On Our Onesies

On our entire first day on our own, the sentiment was a general relief.  How nice to not have every hour of the day planned! How lovely to have a croissant and cappuccino rather than guzzling an entire smorgasbord because the bus will leave you behind and there may be no lunch!

With our newly acquired freedom we headed to the District 6 museum après deliberate, hour-long breakfast. 

District 6 is an “undeveloped” part of Cape Town, once occupied by families of color.  It now lays awkwardly barren in the midst of the bustling city because its occupants were forcibly removed between 1950-1980 in a cruel, systematic effort to beautify the city.

 By the time the removal was complete and the structures demolished, Apartheid had broken down, leaving former residents with idle dreams of reclaiming their homeland.

Nothing has been done.

Around noon, we hopped on the local train to Simon’s Town, a seaside naval village that we’d driven through on our group tour.

Ashish & Ariel on the train

Back in the day, a cable car took sick sailors directly from the port to an infirmary atop a mountain to prevent the spread of disease.

I wonder if that method worked?

Simon’s Town is adorably diminutive.

We lounged over tea, poked our heads into its many antique ships, stumbled upon a massive jelly fish, and prided ourselves on our economy.

We’ve been having PB&J for lunch and the round trip train was only 17 R (that’s like 2 bucks)!

Yet, this was the best part. 

Suddenly, you’ve left the city and a glance out the window gives the feeling that you might tip over off the tracks into the sea.

The entire route traces the ocean which yields such spectacular views that the trip itself is an attraction rather than mere transport.

Back in the Mother City, dinner at the Bombay Bicycle Club was not only scrumptious but also a bona fide riot.  Bicycles, car parts, musical instruments, animals, vines—you name it—all dangle from the ceiling, slightly eerie in the yellow candle light.  The vibe is jovial. 

The seats of our initial table were tree swings, but, happily, Rachel and Tony joined us and we were relegated (or upgraded, depending on your point of view) to chairs.  How bourgeois.

 I wish I had indoor pictures of the cozy hilarity but, suffice it to say, if you go to Cape Town, you must spend an evening here!

Love from Cape Town.