Argentina - 100 Curves Drive and Cordoba

100 Curves Drive Argentina

A chilly morning at 8 degrees! Our first outing of the day was to do the 100 Curves route around the lake. The houses here are much more palatial with glorious views. At one of the view spots, littered with rubbish, I spotted a pink bra hanging from the tree. The mind boggles as to why this was left there! Further brought us to Dique San Roque Dam. 

Dique San Roque Dam
 Argentina

100 Curves Drive - Argentina!

The huge drain hole at the dam is very scary, so much so that there is a friendly guard on duty! The sidewalk stalls were open and the smell of braaing meat made us think of home.

From this point we took the scenic route to Cordoba - this meanders along a river where we spotted a number of black comorants, each sitting on their own rock.

And what did I spot on the way into the city? A huge Makro store!

Cordoba was founded in 1573 and is the 2nd largest city in Argentina. With a population predominately of Italian descent, it has some interesting colonial architecture which includes the Jesuit Block.

Traffic into Cordoba was via a 4 lane highway, going in only. I suddenly saw the sign that said trams, busses and taxi in the 2 right hand lanes only. As this was where James was driving, he had to switch to the car lanes quickly!

We spotted a car park so decided that was the best option at 18 pesos per hour.
Everybody reverse parks - no idea why.

Our first sighting was an "Oscar" look alike. He moved at a fast pace on his prosthetic legs so we could not get a glimpse of his face.

On foot we headed towards the centre of the city and suddenly came upon a lady wearing a South African sweatshirt. She very kindly pointed us in the right direction and also said to take care with 

my camera.

We found Plaza San Martin and the monument to Jose San Martin, the liberation hero. This part of the city is pedestrian with stalls and cafes set amidst some beautiful old buildings. 

Street Music - Cordoba Argentina

 Pedestrian traffic is heavy; I always wonder where people are coming from and going to. Cell phones are very visible with the ladies texting and talking, mothers with babies, school children, university students and even a lone black busker.

We stopped at El Ruedo for an interesting salad. The ham here is delicious. Beers are served with peanuts - yum! 

 

The waiter also told me to put my camera away. To be honest we did not feel threatened in any way as there are no beggars about - maybe the criminals are well dressed?

Students selling their wares Cordoba Argentina

Everywhere we have been there are thousands of shops. I am convinced that every local family must own a shop somewhere. Shops are just EVERYWHERE! But the supermarkets still remain elusive. 

And the buildings remain rather drab and ugly to my jaundiced view.

The Tourist Information was very helpful and some of them speak English!

Many trucks here run on gas - the very large gas cylinders are fixed in the back.

Finding our way back to the car park?  Yes!!! We asked again at the tourist office for the road that has the trams and taxis. Apparently there are 2 of those but we did narrow it down to Av Colon. Off we headed and thankfully found the car park!

On the way home we stopped at a Shell Service Station.  The petrol attendant was most interested that we were from South Africa and mentioned Nelson Mandela and the Springbok Rugby team! This young man collects foreign money but unfortunately we had no South African coins or notes on us.

We passed a number of horse and carts on the way out of the city. ...However the highway got us back to Villa Piren in about an hour.

A long but fun day!

Graffiti in Cordoba Argentina

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

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Argentina - language barrier!

Everything is in Spanish - we are lost!! Argentina

Whilst it is fun exploring new places, our total lack of the Spanish language is a major stumbling block as there are very few locals in Cordoba Province who speak English.

We had a crazy 45 mins in the local Disco Supermarket this morning trying to get rid of 1 litre beer bottles. Bear in mind that we are charged for the bottle originally.

We walked in with the empties and were shown to go to the back of the shop to the "machine" We found the machine and it swallowed up the bottles at 8 Ars each.
Wow, we thought Spanish effeciency!

At the till it was THE most bizarre experience ever. We could not get any money back even though we were charged originally. No - we had to buy more beers and if we only bought one we would end up paying a ridiculous price!

Everybody prattled at speed and we were by now getting totally irritated. At least I was - James still managed to stay fairly calm! Eventually a call was made to somebody who could speak English.

