I first visited Cape Town late in 2000 on Cunard’s QE2 when Carnival’s ownership of Cunard was in its infancy.  I would return 18 years later, seeing very little of the city before setting off on adventure along the Garden Route eventually to Port Elizabeth (P.E.)

Yesterday morning at around 05.30, Queen Mary 2 docked gracefully at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal. My cabin looked out onto what had become a cloud obscured Table Mountain.  Not so long previously, the mountain was completely clear, suggesting a fine day ahead.  The day before, temperatures had reached 27°C .  But, what a difference a day makes.  Temperatures would struggle to reach a parcimonious 17°C, with a mist rolling down to sea level and plenteous precipitation. (OK- rain and drizzle!)

For Jo, revisiting Cape Town was/is something of possibly a “farewell,” having in her early days worked as catering personnel on the former Union Castle Line between the U.K. and South Africa.  Coming back some 50 years later was something of an unexpected opportunity, or maybe a planned one.  She remains unsure if she will return just one more time.  Me, too, as much as I would like to.  On her previous visit in 2018, she and Joyce explored the city. This year, we used private transport to explore the likes of Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Boulder Rock, the penguin colony and places in between, along  three different routes.  For whatever reason today, South African Immigration insisted that a face to face examination of all passengers and crew would take place by 5 pm ruling out any opportunity to make the very most of our second day here.  Cloud, referred to as the “table cloth,” which had obscured the summit of Table Mountain much of the day had retreated, leaving the flat summit clear for all to enjoy once we were on board. 

Yesterday, our hired minibus would not only take us to Cape Point but also the Cape of Good Hope, and to the well-known penguin colony hear Simon’s Town, Boulders Rock.  (Sat. 8/4/23)

(Continued 9/4/23)

As the afternoon progressed, the mist lifted, and while it remained cloudy with occasional rain, visibility improved vastly.  Having hired a minibus with excellent driver, we could go where we wished, including down to a rocky beach where the Atlantic breakers crashed spectacularly against the jagged rocks that marked the coastline.  Wild emus were aplenty along this part, creating both photographic and video opportunities.

We had requested four hours’ minibus hire, but with the weather continually improving, we extended that arrangement for the ride up partway up Table Mountain from where wonderful aerial views would be had. 

Tuesday, 0030 hrs 11th April

We had enjoyed a good day, and rather than a routine dinner on board, we would dine at the one month old Raj Restaurant in the Victoria and Alfred Waterside complex, now a very extensive and spread-out mall type establishment. On the way, we came across the closing bars of an open-air rock concert. I get the feeling it was the end of some kind of annual festival.

This Indian feast brought brought to an end our first day in Cape Town. The next day, I decided early that morning that I wished to revisit Boulder’s Rock, where a fine malachite circular plaque with a copper engraved map of Africa attached, at a souvenir stall had attracted my attention the day before. Jo decided she wanted one, too. Firstly, we treated ourselves to afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel, whose resident cat is called Nellie, the nickname of the hotel!

Although we were timed to sail at 8 pm (not actually leaving until 1 am. the following morning), South African Immigration insisted on departure procedures being complete by 5 o’clock, that now becoming the all aboard time, thus reducing our all too brief second day.

I did stay awake until we eventually set sail, according to the captain, three minutes before 01.00 hrs.

Even the mixed and sometimes wet and misty weather did not detract from the loveliness of the dramatic countryside surrounding Cape Town and that part of South Africa in general.

Many thanks for reading, David, 01.04 hrs, 11/4/23 in a now deserted Kings Court Buffet. This Blog was completed two days after the most recent event.