Backyard Tourist

I spend most days rushing madly around in the persuit of those pieces of paper that get exchanged for food and lodging. But now and then I'm made to stop, slow down and wait.

Recently I was stuck in Woodstock, not my usual stomping ground - awaiting news on whether to move back out into traffic with the trailer to find another location, or turn and head home. And I've made an executive decision. I need to get back there with a camera and a full day in hand to wander those streets and take photos.

Have you ever taken a good hard look at the people and places around you? In a place like Woodstock there are fascinating views at every turn. From out-of-business and boarded up buildings, to those with a fresh coat of paint. From the bergie heaving a trolley load of old metal to the nearest scrap dealer, to the tannie directing an antique from the back of a bakkie into her shop. People of every colour and age, fashion sense and fashion disasters. The trendy and the threadbare.

Take a trip through Maitland and you'll see just as many interesting things.

Or stop off in Muizenberg. Or Athlone. Parow. Paarl. Strand (where there's a complex of old buildings and factories nearby that are soon to be demolished to make way for new office "squatter camps").

Beyond the man-made stuff, very often we take our natural surroundings for granted. Favourite Man and I were discussing recently how immune we become to views like this right in our back yard.

Head down, we go about our business on familiar streets - seldom taking time to really look around us.

There are those who pay thousands and come from the other end of the planet to see things we live with every day. We pay thousands to go see what they live with every day....

But now and then it's a good idea to become a backyard tourist. To go experience this (and no, they don't fire it from the TOP of Signal Hill!):



To travel with a camera in case you come across something unexpected.

Or to simply take a day off, grab your camera and go get locally lost.

Photoblog: Early Morning Harbour

Taken by my son on a VERY early trip to Cape Town yesterday morning.

Chinese R&D

The middle of Somerset West is overrun with them - cheap Chinese/Korean-owned shops selling exactly the same low-price, low-quality goods all the way up the main road. They've taken over the annual Strawberry Festival: where it used to be loads of local hand-made and interesting things, it's now row after row of plastic mass-produced junk.

Walking past one of those shops today I had to wonder - who does their R&D for the Western market... and how? How do they decide what us shoppers want, and come to the conclusion that a plastic shopper bag with rainbows and eagles will actually SELL here? Or garish nailpolish that wears off quicker than you can put it on? Or certain clothes, shoes and underwear? Who decides what slogan to slap on a t-shirt, and how "gansta" to make a jacket?

I'd love to know. Along with "is there any melamine in that mascara I just bought?"!

Culture Vultures

One of our neighbours has his fingers in many media pies - from a local newspaper, to a local radio station, to the local theatre.

And thus it was that Favourite Man and I found ourselves down at The Playhouse in Somerset West on the final night of "Play Misty For Me", his first foray into directing.

I've only ever been to The Playhouse once - many, many years ago. It was just as I remembered it. It's not huge, it's not fancy. The old fogies are manning the cash bar, snacks and tea tables. The walls are lined with posters from years gone by, with accolades and awards many and varied. We walked in to a distinct buzz of what appeared to be regulars - including an amazing number of young people for a Friday night!

At the appropriate time, after a pre-show drink, we found our seats a few rows from the front - not too difficult to achieve considering there aren't an infinite number of rows! You can sit in the back and still eyeball the lead on stage pretty effectively.

Norman had indeed chosen a very hard story to portray, adapted by himself for stage and actually pulled off pretty well. So it's not Broadway - but the actors were good, the story easy to follow, alternatively dramatic and funny.

It was a definite change of scene for us old homebodies. We ran into a few people we knew, Favourite Man got chatted/felt up by one (...eish!) and we could honestly tell Norman he'd done a good job of it.

We haven't really explored the local cultural scene beyond a random drink at the Old Bridge Tavern every couple of months - if that can be considered "culture". But if our community newspaper is anything to go by, there's quite a bit happening around here.

May be time to go have a more regular look-see.

Open Season

Favourite Man has just been ripped off in a big way and is fuming.

You see, Cape Town gets on the Tourist Season boat - and turns it into Open Season, with charges for service fair game as soon as foreign currency starts to show itself.

And with summer coming, that's being reflected all over! Especially in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town city bowl.

