Tweede Nuwe Jaar in Cape Town – “Second New Year” first celebrated for the minstrel carnivals when the slaves were given off the second day of the year.
It’s not an official public holiday in South Africa, unless the 1st January falls on a Sunday, which is precisely what has happened this year.
I did some work this morning and then hung out with Julian and David as well as with my good friend Riana who is staying in the cottage in our back garden with her husband for a couple of weeks. It’s great having them. It all feels very holidayish!
Tomorrow my colleague in Abu Dhabi returns to work, so I think I will have to do more than the 4 hours of work I did today. It will get busy.
Amidst it all, it was good to watch the cricket unfolding at Newlands – the second test between South Africa and Sri Lanka. Expected to be a low scoring match, wickets fell at regular intervals with South Africa right now having lost 5 wickets for just over 200 runs. It was great to see Dean Elgar get his 100. It was very hard work getting there and well deserved.
And so this is Cape Town on 2nd January 2017.
Sun pouring in from a blue sky patched with a few wispy clouds. Warm, humid, slight breeze. Summer in the Mother City. Few flies buzz, a bee trapped against the window. The sea sparkling blue, the beach filled with holiday makers. The vibe is hard to beat.
I live in the best city in the world.
We have everything that would attract people to live here.
An amazing, three hundred + year history complete with the oldest building in the country still standing (the Castle) and many other buildings that reflect our fascinating past.
We have Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for a large portion of his 27 years. It sits quietly and unobtrusively in Table Bay – its breeze whispers across the limestone quarry where the great statesman spent hundreds of hours toiling in summer heat. Great ideas were thought by Madiba in that mine – dreams were dreamed and strategies formulated – many came to pass.
We have Table Mountain. It rises up over the city, keeping watch over Lion’s Head and Table Bay. Described as a “beacon of hope” by Nelson Mandela, it is the iconic picture that defines Cape Town the world over. But there’s more. Table Mountain may be the best known mountain in Cape Town, but there are dozens of other peaks. The Table Mountain National park incorporating Table Mountain and all the surrounding mountains is an amazing 221 square kilometres of protected nature reserve. Wherever you go in the city, there is a mountain view to enjoy.
We have the ocean. Wherever you live in Cape Town, you only need to travel 20 minutes or less before you reach the beautiful sea surrounding this city of ours. The Atlantic and the Indian beckon 365 days of the year. We are so beautifully appointed, that it is no wonder that Sir Francis Drake called it the “fairest Cape in all the world.” From Sea Point to Cape Point, from Strandfontein to Hout Bay, views of the sea are available from all corners of the city.
Cape Town has wildlife! Yip, wherever you go, expect to be surprised, from the whales in the bay to the penguins in Simons Town, ostrich at Cape Point, baboons along the way, zebra and buck on the mountainside, sharks off shore, seals galore, dolphins cavorting, both marine and land wildlife are sure to entertain. Furthermore, the big 5 are only a few hours drive away at Aquila Private Game Reserve.
Add to all of this, the amazing people of the Cape. We have variety. So many different cultures – a melting pot of nationalities who have settled here and call the Mother City home. We make up Cape Town and we get to live here.
There’s so much more that I could add.
The best city in the world! And I get to live here. What a privilege.
#150 of my 1000 thanks is that I get to live in Cape Town. WHAT a privilege!
Right at the beginning of the year, as I start reading the Bible, I start in Genesis, Matthew, Psalms and Proverbs, all simultaneously.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