As I write this, I’m sat at Heathrow, waiting for British Airways to fly me 30 000 ft or so above the warm African night. It’s a spur of the moment decision. I meant to call my friend from primary school, Ingrid, to see if we could find time for a coffee. Turns out she’s in Cape Town, so why not have coffee in Cape Town? Why not indeed… I needed to thaw out anyway. The thought of leaving -18°C (that’s the same temperature as my freezer) for the balmy African summer is nothing short of delicious.
I haven’t been in Cape Town since 1993 (the public computer I’m now using may have been here even then – looks it, feels it…)
Back then, this flying beauty was still in operation. Odd to think the 90s are 20 years ago. I remember them so well…
The Cape revisited
The Cape is on the list this time as well. Cape of Good Hope, that is. I’m oddly drawn to that nemesis of sailors through the centuries, where warm currents meet cold, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic. I remember standing there witnessing the fog suddenly coming in, covering the entire headland in a matter of seconds. A brutal and fascinating place.
This is how the treacherous Cape looked nearly 20 years ago. I expect it hasn’t changed much. Except, perhaps, for the pesky baboons in the car park, who thought nothing of getting inside one’s car. Can always hope. Of course, they have been here for thousands of years, and have the right to set the rules, I suppose.
Has the rest of the town changed much? We shall see…
And have my photographic skills changed much? Again, we shall see…
Revisiting a city I haven’t been for years is always a strange experience. Can’t wait to hear what your new observations are.
Looking forward to it myself, just as soon as I get a little sleep.
Love the spontaneity of your trip. And the change in temperatures sounds like a real treat.
It’s perfect temperature here. Perfect.
I’ll be in Vancouver next week. Coffee?
Have a great time in Cape Town!
Never been in Vancouver, so absolutely. Perhaps not in January…
Wish it was me – even Copenhagen had -17 C yesterday.
Yikes! That’s very cold for Copenhagen.
I just followed you here from twitter. Sophie. Recently I had a similar expereince ..but just to another state in my country..! I did a second visit to Hyderabad two months back…so much has changed. I visited there 12 years before ..I feel totally in a new environment..!
Thanks for stopping by, Sunu. India is such a huge country, it must surely feel like several countries. After reading – and seeing – Life of Pi, I’m now dreaming of visiting Pondicherry.
Some scenes of Life of Pi are shot in Kerala also..in Munnar hill station. You are most welcome …
Just like any other place in India…, Kerala is crowded and you will see heaps of waste here and there..But there are real beautiful places too and Kerala backwaters is one among them..:)
Looking foward to your posts from this trip, Sophie. AIl the best with it…
So much to write about.
Wow! The Concorde! I can remember when I first flew with my parents with a concorde, it was the fastest opportunity to get from paris to new york. Although they have been polluted the air, they were really fast.
It was a beautiful plane, wasn’t it…
I can completely understand your desire to leave the freezer that is Europe for an African summer. Just getting off the plane will tell you that you made the right decision.
Too true that 🙂
My friend lives in Brooklyn, I was across the river in Manhattan. We tried for months to get together but it never happened until we were both in Paris. We had a great laugh about it.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of CPT twenty years later. To me, it was like a picture postcard. And yes, the baboons are still there and the Cape is still ruggedly beautiful. I can’t imagine what rounding it — or thinking about it rounding it — was like for those old sailors. Have a fabulous trip, Sophie!
Thanks Marcia. Small world, isn’t it?
Looking forward to seeing your new photos of Cape Town 🙂 Haven’t been there yet myself, but very keen to visit. And the best kind of travelling is often the kind done on a whim 🙂
That has been my experience, too. I’m practically allergic to planning far in advance…
LOL … isn’t it funny how the 90’s were only yesterday? Well, good luck on your trip. South Africa is definitely a place to visit.
Really yesterday!
Cape Town is on my bucket list, for sure!
You’ll love it, Michael.
Did you fly with Concord back then?
Once you are in Cape Town, take a cable car up The Table mountains and take a picture from up there, then change will inevitable.
I have visited Cape Town before but it was just two days trip. I did not get enough time to visit all of the travel attractions but I enjoyed the trip. I can’t forget the view of the city from Table Mountain. I will plan a long trip to Cape Town and I get the good information about Cape Town city from your article. Thanks for posting it.
Have added cape town to the cities I woulld love to visit. Thanks for the lovely post 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it, Iris.
Very interesting to visit Cape Town, Thank you for sharing