It seems that there is no actual cash back like in most other countries worldwide - there is only a discount if you buy the same product.
A total rip - off I would say!

So we asked for our empties back! Rather leave them for the cleaners!!!!

And all this amongst the incredulous stares of locals buying FOOD!

Carlos Paz Argentina

The centre of Carlos Paz is quite vibey with a number of restaurants and many shops. Rather dusty though as there are road works and building alterations going on.

So we headed back to Cabalango which is a small village with a number of decent looking houses. Very quiet with the riverside restaurants all closed up. Even the dogs were absent here!

The funniest sight I have seen in ages was a guy who stopped on the causeway leading into the village. And guess what he was going to do? He hauled a bucket out of his car and proceeded to throw at least 10 buckets of river water over said car.

Why he wished to do this I have no clue as most of this village has untarred roads. People sure are strange!

Car Washing in Cabalanga Argentina

I still cannot get over the number of dogs in Carlos Paz - all shapes and sizes and all over the roads. We even saw 3 lying next to the cops at a roadblock today.

The cops appear at strange places stopping vehicles but thankfully we have not been stopped. Can you imagine trying to have that conversation!

At home I have a regular guest who speaks many languages, including Spanish, but unfortunately I could not high jack him as his priorities lie very high up in Rome.

Oh well, we will get by and try to have fun while doing so! All in a days travel!

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

Argentina - Lake San Roque and Cosquin

Villa Piren, near Carlos Paz, Argentina

A slight noise on the tin roof in the middle of the night disturbed my slumbers. Next came thunder and lightning that lit up the night sky. Torrential rain followed, drumming on the roof like a pounding headache! However, we awoke to clear, sunny skies so set off to find Lake San Roque and Cosquin.

Travelling in a foreign country where none of the road signs are in English, and the tourist information from the resort reads like a puzzle badly translated from Google, I am amazed that we actually ever find anything! 

The area around the lake is picturesque and makes up for the very dry and boring road yesterday. We stopped at a braai spot where there were a number of fishermen trying their luck as the picnic tables were already laid out!

Whilst I always imagined Cuba to have really old cars and trucks, there are countless of these relics on the roads here. How they are held together is a mystery and all I can say is that there must be mastermind mechanics looking after these ancient vehicles. And they still go as fast as their modern counterparts!

We passed an impressive place called the Federal Plaza where all the Argentina provinces are represented. Unfortunately, the many water features are not operational and the few vendors looked as if they knew there would be no business for them today.

The villages are very higgledy-piggly and no town planning seems to exist. Shops sell all sorts of weird merchandise yet the plain old supermarket is hard to spot. Schools appear very basic although we did spot one with AstroTurf where the kids were playing hockey.

Cosquin is a more modern looking town although it is one of the oldest settlements in the region. It is famous for its folklore festival held annually in January.

Our aim was to take the chairlift to the summit of El Pan de Azurcar which rises to 1260m. We eventually found the gravel road which wound up the mountain for approx 4km of twists and turns. Only to find? Everything shut up and locked for "maintenance"  At least we were not the only fools up there! There was no sign of any maintenance crew so perhaps it's just an excuse for an extended holiday? The chairlifts were swaying tantalisingly high up above us. 

So down we went to find something to eat. An old man handed us some menus that we could not understand so we opted for a pizza instead of a sandwich. Ham and cheese seems to be a staple diet here! A small beer asked for ended up being a litre! Thankfully, he had not yet opened it so it could be changed.

Perhaps we should learn better sign language?

I had been warned about the loos but had been feeling safe as all were "normal" so far. Alas, this restaurant had the "open bin" policy for ones toilet paper and no flush handle in sight! Shades of Greece and very yuck!!! 

Anyway, enough adventure for one day so we headed back to Carlos Paz in heavy siesta traffic! Seems they shut their shops and then all take to the roads...

 

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

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Argentina - Villa General Belgrano

Such old crocks! Villa Paz Argentina

But there is beauty to be found in Argentina

Our local town Carlos Paz appears to be so ugly that we decided to venture further afield today. This particular part of Cordoba is just a conglomeration of awful buildings, pavement special dogs, ancient cars ( not even museum material!) and traffic! Even the countryside is uninteresting being dry with no redeeming features.

