Peter and Lori were picked up around 10 am by their South African guide, Peter (yes, another Peter). Off they went for an overnight exploration of the Winelands and the Whale Coast, areas just to the East of Cape Town. Stacey and I stayed in town and used it as a base to visit Table Mountain, Cape Town's dramatic backdrop, and the Stellenbosch vineyards, just an hour east out of town.
After breakfast and our travel partners' departure, we drove our Toyota rental car to the cable car station at the foot of Table Mountain. The road to the station seemed to go straight up as it edged closer to the mountain. At the station, the city was spread out far below, yet the mountain still towered way above us.
The view from our apartment's roof deck. Table Mountain is the dramatic setting for the city of Cape Town. The cable car takes you to that notch at the right end of the flat top.
Stacey at the bottom of the cable car station where we'd board the car that would take us to the top of Table Mountain. In this picture you are looking north up the Atlantic coast. Our apartment is in the western part of Cape Town (the area out near the water, just to the right of Stacey's head).
The cable car approaches. It's an amazing engineering feat - the car slowly rotates as you ascend, giving you a 360 degree view. Each car holds about 60 people.
Up, up and away! You can see forever ... but the best was yet to come.
When we reached the top and walked out on to Table Mountain, the view took our breath away. As usual, the National Parks had done a fine job making the site accessible to the public. Paved paths, a restaurant and gift shop greeted us. In the distance, hiking trails meandered the flat top of the mountain and you could see people far in the distance exploring the flora and enjoying the views. We looked south down one side and the beach and villages along the Atlantic were visible. Here was the beach town of Camps Bay that we had visited earlier, spread out below us.
Walking a few hundred yards to the other side of the "table" was a view north up the Atlantic coast. There was the city of Cape Town and Table Bay, the body of water on which it's situated. Geologically, we were standing on what remained of a vast plateau that had been thrust up eons ago. Over time, rivers and erosion ate away but the hard limestone resisted the chiseling effects of time and remained standing while the surrounding area was worn down. The results was this immense piece of proud, stratified rock that forms the beautiful tableau for the city far below.
Stacey poses on top of Table Mountain which runs away far to the south. The knarled and chiseled top is a testament to the geological glaciation that wore down the surrounding area but was resisted by the durable limestone formation that forms the mountain.
Looking southwest down the Atlantic coast, the village of Camps Bay lies at the base, around the "corner" from Cape Town. The town is a charming and popular beach spot for residents.
The top of the table. Clouds are a common presence and the weather can (and did) change at a moment's notice. People are in the distance, following the numerous trails. (Click any picture for a larger view, then hit "back" to return to the blog).
We lingered a while longer and then took the cable car down and returned to town for a lunch on Kloof Street, the fashionable upper end of Long Street. Tonight we'd have dinner alone and tomorrow we'd take a car trip to the beautiful and old town of Stellenbosch in the wine district. See you there.
1 comment:
You have crushed my hitherto indomitable spirit. Here I thought that Brooklyn was the top of the world. Never mind, we still will welcome you home.
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