Author Archives: Paul
Pig’s Snout Kloof – Stanford to Hermanus
Can you see the pig lying down, with the front of it's snout facing the camera? Do you see it's two eyes? If you click on the image to enlarge you'll perhaps even be able to make out the two waterfalls, one running from each nostril. Kinda gross, but there you have it. :)
Here's a map, with Google StreetView showing the location, and an extra photo, zoomed out a little.
Observatory sidewalks
I wonder if people 50 years from now will look back at our modern suburb store-fronts and make similar comment about how the character in today's designs has been eroded. Probably not hey? ;)
Neoliberalism = Colonialism, really?
Release the Kraken!
To be honest, The Kraken's a pretty clever name for a brand of rum - given that it's the name of a legendary sea monster, and that it's popular knowledge that ye olde sailors used to spend many hours drinking rum on their long ocean voyages (assumedly telling tales of that legendary sea monster).
I took this photo outside of Desparados bar, in Observatory.
Lost lover?
Two things jumped to mind when I read this - the first was "Patrick Jane", and the next "charlatan". Someone should seriously prank these people - it'd make a great YouTube clip. :)
Gritty Observatory
Being so close to Cape Town itself makes this suburb one of the oldest in the province, and the reason for it looking old and worn out.
Similarly to Woodstock, Observatory (affectionately known as Obz) escaped segregation laws of the apartheid era, developing a interesting mixed culture of its own, and when I think of Observatory, for some reason I think of artists, musicians, hippies, crystals, dream catchers, incense, and hipsters. :P
A quiet Lower Main Road in Obz
Summer rain in Cape Town
We were talking about the rain earlier in the week and commented that while it's normal to have a few days of rain here and there in Summer, the amount of wet weather we've had seems to be somewhat higher than normal.
What's interesting is that when I looked back in my archives I found that I posted an article in January 2009 with a link to a page showing that Cape Town's historical average rainfall in January is about 11mm. I'm not sure how much rain we've had in the last 9 days, but I feel fairly sure that it's a lot more than the 11mm average.
Rain at Burnside Road
Chicken karahi special!
Cash for scrap
No entry – geen toegang
Chicklets ‘n chickens
The farm itself has a small shop that sells cheese and other nibbly bits. Right next door is the farm's restaurant that serves an assortment of treats, including picnic baskets for two, filled with cheeses, meats, breads and wine. If you're in the area, it's certainly worth stopping in for lunch.
Groot Constantia’s vineyards
Groot Constantia’s avenue of trees
If you're visiting Cape Town and intend on making Kirstenboch Botanical Gardens part of your trip, then consider visiting Groot Constantia afterwards - the estate's a mere 15 minute drive from the botanical gardens. Even if you don't stop at Simon's (one of the estate's restaurants) for lunch, you can still walk around the beautiful grounds, taste the wine, and relax under the large oak trees.
Note: Simon's is a good restaurant, but they don't provide wifi and have very sketchy mobile data reception. In fact, the whole Constantia suburb area has particularly poor mobile data reception.
Sea Point Public Swimming Pool
Thousands of Capetonians, and those visiting our city, find their way to the beach after their New Year Eve celebrations. The public swimming pool in Sea Point is right next to the ocean and is a great beach substitute for those who either don't like the gritty beach sand experience or parents who prefer to keep their kids from the dangers of crowded beaches.
The pool is open from 07h00 to 19h00 in Summer and costs R20 per adult and R10 per child. Drive along Sea Point's Lower Beach Road - the swimming pool's right next to the takeaway food stalls at the end of the promenade.
Settling in for new year’s eve
Peeking goat
Eeuwww… oysters.
Each year, in around July, the little town of Knysna (high up along the Western Cape's east coast) has a huge oyster festival that runs for about 10 days. Between 60,000 and 70,000 people navigate their way to the area to participate in sports events, drink wine, eat oysters, attend live music acts, and drink wine (did I mention that already?).
So, if you are a fan of the oyster, and if you love a big ol' party, then consider visiting Knysna in July - you're sure to enjoy it! Only, book accommodation now already... it's not a particularly big town. ;)
Open gardens, closed gates
It's sad (though understandable I guess) that the gardens aren't open all year round. Wouldn't it be awesome to buy rights to quietly while away hours reading (or coding, in my case) under large oak trees on expansive green lawns bordered by colorful flowers?
I suppose that's quite idealistic, but a nice idea still - don't you think?
Summer beach days
While sitting at Caprice I commented to a friend that the bank of mist hovering over the ocean, just off the beach front, reminded me of San Francisco. I remember setting out on a warm and sunny day to take a trip from Santa Cruz up to Half Moon Bay (both towns are a few miles south of San Francisco on the North American west coast).
The weather along that entire coast line was exactly the same as the weather that we had at Camps Bay today - it was hot and sunny 100 meters away from the coast line, but misty with a cold sea breeze on the beach itself.
Fairview Wine and Cheese farm
Kerry-Anne and I had lunch here with my mom, dad, and sister - so here's my brief review: The service was good, the setting and decor (inside and out) was lovely, the cheese platter that we shared was awesome (fantastic, in fact). The chicken pie that I had wasn't very good (it seemed to have been reheated in the microwave) and Kerry-Anne's melon-and-feta prawn special was... awful, in our opinion (the tastes were, well, dissonant). My mother said the quiche was great - and I have to admit, it looked pretty good.
So - my recommendation is: Given that they make their own cheeses, and the cheese really is splendid, eat lots of it. Also, as long as you're not driving, drink lots of their wine - it's pretty darn fantastic. :)
There’s something fishy about this art
This large pond forms part of the park's biodiversity garden - which itself is host do dozens of indigenous plant species. Right alongside the garden area are benches and large open grassy areas where you're welcome to lay open your blanked and unpack your picnic basket. The trees are unfortunately not yet large enough to provide lots of shade, so I'd probably advise an early morning or evening picnic - outside of core sunburn hours. :)
The park is right next to the Green Point stadium, very close to the Green Point lighthouse. Entrance is free and the gates are open every day from 07h00 until 19h00.
SUP Three Anchor Bay?
Stand Up Paddling, or SUP for short, has become really popular in Cape Town. We often have calm, flat seas in summer- the kind of conditions perfect for standing on a board and paddling about.
Imagine the tranquility of standing out in the quiet ocean, too far from shore to be disturbed by the crowds, watching the sun set and the coastline turn dark while the ocean water laps at your board.
I live a little too far from the ocean to take up ocean sports, but I think I'll make it a mission to vacation at the coast and hire a paddle board. Soon. :)
Camps Bay beach silhouettes
A million tiny flowers
Please, get on the path. Now.
La Perla in Sea Point
La Perla is locally fairly well acclaimed - and assuming that our dishes were the norm, I can only imagine that folk like the restaurant for it's location and atmosphere. It's probably one of the nicest venues on Sea Point beach road, and the atmosphere is an interesting mixture of hip and young with classically stylish, and although La Perla appeared snooty from the outside (can a restaurant appear snooty?), the staff were surprisingly warm and welcoming.
Definitely visit La Perla for afternoon drinks, but I'd probably choose an alternative restaurant for lunch or dinner.
Garage with a view
