Last Weekend in Cape Town

**Check out earlier posts for newly added photos!**

The past few days have been incredible- last three days in Cape Town WELL SPENT.

On Friday Amanda, Amy and I went down to the Waterfront around 1pm, I quickly bought a snazzy headlamp for the safari and then we got some lunch at Harry's Pancakes (salads this time, though). Our ferry to Robben Island left around 3pm. Unfortunately, I had a ticket issue that held me up and I wasn't able to sit up top with Amy and Amanda. So I was annoyed and went to sit in the bottom, no-open-air part of the ferry and ended up sitting next to the nicest guy and his family. They were from Pretoria, which as it turns out is only 30 minutes or so from Jo'burg! When I told him about my dilemma in visiting Jo'burg alone he offered to show me the town, so if I do stay around that is a nice option to have! He was super nice and my ferry ride turned out to be okay in the end =)

As soon as we got on the island we boarded a bus and were driven around and given a tour by a former prisoner. He was a very good guide (had jokes, too) but being on the bus was kind of annoying and it was hard to see things and take pictures and what not. The whole island is not taken up by the prison- there are churches and some houses and many buildings that are now used as conference centers. There are also old asylums- the island held mentally ill people and people with leprosy before becoming a prison. At one point the guide was showing us a building where guns were made during WWII, and he told us that two years ago he showed Obama around the island and at this point in the tour told him "Please, don't go back to Mr. Bush and tell him we have WMDs!!" Haha.

After the bus tour we entered the actual prison, where we were showed around by another former prisoner who was there from 1983-1990 for working with the African National Congress (ANC). We saw a room where up to 40 men would sleep, on 1/2 inch thick mats and then beds in later years. Then we were taken out to the courtyard off of Nelson Mandela's building, in which he spent much of his time in one particular corner where he had a garden. We quickly saw his cell, and then headed back to the ferry. I am glad that I saw Robben Island for everything that it represents and to learn more about Nelson Mandela. I felt for the tour guides though- the first one told us that the unemployment rate in South Africa is 47% so many of the former prisoners have no choice but to come back to the island for work. But can you imagine having to return every day to such a place after having been a prisoner there?? I can only imagine how hard it must be for them.

Back at the Waterfront we walked around a bit more and Amy introduced me to chocolate cookies and cream ice cream- tasty. Try it.

Saturday brought the Cape Peninsula Tour with Tour Guide Kenan! Eight of us in the house were going, plus four people from Table View (Side Note: learned that at Home of Hope, where the Table View people work, there are only 10 kids... to four volunteers per shift!!!!! At Bap it usually averages to about four volunteers to 40 kids. Currently, there are two BRAND NEW volunteers on shift at Bap that are by themselves because of the people that left Bap to go to Home of Hope. Which means 2 volunteers to 40 kids. UGHH! I hope the people that switched projects because they wanted to live in a nice house know how much they screwed over Bap- volunteers and kids.) ANYWAYS... we left for the tour around 9am and headed down the coast, past the Waterfront and Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles (BEAUTIFUL drive, frequent stops for pictures). Our first official stop was in Hout Bay, about 45 minutes from Cape Town. Hout Bay is famous for its seals, so about half of our group went out on a boat to see the seals but I opted to walk around the vendors and shops by the water- I've seen seals before. Did, however, pet a huge sea lion that apparently hangs out there at the wharf- he was 43 years old!! Walked around with the girls and we all bought a few things (even though I specifically told myself I wouldn't buy any more stuff!! Got a great scarf though for $6, how can I pass that up?)After about an hour we headed back out and drove along the coast to a point with an incredible view of Hout Bay- took tons of gorgeous pictures.

Next we went to famous Chapman's Peak Drive, which is a drive along the coast that is supposed to have spectacular views. Unfortunately, it was closed because they are working to make the road safer from falling rocks. Disappointing because we had to take a detour that took about an hour to Simon's Town, though of course even the detour was great- through some winelands. In Simon's Town we got lunch at a great restaurant; I had a chicken, shrimp, and calamari combo dish. Then we walked right up the street to Boulders Beach, which is where the penguins live! They were really cute when they swam in the water, but the ones on the beach (sunbathing I guess) didn't move- like just stood there completely still. It was weird.

