This is going to be a quick post as we just got off a 16 hour flight and I'm playing major catch up. Tim and I just got back from Cape Town where I was sent to run a workshop for three days and I craftily convinced (he didn't need convincing luckily) to play hooky from school and come with me. He surfed in both the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean in one day (and didn't get eaten by a shark), my workshop went really well- we brought together peacebuilding practitioners from all over the region to talk about best practices, and we had a wonderful few days to wonder around the country after that. It's an extraordinarily beautiful place. Mountains and sea! This post won't describe how complicated a place it is beyond it's breathtaking scenery, and we are both left with a lot of questions and feelings of discomfort regarding how little the lives of black South Africans seem to have really changed since Apartheid ended. We also went on a township tour (apartheid-era slums where the majority of black South Africans still live) which was very powerful. But for now, just some highlights -
The Cape of Good Hope! We hiked out as far as we could, leaving crowds and tour buses behind. This is the most powerful lighthouse in South Africa. The Lucitania went down on Bellows Rock, right out of the picture frame. It was pretty dramatic to be at the southern most tip of Africa.
South African Penguins!
Eating dinner outside in Hermanus by the light of an oil lamp. Earlier we watched Southern Right Whales from the shore with their young. Land-based whale watching!
Cold!
Wine will fix it!
The workshop I ran was held in Stellenbosch, the wine country about 20 minutes outside of Cape Town. Pretty much vineyards and wineries as far as the eye could see. Just like this.
Top of Table Mountain! We took the cable car up. Robben Island is just out of the frame to the left, all of Cape Town right below Tim.
Nature! We didn't quite make it to a safari so this is as close as we could get. This is an eland on a farm where we stayed for a night.
Typical sunset from the road along the coast.
The world is beautiful! I feel so lucky! Love, Carrie
4 comments:
Splendid! Thanks for this little glimpse into your trip. Welcome home!
All I can think of is the ships that have rounded that bend throughout history, before the Suez Canal.
And the thoughts those seamen must have been thinking.
You guys had a real treat. Thanks for sharing.
What beautiful scenery and what a romantic looking getaway for you two.
Seems like I'm jealous of where both C & E are!
We've gotta' get the family packed up and traveling!
Fabulous pictures of an extraordinarily beautiful place. I had no idea! Thanks for sharing, Carrie. Sounds like a wonderful experience all around. XXOO
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