Favourite Man found a nice little place a while back where he usually goes to get his hair cut and be pampered with a proper shave. It's the kind of place with old-fashioned leather chairs, straight razors and old-world charm. Or at least it was the first time he dropped by. It also came with a good-looking chick then who did the head-massage-shampoo-type things (added perk). Unfortunately she's moved on.

The last time he was there he paid R120 for a shave and a haircut. Which is within reason, all things taken into account.

Today he was there again. The owner was gone, leaving three rather effeminate men in charge. FAvourite Man settled in for his cut and shave, and when it came time to pay nearly fell out of the building. There are no prices posted, the till isn't working - and they charged him R300. R150 for a shave, R150 for a haircut. Then had the audacity to simper after him as he left "tipping's not optional, you know"...

So that's a dramatic price increase, no record of what was taken off customers, and no boss to complain to. It's either Open Season or those three have their hands in the (non-functional) till.

I'm betting a bit of both.

Nevertheless, it may be time to find an alternative manly pamper palace for cuts and shaves in future.

Unfortunately this reminds us of the wonderful pizza place we found that also suddenly went downhill come Tourist Season...

Eish.

Cape Winter

Unlike Steve, I forgot my camera at home on Friday. This of course was an absolute disaster - it was a perfect winter day in the Cape!

I was off office-job work to do a bit of other stuff, and the first item on the day's to-do list involved a trip through the Winelands in the chilly early morning. At our destination the fields were still wet with cold dew, starting to steam off as the sun warmed things up. But the journey home-wards was incredible.

We took a back road that wound past brilliant green fields dotted with white Shire horses. The mountains stood out against a clear blue sky after a week's cold-front bombardment - and the tips of the highest peaks were covered in snow. The arum lilies are starting to bloom in the damp spots. The vineyards are still spindly-empty, but you can almost feel Spring pondering its attack on their branches.

There are days when the Cape is the best place in the entire world to be. Friday was one of them.

Next time my camera goes with. For now I have a memory-wallpaper that blows my mind.

Wine Country

A week or so back, Favourite Man and I were given a bottle or two of a local wine as thanks for something we'd done.

Now I'm no expert on matters wine, but over the past few years have started to appreciate the nuances of different varieties. Having grown up with merely grape juices to go on, my taste buds tend toward the "dessert wine" section, the alcohol-light whites, the sweet blush types. Red wine was on my "acquired taste" list - having found not a single one I liked until recently.

But I think I'm getting a "matured palate". It took a bit of doing, but I've started to find reds that aren't half awful. And I may even be persuaded to try dryer varieties of white soon.

It's winter in the Cape. The vineyards are bare of leaves, bedded down and waiting for the first greens of spring. The mountains are either threatening rain or promising snow. But the summer harvest is being reworked into world-class, award-winning wines. The overseas/upcountry visitor season has not yet hit - it's a very good time for us locals to get to know our wineries in peace.

Today I have this urge for a winery-tour. My camera has snapped nothing more interesting than a random sunset out the window lately. There are places I haven't seen, and I have yet to find a favourite-favourite wine (or to discover the elusive 160 varieties of grape juice available in a 100km radius of here). The boys could do with an outing to parts unknown, as could Olivia the Landy.

I think it's time to hit the wine routes and play tourist.

Eclipse

Herewith your info bulletin of the day.

There will be a total Lunar Eclipse at around 2 in the morning on Sunday, 3 March.

Yes, I know it's a bit late/early. I'm thinking pyjama party.. ;-)

Please don't...

...step on the Puffadder!


On my way home yesterday, up the path and past the hedge, I was startled by a low growling noise. A bit like the low warning vibrating noise a cat would make - but with a little hissing thrown in for good measure. Amazingly, that freaky sound was coming from a rather large puffadder, right next to my feet and under the hedge! He was curled up, head poised to strike, waving in my direction.

Well, being one who always carries a camera, he got his photo taken - but not from too close.. :-) I then ran home to call our local snake expert, who only got the message and turned up an hour later. By then Mr Puff was long gone.

Funny thing though, there was a Cape Robin sitting right next to him when I arrived. I don't know if it had a death-wish, or was just keeping an eye on the beast, but it only flew off when I took a closer look under the bush.

