The Journey Inward

I headed out to do some errands this morning, including visiting my sweet neighbor, Sue, who is already planning where she’ll take me for tea next weekend!

This evening, I landed in the “most beautiful city in the world,” Cape Town. It was a 40 minute drive to the Tanbo airport, then a two hour flight here ($200). I took an uber for the 30 minute drive to my airbnb for $11.38. The place is absolutely gorgeous ($350 for 5 days/4 nights) and I have a stunning view of the ocean from windows that open like sliding glass doors on the fourth floor. It is a little paradise here and the perfect place to spend my school “holiday.”

To take advantage of what was left of the daylight (a bit longer here than back in Pretoria), I walked 3 miles up and back along the ocean. The path is wide and people were walking, biking and running along it. To the right, the waves rolled in and to my left were gorgeous apartment buildings, some with restaurants on the ground floor. It was very overcast, so I couldn’t see beyond the ocean block.

I had gotten such great travel tips and advice from the women at the rugby party and the woman I signed my final gym contract with. Tonight I sat here and planned out tomorrow, which I think will be a hop on/hop off tour of the Cape. There is so much to do here and I know when people will visit, they will want to come, so I’m saving the hikes and wine tours and penguins for that. I will do the botanical, and Robben Island and walks on my own.

Picture 1: fun coasters I bought this morning at a super unique store near me. The saleslady and I hit it off and I said I’d come back when I have more time…and to Christmas shop!

Pictures 2 and 3: I love the wrapped sandwiches in Bulgaria, and these had such a sweet touch!

Picture 4: I find inspiration everywhere, including at baggage reclaim, as they call it.

Picture 5: It’s about time they designed a bathing suit that provides more arm coverage!

Random notes:
~People use "now" and "just now" frequently.  This could mean any time between now and next week.  Examples:  Can I speak with you just now?  I'm coming just now.  It always makes me smile and I tease my teammates at work about it.
~It's fun to see speed limit signs of 80 and 120, even if it is kilometers.
~The right lane is the fast lane.
~We saw blesbok yesterday, so named because of the white markings on their face, said to be a blessing.
~ I had surgery on my hand when I was 8 to straighten two fingers that were stuck in a bent position.  Those fingers have always been weak, and the middle one, where the grafting was done, is especially so. I tend to use my left hand less, so the whole hand has always been weak (and I liked to blame it for my poor left handed piano playing).  I say this because I think I may strengthen that hand after all these years from putting the car in gear.  Imagine what a manual transmission would do!!
~I got to catch up with my brother in Beirut tonight, which was very nice.  We're hoping to see each other here or there in the coming months.  His good friends live here, so I will be seeing them this week.

Okay, that's all the news today!  I hope to have some nice adventures to write about this week!