First week South Africa
We land in Cape Town on Sunday morning at 8.15 am. We were right behind Business Class and were able to leave the plane fairly quickly. Normally we are not that fast and we wait for most travelers to disembark, but this time we were ready to go. We knew from previous visits that the custom queue can be a long wait and with 2 children who are tired we did not feel to lose a hundred spots. We passed quick as there was no queue at the passport control and we moved on to the baggage claim. Our luggage come out pretty quick, but the pram was somehow held up. But happy us: we where directed a ‘go to Start’ through customs / security by customer officer because we were with children. We knew the way to the car rental from last time we visited and before we knew it we could hit the road.
Driving on the left hand side
It takes some getting used to, driving on the left hand side. In particular the indicator stock that is located on the other side of the steering wheel. Shifting gears, feeling your place on the road all ok, but getting rid of seeing the windscreen wipers turn on every time you think you are using the blinkers takes for ever to rewire in your brain. And when you make a turn at a crossing where there is no traffic don’t forget to make the wide turn and vice versa. As long as there is enough other traffic determining your bearings for you things are fine. But when the road is empty, it becomes so easy to fall into the pattern and and up on the wrong side of the road. Fortunately, we are with two (adults) and we remind each other on a big bend or a small turn and we laugh and count the amount of times the windshield are turned on accidentally.
A long drive, but worthwhile
We were tired and so where the girls. Anna and Livia slept almost immediately when we took of by car. We drove in the direction of the N2, direction George. It was proper long drive with 4 hours to go. But, with a ‘modern’ car and two sleeping children, driving a distance is no problem. We passed many places we visited before. Places with a memory. We have been to South Africa twice before and recognized a lot as we where driving down the famous Garden route. We enjoyed it. The landscape along the way is wide and beautiful. Big views. We love it here. But it also amazes us every time how wide stretched a country can be.
In the afternoon we arrived at a large white mansion. Upon entering we where impressed by it’s size. The car was parked in the indoor garage and the girls both had separate bedrooms. Such a luxury. We had picked up some groceries on the way down . After a simple meal, the girls went to bed. Not much later we followed too.It had been a long day after a far too short night.
Genieten
The next morning we took of for the beach. Ewout and Anna went by car and Susan on foot with Livia sleeping in the carrier. It is close, not more than a 10 minute walk, but the way back is fairly steep and then the car is more convenient then listing to the wining of being to tired to walk up. Walking towards the ocean, hearing the waves crash on the beach we realize again: Wherever we end up it should be near the ocean.
So lovely to walk bear feet in the sand. We somehow are in our element then and I suspect Livia in due time will be as well. The first full day in South Africa and we took a deep breath. We could only guess how much we will enjoy the coming weeks. What a luxury to be so close to the sea. Just as in The Hague, but now with almost good weather everyday.
Most of the following days existed out of a morning walk on the beach and an afternoon on the terrace of the house occupied with schooling, some work or just chilling.
On Friday we held a ‘field trip’ and discovered the Redberry farm. An Redberry farm with all kind of (kids) activities. There was a train you could ride, you could pick redberries, drive a small electeric powered boat and get lost in ‘the maze. The Maze was good fun and Anna took the lead and led us through a 90 minutes run around to find all hidden treasures and the ultimate the exit and the ‘I concurred the Maze’ pin a reward.