From Simon's Town we headed toward Cape Point through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. This was a pleasant surprise for me, because the reserve had been on my list of things to see, but I crossed it out a couple weeks ago when I realized I wouldn't have time for it- so lucky me that it was included today! The reserve is gorgeous, drove through it all the way to Cape Point at the verrrrry tip of Africa and saw several ostrich and baboons! Which were carrying little tiny babies on their backs- very cute but I was happy to be in the van seeing as apparently baboons are nasty little buggers (Though everywhere were signs- "Baboons WILL enter your car"). At Cape point we got tons of pictures as well, the water was such a vivid blue and sparkling in the sun. Didn't go all the way to the top of Cape Point where there is a lighthouse (at this point it had been a long day), but walked halfway up with Amy and then got a little snack and just sat and enjoyed the views and the beautiful day. From here we headed home- a nice drive at sunset.

When we got home I was SO tired (had woken up at 6:30 am this morning, God knows why) but everyone was hungry so we decided to go to Panchos, the Mexican place in Obs. Unfortunately, when we got there it was completely full (Saturday night at 7:30, duh) so we decided to get take out and bring it back to the house. While we waited for the food, we all got a few drinks. After a half hour at the bar we decided that we would buy a few six packs to bring back to the house for the evening. With about 8 bags of food containers in hand, we went across the street to a bar the sells six packs, a simple task until someone suggests a shot or two. Half an hour later we were all back at the house eating out back and it was decided that we were going out- Long Street!! So me, Amanda, Jen, Amy, Shawna, Katie, Alyssa, Christiaan, and Jonas all headed out around 11pm and spent the night in the Dubliner (of course this made me happy) and just had a BALL. Everyone had such a good time, which definitely shows in the 100+ pictures that were taken (taking out one camera and passing it around the whole night is a very good method of documenting a night). I am so happy that we all went out because I didn't think I would have the opportunity to do so again in Cape Town, and I am just so happy that everyone had an awesome time. And the best part was that it was completely unplanned but the night just evolved and this morning everyone was saying "How did that even happen??". Originally our plan had been Panchos and the internet cafe and bed- I'll take getting plastered with this group any day =)

Sadly, I woke up hurting a bit which was bad news because at noon we got picked up for SKYDIVING, though as it turns out a really great way to get over a headache is to have jumping out of a plane to take your mind off of it. Today was another beautiful day and, thankfully, not too windy! YAY! Once we were there we had to wait around for about an hour (they have to organize us into planes that only fit six people, and most people videotape their jump which adds another person [I didn't get it taped- it cost like $60 and the final product was a bit too flashy for me]). Christiaan and Jen went up first, and before they got back down I went up with the guy I was jumping with, Julian (a 34 year old from Colorodo, been skydiving for 18 years) and two guys going on their own. I was so surprised that at this point I really wasn't that nervous- I guess after all the waiting I was just ready to do it. You sit on the floor in the plane facing the tail, and Julian sat behind me and I kind of sat in between his legs and leaned back on him. He was super nice and talkative, and I realized that it was good I wasn't with any of the others because I think we would have just been siking each other out more. So Julian has this thing on his wrist that shows our altitude, and when the hand hits 9 (9km) we jump. So at 3km he says "This is how high Table Mountain is. Two more Table Mountains to go!" and so I'd say around 7km I started to get nervous. He explained that he would open the door and I would put my feet out on this little step thing and then he would do everything- my only job was to keep my eyes open. So at 9km he throws open the door and yes I was scared out of my mind, though I expected it to look higher up than it did. So without much ado out we went!!!! I think I shut my eyes for a second but after about 3 seconds I realized that it was a COMPLETELY awesome feeling, and at that point I remember looking up and seeing the plane above us. And then it was 35 seconds of free falling, which wasn't scary at all, and the only discomfort was that I felt like it was a bit hard to take a breath. At 5km from the ground Julian pulled the parachute, which I expected would not be a good feeling being yanked up (minus that at least you know you are going to survive at that point). It wasn't really a yanking feeling at all though, and once the chute was open he showed me how to steer and turn which was cool but turning a lot makes you lose altitude faster which I didn't want to do- being able to see Table Mountain from that point of view was unbelievable, especially it being my last day in Cape Town. After about 4 minutes he told me what was going to happen with landing and before I knew it we were touching down, completely smooth landing. I was thrilled, this is without a doubt the coolest thing I have ever done, and I am so lucky to have been able to do it here. I would do it again in a heartbeat, so I hope there are still people at home that are interested (you know who you are!)!! It was fantastic.

Tonight we were going to go to the Green Dolphin at the Waterfront for a goodbye dinner to me, but I (and pretty much everyone in the house) am really tired and still need to pack (though this may be an impossibility- I have acquired WAY to many things here). Plus, I couldn't ask for a better night than last night so I am completely satisfied.

The past two days have just been absolutely great in every way. I have seen and done so much and had such an incredible time in just 48 hours. I can't believe I leave tomorrow- I could cry right here at this computer thinking about it. God I love this place. At least I can say that I went out with a bang =)