Cars, Caves, and Cats: A Review on my Cape Town Experience

 

It is so hard to believe that it has already been a month since I said goodbye to my friends and family and boarded a plane abroad. While I most certainly miss them all, my busy schedule here in Cape Town has hardly induced the slightest hint of homesickness. It's hard to miss the long, lethargic days spent sitting on my couch at home when I am busy riding elephants and jumping off of bridges. So, in honor of all you folks who are still sitting on your couch at home, here is a recap of the last ten days of my life.

The weekend after my last post (which was on Friday, October 19th) was a relaxing medley of laid-back activities. That Saturday we were supposed to go on a vineyard tour, but due to an uninspiring weather forecast, we had to change our plans. Instead, we rented a couple cars that morning, and crammed five people into each of the small sedans. Because only two of us know how to drive manual transmissions, we were automatically designated as the drivers. Driving on the opposite side of the road certainly took some getting used to. I had to change gears with my left hand, yield on right turns, and monitor my speed according to kilometers per hour, all while trying to appreciate the stunning views along the way. From our humble abode in Grassy Park, we headed south through the beautiful beachfront towns of Kalk Bay, Simon's Town, and Fishoek, where cobblestone streets and Victorian-style houses complimented the bustling sea-side harbors. Our destination was the infamous Cape Point, where the Indian and Pacific oceans meet. A short drive through the national park led us to a small hike up to a lighthouse, which offered spectacular views of the mountains that reached into the sea. On the way home, we stopped at Boulder's Beach, home to a colony of penguins, after seeing wild baboons occupy the road along the way. Even though I come from a land of untamed and unmatched beauty, I have to say that this drive was one of the most scenic and unforgettable trips that I have ever experienced. The next day was very windy and overcast, with the occasional rain shower to top it all off, so we spent most of the day hanging out at the house and relaxing.

Kalk Bay

On Monday it was back to work. While we worked hard to try to complete a room for the center, the process was quite slow and tedious. In the afternoons, we usually returned to the house to rest after a hard day's work, but on Wednesday we opted to try out surfing. The short train ride from the house brought us to Muzenberg Beach, home of the Projects Abroad surf program. For the equivalent of about $10, we were given wetsuits, a board, and a full surfing lesson for the afternoon. While I had never surfed before, I found it quite easy to get the hang of, probably because of all my experience on skis. I wore myself out after a couple hours, and we got to unwind and watch the sunset over the waves while enjoying a nice cool Black Label (a local brew). Thursday was our last day at work, and we had a barbeque and said farewell to Dean. He had very nice things to say about all of us, and I couldn't have asked for a better friend and mentor for my first two weeks here in South Africa. That afternoon, we hopped on the train again and headed to the small town of Kalk Bay. We walked down the street past coffee shops and bookstores, while taking in the view of the deep blue ocean across the way, before stopping at a restaurant right off the harbor to enjoy fresh oysters. It is wonderful to live so close to such a place, which was only about a fifteen minute train ride from our home.

Cango Caves

Vineyards along the way

The real adventure began on Friday, when our trip to the Garden Route got underway. The ten hour drive wound through absolutely gorgeous mountains that cradled countless vineyard in their valley floors. The huge, rocky peaks reminded me very much of my home in Colorado, but the vines and grapes provided a fresh twist of scenery. We stopped along the way at the Cango Caves, where I slid through tiny spaces with names like "The Chimney" and "The Letterbox" in my bare feet. Afterwards, we made our way to the hostel, a small building right next to the beach, located directly on top of a local bar. Lots of other Projects Abroad volunteers were there, and we got to socialize over a few games of pong with the sound of crashing waves in the background.

Sunset from the beach hostel

 The next day, we woke up early and headed to a local zip-line and obstacle course. We climbed through the tree tops for about two hours, which was far more effective than a morning cup of coffee. From there, we headed to the town of Knysna, which has been rated as South Africa's most beautiful town. The Knysna Elephant sanctuary was our next stop, where five orphaned elephants live and are trained. Not only did we get to walk the elephants by holding their trunks, but we actually got to hop on their backs for a ride. I must say, an elephants back is not the most comfortable seat, as their tough skin and bony spine don't make for a great cushion. After dismounting, a short drive brought us to Monkeyland, where we ate lunch surrounded by multiple species of monkeys. Then came the main attraction, the world's highest bungee jump. As we drove over the bridge where it was located, I could already feel my heart racing and my adrenaline pumping, as we looked over the 216 meter (700+ ft.) drop that lie below. For under $100 they took us to the platform in the center of the bridge, tied a rope to my ankles, and told me to jump. The 7 second free fall seemed like an eternity before the cable caught about 100 feet above the valley floor. Then, I was left to hang upside down, suspended like a spider on a web, until they were able to pull me back to the top. To finish off what was probably the best day of my life, we headed back to Knysna and watched the sun set behind seaside cliffs and clashing waves. Then, we went back to the hostel to play more pong and have a bonfire on the beach (which I think was completely illegal but nevertheless a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity). On the way home on Sunday we were all pretty worn out, but had a nice morning safari where we saw lions, springbok, zebra, ostrich, eland, giraffes, rhinos, and multiple species of birds.

Monday morning came once again, and I donned my Jerry Garcia tie and some nice slacks for my first day as an "office person." We headed to the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office, which is located in a very nice area of town near the University of Cape Town. Our new boss, Maria, is pretty much the opposite of Dean, and runs her office in a strict and demanding way. After a very short introduction, I was handed a folder containing my first case. Having no background in anything involving law (especially South African law), I was a little intimidated at first. However, I figured that if I could jump off that bridge, I could tackle whatever it was that lie within that folder. Come to find out, the case involves succession laws and the distribution of an estate. I got to do all kinds of fun research on things like testate and intestate laws, liquidation and distribution accounts, and nominated executors. Surprisingly, I felt like I made great progress for my first day, and my confidence in the upcoming 6 weeks here was boosted greatly. Tomorrow I get to go meet my client and further investigate the case. I never thought I would enjoy dressing up and sitting in an office, but so far it hasn't been that bad. This work is a nice taste of the real world, and the stuff that really goes on here in South Africa.