Cape Town

Hello!

Thanks for keeping up with my travels! Remember, I am a traveler not a tourist.

I arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on March 19. I stayed in the city all 6 days. I had never been to Africa before. This was the port I was most excited for before embarking on this journey. I had heard many positive and exciting things about it. I had only planned one excursion for the week before arriving. I booked the rest of my excursions the day before or on the specific day.

On the first day, I had to complete my ecology field class requirement. We went to Sea Island & Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach. I have never seen so many sea lions occupy a space in the ocean & cover massive rocks. This beat my experience seeing the sea lions in San Diego, California. The penguins were super cute! They were swimming, sleeping, nesting, & waddling around. I was able to get up close to them & follow them as they exited the ocean. That evening, my friends & I ate dinner & taste tested wine at the oldest winery in town. We experienced Long Street, a street lined with bars and restaurants. We spent the night at an Airbnb & woke up to the view of Table Mountain.

On the second day, I checked something off my bucket list. I rode a horse on the beach. I have been wanting to do this for a long time. My horse, Smartie, was very slow and relaxed. He was the one the rest of the group waited on. Although he was taking his time, I enjoyed the view. The breeze from the ocean helped me to stay cool. Not only did I ride on the beach but also through a neighborhood and farm land. It was a little difficult for me to get used to the feel of the horse & properly control the reins. I did it, & I had a memorable time!

On the third day, I gave my mother a heart attack. I went shark cage diving. I was not nervous or scared before or during it. I put on a wet suit and jumped in the cage with my GoPro. I filmed the entire 20 minutes. The shark came up to the cage & touched it. It never got old! It is an incredible experience to be inches away from the most dangerous animal in the world. I recommend this excursion to those who are willing to try new things & want an adrenaline rush! Yes, I survived.

On the fourth day, I decided to stay on land & hike Table Mountain. I am not a hiker, but I like to challenge myself. It was the most difficult hike I had ever done in my life. Looking back, The Great Wall of China is so easy now. Hiking down was worse than hiking up. I saw a helicopter circle & hover the mountain to rescue people. It was worth it because the view from the top is indescribable. It was a clear day so I could see Lion’s Head Mountain, the whole city, & ocean. I do not plan to hike it again or highly suggest to, but it is a must see while in Cape Town. There is a cable car available to take to the top and back down.

On the fifth day, I decided to continue to worry my mom. I went surfing for the very first time at Muizenberg Beach. It is a little surf town with surf shops & restaurants that line the beach front. My friend Josie & I rented a surfboard to share. We each took turns riding the waves. It was the most fun I had all week! Josie was in the ocean when the shark siren sounded. The water cleared quickly. We were not allowed to enter for a half hour. The man surfing next to Josie said he saw the shark about 50 feet from him. The water & waves could not have been more perfect. We relaxed and sun bathed on the beach after being adventurous.

On the last day, I spent my time at V&A Waterfront. I rode the Ferris wheel, shopped at the mall & souvenir shops, ate lunch, and snacked at the food market. The V&A Waterfront was a five minute walk from our ship. Each night I ate dinner at one of the restaurants, all of which looked out to the ocean. Live music played throughout the day and night. I loved walking around and observing. I had a lot of delicious ice cream too. Cape Town is the one place I plan to return to first. There is so much more to discover.
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Side note—Maze Runner was being filmed at our port terminal, & we shared the space with the cast and crew. Also, Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined our ship for a presentation & dinner one evening. Lastly, I had ostrich for lunch.

Enjoy the photos ☺
Love Always,
Cee at Sea