Tag: Cape Town

Where in the World Are We?

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
One of the world’s most beautiful cities
Sprawling across an endless, staggeringly blue coastline and watched over by the iconic plane of Table Mountain, Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful cities. A blend of spectacular mountain scenery, multiculturalism, and relaxed ocean charm awaits in the Mother City, where you can venture out to rolling vineyards, dine in laid-back sea suburbs, or spend days exploring the cool urban culture. Cape Town’s natural splendor fully reveals itself as the cable car rears sharply to the top of Table Mountain.

From the summit, 3,500 feet above sea level, you can let the scale of the panoramic vistas of the city rolling down towards the ocean wash over you. Another heavenly perspective waits at the top of Lion’s Head’s tapering peak. A sharp hike and an early start are required, but the views of the morning sun painting Table Mountain honey-gold are some of Cape Town’s finest. Cape Town’s glorious sunshine and inviting blue rollers can be deceiving. These oceans are anything but warm at times, with nothing between the peninsula’s end and Antarctica’s icy chill. This incredible water has upsides, bringing a colony of adorable African penguins to Boulders Beach. Boarded walkways offer the perfect vantage point to see the cute creatures dipping into the sea and lounging in the sun. Nearby, journey to the end of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, where you can stand at the bottom of this mighty continent, watching out over the merging waves of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Cape Town’s beauty is counterpointed by the ominous island form, which sits four miles offshore from the bustling restaurants and lazy seals of the lively V&A Waterfront. A living history lesson: You can sail in the ships that transported prisoners out to Robben Island before a former prisoner tells of life’s traumas in this offshore prison. Your guide will show you the cramped cells and render Mandela’s long walk to freedom in heartbreaking, visceral clarity.

Today’s Excursion – Stellenbosch & Lourensford Wine Tasting
Stellenbosch was named after its founder, Governor Simon van der Stel, who discovered the broad, fertile valley of the Eerste River in 1680. Today, Stellenbosch is a major university town characterized by Cape Dutch-style architecture and streets lined with oak trees, some of which have been declared national monuments.

Stellenbosch Orientation Tour
We enjoyed a brief orientation drive through Stellenbosch, followed by time at leisure to explore the town. It is recommended to pay a visit to the Stellenbosch Museum, which comprises four different houses depicting different eras – Schreuder House, 1709;
Bletterman House, 1788; Grosvenor House, 1800 to 1830; and the OM Bergh House, 1850.

Lourensford Wine Estate Cellar Tour and Premium Wine Tasting
Following leisurely time in this quaint university town, embark on a short transfer to Lourensford Wine Estate. As one of the
world’s most beautiful wine estates, Lourensford offers a visual feast across 4,000 hectares of forest, fynbos, fruit orchards, and
vineyards, which rise the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, caressed by breezes off the Atlantic Ocean. Established by
Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel in 1709, Lourensford has a proud history as a world-class fruit farm, and the wealth of
glorious Proteas point to our rich floral heritage. Fortunately, the winemaking tradition was revived when well-known Cape
businessman Dr Christo Wiese purchased the Estate in 1998.

Wine Cellars Guided Tour & Wine Pairing
Enjoy the Wedgewood Nougat and Wine pairing through a curated guided tour of the Estate cellars. The Wedgewood
handmade Nougat Emporium opened its doors on Lourensford, so this pairing came naturally. You will get to know 4
different of nougats and pair them with the matching wines of Lourensford. A great delight!

Victoria & Albert Wharf Mall

Dinner was in Atlantide Restaurant

TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2022 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Arrival: 8:00 AM Overnight stay

TODAY’S WEATHER Sunny High: 73°F 23°C Low: 61°F 16°C

DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip-flop-type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

Cape Town, South Africa Overview

One of the most beautiful cities in the world is Cape Town, South Africa. Along its coastline are brilliant blue waters and stunning mountain scenery that you can explore at your leisure or spend days relaxing on sandy beaches with an ocean view cocktail!

A blend of spectacular natural beauty together with vibrant culture makes this destination truly unforgettable.  Whether it’s touring wineries tasting different wines while also taking time out for shopping between tours, going to museums exploring how people lived back when it was still part Dutch colony, or enjoying some seafood feeds along with cervical townships like Fish Hoek & Camps Bay.

The cable car lifts passengers to the top of Table Mountain where they can see another perspective that’s not possible elsewhere. The 360-degree view from 3,563’ is of the best world views we visited.

The adjacent view from Lion’s Head peak which is the top of a popular hiking trail offers breathtaking sunrises. A sharp hike and early start time are both necessary but worth every second when you get to enjoy Cape Town’s natural beauty during such a rewarding moment in life.

This cool water from Table Mountain has upsides like the fact that it’s been known to bring a colony of adorably cute African penguins. The nearby journey to the Cape of Good Hope hosts these tiny penguins.  The Cape is where you can stand watching over merging waves from both Atlantic and Indian Oceans!

As a living history lesson, you can sail in the ships that transported prisoners out to Robben Island.  A former prisoner tells of the traumas of life in this offshore prison. Your guide will show you the cramped cells and render Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom in visceral clarity.

Today’s Schedule

Sunrise and entering Cape Town between 6 AM and 8 AM.

We enjoyed a magnificent sunrise before getting to Cape Town with our Expedition Guides Rob Caskie and Bruno Carzani.

The by-sea entrance to Cape Town with Table Mountain in the background can only be rivaled by Sydney & the Opera House.

Morning Tour of Table Mountain

Late afternoon tour of Cape Town’s eastern seaside suburbs

We departed the pier and pass by the Cape Town Fifa World Cup Stadium towards Sea Point.

The promenade of Sea Point, which stretches to Mouille Point is also very popular. It is a jogger’s mile and many people meet here for a walk and a talk. The beaches in Sea Point are not very good for swimming. The surf is too powerful and the coast too rocky. But there is the huge seawater swimming pool. The neighboring suburb of Green Point is famous for its big Sunday market; a flea market with thousands of stalls around the stadium.

Clifton beach has something of a reputation with the trendy set in Cape Town and is a haven for international jet setters. Together with its immaculate white sands and glistening water, their bronzing bodies and designer sunglasses grace Clifton’s 4th beach with sufficient glamour and eco-savvy to deserve not only the ‘see and be seen’ status it has acquired but its blue flag status as well.

We stopped at the Maidens Cove parking area between Camps Bay and Clifton and near the Glen Country Club. Looking up at the cableway station you will see the narrowest view of Table Mountain that can be seen from anywhere in Cape Town.

On our return to Cape Town harbor, we stopped off at Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront to enjoy a pre-dinner drink & canapés. Afterward, we returned to the ship.