Beetle on a stalk

Carriage rides!

Due to their size and strength these French Percherons were used as war horses in the day’s of infamous crusades. Knights of old use to wear huge metal armor, carry large metal shields, and wield massive broadswords, so I guess it’s obvious then why these 1000kg beasts were the obvious choice.

As time progressed and knighthood became boring, people started using Percherons as work horses, primarily in agriculture, often used to pull heavy ploughs through fields, draw carriages, and pull artillery around for the military.

Today these lovelies live a far more relaxed lifestyle under the care of the Cape Town Carriage Company.

A squirrel and the Legion of the Shadow Tails

Some would suggest that the Greeks gave them the name “Shadow Tail” because they use their tail to provide shade in summer. Don’t believe it though – I overheard from a friend of a friend of a friend that all squirrels are part of a secret society, a club (if you will), that goes by the name Legion of the Shadow Tails.

Yes. You should be worried. You just need to look at the pics below to know that they’re up to something.

'Cos cats are more civilized

Guitar on a wall

I visited GetSmarter’s lovely offices in Observatory recently. Click on the last of the four photos below. Notice the polished concrete floors? Notice the scooter? Isn’t that awesome?

So, Cape Town could help you take better photos because GetSmarter have offered our readers R500 off the cost of their part-time short courses in digital photography and Photoshop! The courses each include about 70 hours of learning (in the comfort of your own home) over a period of 10 weeks, and result in a certificate endorsed by the University of Cape Town. To take up their offer, click here and use “Cape Town Daily Photo” as the promo code when signing up.

P.S. If you’re wondering, yes, I was tempted to take down the guitar and give it a whirl.

Broken glass

Some people in South Africa have opted to have a special plastic film, that prevents entire windows being easily smashed, fitted to their car’s windows. Although this is mostly used as a deterrent for smash-n-grab type theft it may also make it more difficult for the smash-while-you’re-away type of criminal.

I can’t say that I’ve ever had my car broken in to in Cape Town. Have you?

Yellow Marigold

Isn’t she pretty?

DJs aren't DJs

I took this photo at Vaudeville, a popular dinner/entertainment club in Cape Town.

South African National Art Gallery

If you’re keen to visit, the gallery’s open each day from 10h00 and closes at 17h00.

Not a tree to tangle with

Speaking of deterrents… while in the Kruger National Park our guide pointed out a bush that defends itself from buck by releasing a bad-tasting chemical into its leaves if senses that too many have been eaten. The chemical is also released into the air (which in turn starts a chain reaction in neighbouring bushes, which in turn release the chemical into their leaves. Sneaky isn’t it?

I swear I hid it here

This squirrel spent at least three or four minutes digging (slightly frantically) in the soil. I assume he’d lost his prize nut. I don’t think he found it.

Starfish

The charity, started by a group of young South Africans in 2001/2002, and is a registered non-profit organisation and as of 2001 are partnered with Global Fund, CIDA, PEPFAR and AUSAID.

Consider supporting Starfish.

Hiding

A friend recently said that a great form of exercise (for a photographer) is just to sit, relax, and observe without a camera in the hand. So, next time you’re out taking photos and you feel as though there’s nothing interesting to shoot, consider taking an extended break to just sit, relax, and observe – you’re sure to find the most interesting photos.

Big Boy bike

Crabs!

Do you remember catching crabs? Wasn’t it fun?

No crabs came to harm during the shooting of this photo.

Stop signs and pointy arrows

And, if you were wondering, those aren’t bullet holes – they seem to be old mounting holes. I presume these signs were either moved here from another location or that they were simply remounted on new brackets.

Swim goslings swim

I found these two and their mom in the Company’s Gardens in Cape Town. As I’ve whined before, it’s been exceedingly hot in Cape Town this past week, so don’t you think it nice of their mother to take them to the gardens for a dip?

Sometimes it's better to be cold-blooded

I wonder how this tortoise feels about being out in the sun, and if it’s perhaps preferable to be cold-blooded on days like this.

Lifeguards in training

Now, obviously it’s just silly to generalize like that, and even though the myth isn’t true I’d have to guess that it holds at least some merit and that a much higher percentage of white people, vs. black, are able to swim.

I’d love some perspective on this from any of our black readers, so please leave a comment below if you have an opinion on the subject.

The Wheel of Excellence

I guess the fact that it’s stayed means that the V&A Waterfront, and the wheel’s owners are making a packet of money from the attraction.

Glencoe Quarry

The quarry was super-quiet inside and surrounded by sheer rockfaces – there were huge boulders on the ground, patches of neat grass, and a handful of rock climbers practicing their skill quite high up against the rockface. It was quite different to the hiking trail that we’d just been on!

When we arrived this time I discovered a large metal door in my path and this slightly-defaced sign indicating that the quarry had been closed to the public. I also happened to notice a small pathway leading up and around the quarry to a spot that rock climbers (including the one I spotted descending from the pathway) seem still to make use of.

It’s sad that the area had to be restricted. I’m guessing that it could have been closed off because the quarry was so secluded that it may have been dangerous for people to spend time inside. It’s sad, but the unfortunate reality of having that kind of area near on the perimeter of a large city.