sinks into the sea do we make our way back. That was a really nice tour. What a start to our layover.

In the evening we eat at the waterfront. The food is always so good here in South Africa. Something that I always look forward to. We sit together for a long time and talk.

Oranjezicht Farmers Market & The Old Biscuit Mill

Saturday is supposed to be cool, windy and rainy and it is. At the weekend the Oranjezicht Farmers Market takes place near our hotel. The market offers fruit and vegetables, handicrafts and lots of food. Many Capetonians meet here for a Saturday brunch. There is a lot going on and we enjoy the hustle and bustle. A warming rooibos tea and a cinnamon roll is just the right thing to strengthen ourselves in between.

We then continue to the Old Biscuit Mill. The concept is similar. There are also small shops and studios with lots of pretty things and some food and drink. There are so many cute things for sale. It is so nice to stroll along.

So far it has been mostly dry and it was not until we got back to the hotel in the afternoon that it really started to rain. I snuggle up under my duvet and relax a bit before we meet again in the evening for dinner. There are only six of us this evening and while we order, the South African women at the next table are singing and dancing while they wait for the bill. The rhythm is infectious. What a beautiful day.

Cape of Good Hope

The weather is supposed to be better on Sunday so we decided on the tour to the Cape of Good Hope and the penguins in Simon’s Town.

We meet at 9am and sun and rain alternate at the beginning. The big waves break on Clifton Beach and our guide says the water temperature is 12 degrees. The Table Mountain is shrouded in clouds and it is drizzling lightly. The large granite rocks with the white beach still look beautiful. When the sun shines, this is one of Cape Town’s postcard motifs and I can see why. I will have to return when the sun shines…

We continue over Hout’s Bay and Chapman’s Peak. The views are beautiful, even though we are almost blown away by the wind. The sun slowly comes out and everything shines brightly. The coastline is so pretty here.

We stop at a farm for a short breakfast break. There is a petting zoo and small shops. I buy a rooibos latte and a cinnamon roll. The low Cape Dutch buildings are so cute. What a beautiful day… The sun is slowly winning against the clouds.

In the Cape National Park we observe a few ostriches and eland. It is always so beautiful here in spring. The flowers are blooming and the low bushes are pushed even lower to the ground today in the wind.

The Cape of Good Hope sign is besieged by tourists. We stop here briefly and I sit on a rock and look out to the sea. The sound of the sea is loud and impressive. Two seals climb onto a flat rock and are repeatedly washed over by the waves.

The waves are impressive and I could sit here and look out at the sea for a long time. The sun is coming out more and more. What a day…

We continue to Cape Point and walk up to the lighthouse. The colors are now shining in the sun: the green cliffs, the blue ocean, the white surf… the view is magnificent. It is my second time here and I could always return again and again.

Right now is whale watching season. We see a small group of southern right whales from Cape Point. One even jumps out of the water a little. Later on the drive to Simon’s Town we see some more.

The rain comes as we sit back in the car. We are really lucky today because by the time we have had lunch the sun is shining again.

The Penguin Colony in Simon’s Town

The penguins at Boulders Beach are wonderful. I love it here even when there are a lot of tourists. There are tourists on the boardwalk and penguins on the beach. Some lie on the sand, many preen themselves and a few swim up. It is so cute how they emerge from the waves and wash up on the beach. Some actually pose in front of the tourists. A few penguins nest under the bushes in small plastic huts or in self-made nests. We discover a small, fluffy young one at the feet of its parent.

The turquoise water, the white beach, the large granite rocks and the little penguins… It is so beautiful… Our guide tells us that the residents do not really like the penguins because they come into the gardens at night, causing mischief there and sometimes even jump into the pool.

We had such a beautiful day. The tour  was great and we were really lucky with the weather. It only rained while we were in the car and we had lots of sunshine. We were ten and we had a lot of fun together.

Strolling along the Waterfront

Monday is departure day. The time until 3:30pm goes by quickly. I sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast at the waterfront, go to the supermarket and then it is almost time to get ready for the flight back.

One more layover day was a luxury. I really enjoyed my time in Cape Town and made the most of the spring-like weather.