Nature, Africa style

The area around Cape Town is staggeringly beautiful. My South Africa guide books claims that the city has the most beautiful location of any in the world, and I really have no cause to dispute that statement from my own experience. Now I am a geography and history nerd, so be prepared for factoids to follow. I had the day off on Saturday, so I took a drive down the coast to Cape Point, the end of the famous Cape of Good Hope. Because a cold water current from the Atlantic and a warm water current from the Indian Ocean come together here (the two oceans actually meet at Cape Agulhas, Africa's southernmost point, which is about forty miles away) there are some rough seas and weather right here, which is why about 900 ships have been wrecked here since Vasco De Gama and Bartholomeu Diaz passed this way around the time that Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Both Portuguese explorers put up monuments, which I could see from the road, to commemorate their acheivement (don't know who was first) of opening up a sea-route to the Indies.

The road down was beautiful and blustery (as you can tell by my hair in the picture), and I was very excited to see some African wildlife. I may be working in a township and interacting with people who live here and their daily challenges, but at the end of the day I have to admit that I'm still a tourist. Having done that, I want to see some elephants and lions! That didn't happen this time, but I did come upon a troupe of baboons crossing the road. I got out to take pictures, and didn't realize what a bad idea that was until a local stopped and very politely told me it would be wise for me to go back to my car. I appreciated that -- after all, he could have said "Oi! You bloody wanker, do want to get your hand bit off?!!" I also passed an ostrich farm (the meat is nice, I highly recommend it) and saw a lone zebra out in the fynbos, the naturally occuring shrub-like flora. By the way, did'ya know that the Cape Floral Kingdom is the most diverse on the planet, with more species per square km than the Amazon Rainforest? I also passed a herd of some species of antelope or other and a beach frequented by penguins (like the one hopping rock to rock in the picture) . I lost my cell phone somewhere along the way, but it was still a very worthwhile outing, and a much needed break! This job can be exhausting, and I hadn't really had a day off yet.

Cape Point is very possibly the most beautiful place I have ever been. Sorry to throw superlatives around; I don't do it lightly. It is green like Ireland everywhere, and you are on these 200 meter rocky crags looking straight down into the ocean, where two currents are slamming together right in front of you. If you ever find yourself in Cape Town, this would be the activity I most recommend, aside from doing a tour of the townships.