Cape Town

The ship berths early morning in Cape Town. The rising sun drapes Table Mountain in light and color. 

The city sightseeing bus starts near the cruise terminal on its loop. Driving through the central city, the accompanying audio guide describes the early settlement of Cape Town by the Dutch as a supply station for ships plying the spice trade traveling to or from India and Asia. 

Bus stop number 7 is at the base station for the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. We hop off. After a short wait, up we go. 

Lion’s Head peak. Robben Island in the distance. A bit hazy, but the view bears studying. 

A 2-3 km long paved path encircles the plateau, lying just over 1000 meters above sea level. A windy but pleasant walk. 

Looking south one gazes towards the Cape of Good Hope, over 50 km away. The cold waters of the Atlantic are visible on the right. A large bay is on the left. This cape is not the southernmost tip of Africa, despite its fame. That honor belongs to Cape Agulhas, some 200 km to the southeast. 

We head back down the mountain to catch the bus and continue our tour. The route circles around Lion’s Head to Camps Bay, where we follow the coastal road through several beach towns back into Cape Town proper. 

We pass DHL Stadium, site of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The loop ends at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront.  Stalls offering works by local artists and hand-crafters fill several converted warehouses. A giant mall houses every chain and luxury brand one can think of. Restaurants line the old wharfs facing the water. We could have been in Santa Monica. 

We make our way back to the ship as the sun slowly sinks. It is winter in the southern hemisphere; the days are short. Table Mountain, bathed in flood lights, dominates the night time sky. Good bye, Cape Town.