Cape of Good Hope

Today started with an attempt to see the top of Table Mountain. The clouds rolled in as we were driving to the gondola.

A drive down the coast took us to many gorgeous sights and landed us at the Cape of Good Hope.

What a beautiful coast!!

This is a Jackass Penguin

Some of our group posing for a photo.

It was foggy, but Table Mountain is still beautiful.

Robben Island

In the afternoon we climbed onto a ferry to Robben Island. This is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years of incarceration. The island served as a prison for black criminals and for black political prisoners, and as a colony for lepers.

The guide was imprisoned for dive years because he participated in a student protest whe he was 17.

Nelson Mandela's cell.

Leper Graveyard

The quarry where many of the prisoners were forced to work.

Cape Town

Day 1 in Africa. After about 30 hours of travel, we were delivered to the Commodore Hotel in the Waterfront District (The number 1 tourist destination in South Africa). We were handed champagne glasses (apple juice), and led to the dining room where a midnight feast was laid out just for our group (amazing). Find our rooms and crash.

Next morning started with a wonderful buffet breakfast and then a bus tour of Cape Town. The only thing we missed was the cable car to Table Mountain.

In the Company Gardens there must be flowers

Deb has to have pictures with trees. This one was a  rubber tree.

Jim - just a picture with some guy in the garden.

In the Malay district the houses ae very similar, so they are distinguished by colour.

Deb knows she's in the right place, because purple is her colour.

This entry was just very inviting.

Scooter

This photo was taken a couple of years ago in Fort Myers. Scooter travelled with us.

Scooter likes to travel.

Today, Deb got a suitcase out and set it on the floor. This is what happened.

He knows something is up.

Zambesi Queen

I promise this will be the last until we get on the road. Then the pictures will be really ours.

The Zambesi Queen is a ship which was built for this river. For several days, she will be our home.

Our group will be occupying almost every room.

The common areas are designed for viewing.

The river flows through the most dense animal population in Africa.

Victoria Falls

So we live somewhat close to Niagara Falls and it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and it is amazing.

That doesn't mean we aren't looking forward to seeing Victoria Falls. This is also a natural wonder and should be amazing. It is not as high and does not have as much water, but it is the largest curtain of water in the world. The falls are locally know as Mosi-oa-Tunya "The Smoke That Roars".

I guess we will end up getting wet.

A Wide Shot Gives You a Sense of Scale

A Close-Up Shot Gives You a Sense of Terror

Of Couse We Will Take a Sunset Cruise on the Zambesi River

Just a Little Place Called the Victoria Falls Hotel

Camping in South Africa

Deb and I have been camping over and over for many, many years. Unfortunately we have missed the last few years. We sold our little camper recently. Her name was Lady Jane and we still miss her.

So now we are going to get back to roughing it, this time in Africa, this time in a tent.

Our tent at Kapama Buffalo Camp

The camp is in Kapama Private Game Reserve

Afternoon Siesta

A Visit to Kapama River Lodge

Cape Town

I did not take these pictures. I just found them and they are helping to get me warmed up.

Our first stop will be in Cape Town, South Africa. We will stay in the Commodore hotel which is in the heart of the waterfont district. It looks like a lovely area to hang around for a few days, but of course there will be little time to relax. First there is a little tour, then another little tour, then another little tour, then ...................

The Commodore Hotel

Waterfront District

One optional tour (which we have signed up for) will be to Robben Island. Nelson Mandela spent a total of 27 years in prison. 18 of those years were here.

Robben Island

Apparently, in the 18th century, thousands of slaves were brought to Cape Town from Java, Ceylon and Malaysia, etc. Slavery was later abolished and their descendants settled here.

The Cape Malay Quarter

Soon, the posted pictures will be my own.

Contrasts

Okay, so today some contrasts. First a picture from our walk yesterday in Jackson Park and a picture from Kirstenbosch Gardens in South Africa (in two weeks).

Jackson Park

Kirstenbosch Gardens

Then we have some fall colours taken from my back deck to contrast with Boulders Beach in South Africa.

Boulders Beach

Back Yard

Just Getting Started

Hello everyone. We haven't been posting any blogs for a long time now. My old blog was posted on an Apple server using an Apple program that doesn't exist any more. Oops. I still have a copy of my old blog on my computer and I should be able to add a link here somewhere so I can list the old blog as an archive. I'll get to it.

Today I decided to start this thing because of our plans. We have finally decided to take a trip to Africa, leaving at 2:15, October 27th. More later.