We live quite "rurally". We often see snakes of one type or another. Common garden snakes, egg-eaters, the occasional boomslang and now and then a puffadder. This was one of the bigger ones I've seen, and I'm kinda glad he got away.. :-) Everything's got a right to live.

I wonder...

Jen put an idea into my head that soaked with me in the bath a bit, and now I wonder...

I seem to have turned into a bit of a travel advisor lately. Random folk online who find my blog, or friends dropping by this area, or just stuff mentioned in passing. In the last few months I've found a lot of info for quite a few people. Each wants a different kind of focus, so I've done info-digging in many different areas.

Jen mentioned something about doing it more formally (just in passing), and I got thinking. How many families come to Cape Town and don't know where to find kid-friendly activities? How many can't find kid-friendly accommodation? Is there a market for a "Kids in Cape Town" type guide book and website, a constant flow of info for families? I wrote an article once on cheap and free kid's activities in my town - but with a bit of research and brainstorming that could easily be extended to the Cape region within a couple hours of the city itself. The creative ideas are popping up in my head - and I forsee a bit of a toss & turn before sleeping tonight! :-)

But I wonder... I wonder if I could fill a niche? Or has it already been filled and I just don't know about it?

Time for some more digging!

Empty House

It's back to just the two of us (and dogs and fish) at home. This morning I dropped Mandy off at the place where a backpackers bus should (hopefully) have picked her up for the next stage of her adventure.

It's been really great having her around - and the house is going to seem awfully empty.. :-) I've gotten used to long chats on the verandah, drink in hand, while the sun went down, laughing until my sides hurt and hearing the coffee machine at work in the mornings again.

I've enjoyed being a tourist in my own backyard too, taking a new look at things I take for granted.

Anyway, last night we were sitting around, enjoying the sunset, and noticed some strange sunbeams in the sky, well after the sun went down. Probably a result of ice-crystals in the upper atmosphere, but they were pretty cool. Here they are:


::update::
She really shouldn't have, but Mandy left me a full tank of petrol, a pamper-session of bath goodies, a JOURNAL (yay!) - and more than a little something tucked away in it toward my Landy Club fees...! I'm completely blown away. I should have paid her for the pleasure of her company, not be getting such awesome prezzies. Wow.

Touristy Things

I'm quite enjoying having a tourist staying over - it makes you look at where you live with new eyes! I've remembered a whole pile of places to see and things to do since Mandy arrived, and also simply let her at it to discover things herself (being the lazy host). I've learnt a bit too - I had no idea we had a backpackers bus service in SA.

Yesterday we headed out to Hermanus, hoping to spot some whales. Unfortunately they've moved on, but we did get to wander a bit, eat a divine lunch of tramazzini (mine was fungi, hers had sundried tomatoes) - drizzled with either jalapeno or habanero sauce. The latter kinda burnt my lips off, even though I added a mere speck.. :-)

Oh, but we DID see one whale. A plastic one.... (and meet Mandy, by the way)


Also found a cool place selling rocks and gemstones, and a few African things. Of course I'm a crystal addict (no, not crystal meth!!! geez... ), so my eye was caught by the raw amethyst and quarz pendants at the African stall, and by small crystally bits at the rock/gemstone place. Including moonstones! My absolute fave, and at R2 a small crystal who could resist. I came home with 5 of them. OK, they're not brilliantly coloured, but they're still gorgeous.

There's one thing I love doing - coming over Sir Lowry's Pass toward the Cape Peninsula. What a view! What a place to call home! Yesterday it was stunning. The lighting was perfect, recent rains have given the mountains a green tinge, and the sea reflected the sparkle of sunshine.

Other touristy things we've done? Well, Cape Point:


First time the kid's been there, and I haven't for years! We've done Vergelegen:


And Spier (meet Greg):


Franschhoek (old graveyards make cool photos):


..and Boschendal:


..even the local nature reserve:


Mandy's explored Stellenbosch, the road out to Betty's Bay and a few local places on her own too (check out her blog for a REAL tourist's perspective).

Verdict? There's a lot to see around here - gotta get out more.. :-)