Activities on Friday were a bit more hectic than on Thursday. For starters, the South Africa versus Australia cricket match SarahCatherine and I had planned to attend, that we thought started at 10:30 am, started much earlier. We were on a run that morning, and only found out the game had started after running past a TV showing the match. Quickly we got ready and took a mini bus to the stadium. The line for tickets was extremely long. Apparently, the matches against Australia were supposed to last for five days, but because of the number of points already scored, today was the last day of matches. Thus, everyone and their sisters were trying to get into the game, and everyone who had bought tickets for later games had come to this game. We waited in the sun for about 30 minutes to get our tickets, and when we finally got into the stadium, got to watch about 20 minutes of the game.
(Newlands Cricket Stadium)
It was confusing and short lived, but well worth it. For those of you who are just as confused as I am, let me lay my knowledge of the game on you. Basically you have a batter, like in baseball, who has to hit a ball pitched to him by a running start from the ‘pitcher’. The batter is standing in front of a white stick in the ground that he does not want the ball to hit. His goal is to hit the ball far away from the center of play so that he can run back and forth between these white poles that are on both sides of the field, while his teammate that was standing across the way by the other pole does the same thing.
(South Africa up at bat)
And there are something called ‘wickets’ which are the number of balls you get or something to hit. Basically, South Africa won the tournament against Australia by 8 wickets, whatever that means.
After interviews with each teams’ captain, we sat in the sun while the rest of the stands cleared out. Teams of young cricket players came onto the pitch and started numerous games on the field, cheered on by the remaining audience in the stands.
(Little cricket players)
We watched the kids attempt to swing their bats and pitch for a bit, then cleared out ourselves and got ready for the beach. SarahCatherine and I had planned to go to Kalk Bay, a beach on the Indian Ocean side of South Africa, but were oblivious to how far away it was. All of a sudden we were taking a R250 cab, driven by a much too talkative man who was definitely on drugs, to a beach almost 30 minutes away. We got there by 3 pm, and found that the beach wasn’t much of a beach at all. The main reason we had come to Kalk Bay was to eat at the Brass Bell, so the beach close to that was very small.
Kalk Bay was wonderful regardless. Our crazy taxi driver dropped us off by the restaurant, we made reservations for later, and then headed onto the docks.
(Kalk Bay)
As it turns out, the wind was fierce and we both kept our pants and sweatshirts on, but lay on the dock, soaking up the sun and the smell of the Indian Ocean. Then we explored the bay, walking along the numerous docks and admiring the colorful fishing boats, poking our heads into small shops on the main road, discovering a man building trinkets out of wire, and finally touching our feet into the very cold water.
(Fishing Boats)
(Indian Ocean)
After touring around a bit, we made our way back to the restaurant.
(The Brass Bell)
It was right on the water, and our table was on the upper deck, all the walls made of windows, and our table right against the window facing out into the ocean.
(Our table)
We ordered the Brass Bell’s classic fish and chips, and sat in awe at the ocean crashing against the man made pool below us. The sun streamed in through the windows as we enjoyed our seafood dinner.
(Fish and Chips)
The ride back to town we enjoyed the frightening stories from our wacky cab driver, who I am now convinced was not sober in the least (don’t worry Mom, we got home safely). Dessert that night was the delicious chocolate cake from Charly’s Bakery!
Chocolate cake was also breakfast Saturday. Then it was off to the Old Biscuit Mill. Every Saturday from 9am-3pm, the Old Biscuit Mill area, a square of boutiques and overpriced shops, plays host to the ‘Goods Markets’ of crafts and food. This was our last Saturday attending, as next Saturday I will be busy packing up 4.5 months of my life into two suitcases and two carry-ons. SarahCatherine and I shopped in the crafts market first, full of jewelry and clothes, and then toured through the permanent shops. Finally, we entered the ‘Neighbour Goods Market’, a white tent packed with food venders.
(Sheep in the food market)
Each vender has a theme that inspires the way they set up their stands, be it Italian, German, etc. I’ve sampled many foods here over the past four months, but decided on a brat with mustard and a cold beer for my last day.
(Brat and beer)
It was delicious. We ate at the makeshift tables (doors on their sides), and sat on make shift benches (wooden planks placed on overturned buckets). The tables were littered with white candles stuffed in old wine bottles, with empty glasses filled with flowers hanging from the ceiling.
(Table at the mill)
After our main course it was time for a dessert of pomegranate frozen yogurt with unlimited toppings in the sunshine, and then one last stop at the craft tent for some gifts.
(Frozen yogurt)
We took the minibus home and by 2 pm had taken a taxi to the Atlantic Ocean side of South Africa, settling ourselves on Camps Bay, a small beach set below Lion’s Head, a mountain I climbed to watch the sun set, and Table Mountain, a mountain I would climb in two days time.
(Lion's Head)
We rested at Camps Bay for four hours. I wrote in my journal, read magazines, but mostly people watched. There was a beach volleyball game going on that reminded me of Misty May and her partner from the Olympics. The women were playing in doubles and were very intense about the game. Next to the nets was a massage on the beach tent.
(Table Mountain-The Twelve Apostles)
Surprisingly, I saw many people going into that tent. The beach was the hub for all vendors. Not only were there massages on the beach, but men were walking up and down the beach selling all sorts of things. Some carried coolers with cold drinks and ice creams, others sold beach toys, and still others walked around showing people, mostly picking out the obvious tourists, typical ‘African’ crafts. We were harassed multiple times.
(Atlantic Ocean)
There were families and venders on the shore, paddle boarders and kayakers in the water, and paragliders above me, coming down from Lion’s Head. In fact, one even landed on the beach!
(Paraglider from Lion's Head)
By 6 pm, we had had enough sun for the day and headed back to Rondebosch with warm skin and headaches from dehydration. On the other side of the mountain, however, the sun had already set, leaving behind a dark and cold apartment to return to. But the day was a success, as was the day before. Thus, Sunday, when it rained, we were able to relax, having fulfilled many of the activities on our checklist.
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