Cape Town, 3 days and 10,000 calories later

So tonight marks Christine's and my final night in Cape Town, the "Mother City". It has been an exciting and educational three days, and I still can't believe that we're in Africa, albeit the least African city on the entire continent.

So few days, so many things to do. We did the normal tourist activities, like the requisite visit to the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and a drive along the scenic Atlantic Coast. The visit was not without is disappointments, however. Robben Island, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that was the site of imprisonment for many in the anti-apartheid movement including Nelson Mandela, was completely sold out. Bummer. Then, the rotating cable car that takes people to the top of famously beautiful Table Mountain was closed for annual maintenance. Double Bummer. But we made due with ither various interesting activities to fill the time.

One was the absolute fantastic walking tour we took of Cape Town today, which traced the historical roots of the area and the emergence and fall of Apartheid. Its fascinating to see all the places, like Archbishop Desmond Tutu's church or the balcony from where Nelson Mandels gave his first speech after being released from prison, that make history come alive. It's also amazing that for such recent history, few people like to discuss the legacy of apartheid. There seems to be a fragile peace held together by the character and vision of Nelson Mandela for a "Rainbow Nation" were all live together in harmony. But at the same time, high crime resulting from sky high unemployment and a new "economic apartheid" where white South Africans still control the wealth in the country seem to pull at the seams of Mandela's dream.

But enough of my political editorializing, I have to make mention of the fantastic eats. And were there many places offering tasty treats, too many to mention. I did overindulge, and pribably will pay for it with tighter belt lines, but everything was so delicious, including the best prawns i can honestly say i've ever eaten. The meat was so sweet, they tasted like mini lobsters, to quote Christine. Time to head off to bed to rest up for tomorrow's 6 hour drive.

-Joe