Today we went on an absolutely brilliant excursion to the top of Table Mountain by coach and cable car, with a fantastic, funny, caring and professional tour guide. We had a third clear sunny day with hardly any breeze, 30+C so we have been really really lucky today. This was made even sweeter because the tour guide saw that I was walking with a walking stick today and filtered me off into a group allowed to jump the one hour queue, go up in the lift to join the cable car with all the "gogos". Khachik was allowed to come with me. Khachik did a phone video both up and down in the cable car, which incidentally rotates to give everyone a chance to see everything. There are about 60 people in each car, and 2 cars in operation. The organisation of the cars is fabulous and on the top of the mountain there are all sorts of facilities including internet cafes, bars and shops. So much to see up there - truly stunning and breathtaking views, very different terrain, three different types of stone I hear, unique wildlife (notably lots of little lizards, some pure black, some with turquoise heads), and the most beautiful birds I have never even seen pictures of. Research required!
We stopped up there for about an hour for short walk, a coffee and a snack, and Khachik found internet to make contact home. While we were doing that a couple who had already left the ship at Cape Town joined us. They said they were from Cheltenham, Warden Hill to be exact. I told them about my 11 years in Cheltenham, and mentioned Pate's Grammar School, of course they knew it. They asked where we were from. When we said Glossop, they said they knew another couple on the same ship called Brian and Maria from Hadfield. They have now also left the ship, without us getting to know them, which is a shame. Who knows we might meet up with them some time in the future. However we might meet another of their contacts Tom Williams, apparently from our neck of the woods. Hope we recognise him from their description.
At departure time, the SA immigration team again found it necessary to take their time doing the face to face passport checks and stamping, which has resulted in almost 3 hours delay leaving Cape Town. The queues were bad, it was hot, bottles of water had to be given out in the queues to prevent dehydration. I think the best thing is to expect delays, and not rush out of the cabins to queue, but arrive at the tail end and pass through quickly.
Never mind, we've eaten now, met a lovely couple from New Zealand and are back in the cabin ready for a good night's rest. Sea day tomorrow. New art teacher! New sector. Excited about Namibia on 10th April Bye for now. xx
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