We began our day on a drive to The Cape of Good Hope (Afrikaans:Kaap die Goeie Hoop,) is a rocky out cropping on the Atlantic coast of South Africa.
There is a very common misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the southernmost point is Cape Agulhas ("ah-GOOL-yuss"), about 150 kilometers or 90 miles as we call them to the east-southeast. The Atlantic and Indian oceans meet at the point where the warm-water Agulhas current meets the cold-water Benguela current and turns back on itself.
When following the African coastline from the equator, however, the Cape of Good Hope marks the psychologically important point where one begins to travel more eastward than southward. Thus the first rounding of the cape in 1488 by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was a major milestone in the attempts by the Portuguese to establish direct trade relations with the Far East. Our wonderful guide Chris explained that at many times you can see people at The Cape celebrating with champagne and dancing and you know they have been traveling Africa and are at their turning point.
As we drove to The Cape, the weather was just beautiful. Chris pointed out that the original lighthouse on the cape was not always functional due to the clouds surrounding it on a regular basis so another lighthouse was erected on the actual point. The weather was amazing and we were able to get off some great photos and then very quickly the mist came in. One moment it was clear and in the next moment we were completely shrouded in mist. Once again, Africa showed us that it had saved the very best for us!
We stopped off for some wonderful grilled calamari at a local restaurant called the Black Marlin. It is a quaint restaurant located in Simon’s Town and has earned a reputation for its food, wine and attentive service. Chris told me that at any given time the baboons would actually come up and join you for dinner, he did say not to worry about them stealing your cooked fish; they actually liked the bread better. A shower came in and luckily or unluckily, however you want to look at it, baboons prefer not to eat their bread in the rain.
We finished our drive with a tour of Simon’s Town where I saw some wonderful ironwork. It had some very interesting history…which I will save for another day. You will have to hear about the famous canine from Simon’s Town.
Back on the ship this evening the captain announced that we would be departing Cape Town. The tug boats arrived to escort us out of the harbor, we cast off the lines with Louie Armstrong singing “..I see skies of blue, clouds of white, bright blessed days, dark sacred nights…””
So, tonight as I am rocked to sleep with the gentle swaying of the ship ..I'll think to myself…what a wonderful world.
Tomorrow, a day at sea.
I read your blog today and you do paint such
ReplyDeletea clear picture I feel like I have been there.
Keep up the good work......