Villa General Belgrano is an interesting town. Founded in the 19 30 ' s a percentage of the population are descended from the surviving crew of the Admiral Graf  Spee. This German  battleship was scuttled off the Uruguayan coast in 1939.

The town has better architecture than the rest that we have seen and makes for an entertaining walk browsing the shops and many restaurants. 

The annual October Bier fest must be extremely lively and fun! Preparations are already ongoing in early September.

There are many beer mugs, delicious looking chocolates and other interesting souvenirs for sale.

We ventured up one of the side streets and found a local restaurant close to a supermarket. Great - lunch and then our supplies. Well the lunch was good but when we crossed the road to the supermarket ours was the only car still parked there! Closed until 16.30! Siesta time is still obviously well observed here.

Our drive back to Villa Piren was uneventful and we managed to find the supermarket in Carlos Paz - called Disco!

The play parks are so depressing - hard earth with some kiddies things. Soccer fields have not a blade of grass. Houses are totally lacking in any form of architectural style.

It's quite a depressing place for us so used to the beauty of South Africa.

However, we will do some more exploring tomorrow.....and hope to fund some beauty.

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

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Argentina - Pitfalls!

Lights on Vehicles are Compulsory in Argentina

Travel is fun but it can also be extremely challenging. More so when you trip and fall, smashing your knee onto solid concrete. At the time, I was more concerned re the fact that I dropped my Nikon D300! However, as the pain increased my concern for my precious camera took a back seat. And still Villa Piren Reception would not give us keys. I hobbled to our unit Number 10 - it was all locked up so cleaning was complete?

The patio table was broken - Gold Crown rated by RCI? I think not! At 14.30 the Reception Desk got somebody on duty who speaks English. Hurray for small mercies! Thankfully we eventually got access to our apartment. Our next hurdle was to drive into Carlos Paz for supplies. This proved to be another impossible task and with my pain now reaching excruciating levels, the walking was not helping. We managed to find a small cafe for some basics. By the time I got onto my bed I was shaking like a leaf and in continuous pain. Extra strength Voltaren had no effect!  

With my pain increasing, James requested that the English Receptionist accompany us to the nearest hospital.

The roads in this town are like a maze to the uninitiated! Giselle directed us to the closest hospital which was closed! It is housed in a modern building and is "private" Perhaps more like an upmarket clinic? The local government hospital was much further and I hobbled in to face a sea of faces waiting to be attended to. My first thought was " we will be here all night!"

However,  I have nothing but praise for this hospital even though they classed me as a "African" on the admission form! Giselle explained the situation and I was called in about 5 minutes. Hobbling along I was told to wait while they grabbed the nearest wheelchair! All my life I wanted this ride experience!! 

After being examined, the doctor told my interpreter that I needed an injection to "relax" me. This injection seemed to go on forever - I have no idea what was in that huge cocktail! Maybe best I didn't know.The X - rays were taken - no fracture damage thankfully. 

James actually had the most entertaining time in the waiting room. Dogs, yes dogs, people all staring at him, a mother breastfeeding what looked like a 3 year old, kids running riot etc.

Whilst this hospital looks as if it requires a huge cash injection, the staff and doctors were very efficient and pleasant.

My prescription? Some unknown tablets for pain and 5 days ( yes you read that correctly!) of bed rest. Me? While in a foreign country that is waiting to be explored?

Anyway, whatever was in that injection worked and the night brought blissful sleep. I am doing my best to stay put for 1 day - we will assess again tomorrow.

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

Argentina - Getting there!

A shrill alarm at 04.00 hrs awakened us to the start of our long awaited trip to Argentina.  A quick cup of tea, some final packing and there we were, ready to roll at 04.50. The non-arrival of our local shuttle was the first of a number of hiccups set to plague us during the day.

The Cape Town to Johannesburg leg was late taking off which naturally has a snowball effect. We dashed from Domestic to International only to find very few people at the designated gate. Suddenly, the PA system came over loud and clear that boarding had moved from A9 to A4. Now one would think these would be very close together?  Not so! Another hurried dash past all the shops and back to the A4 area. Whew! That certainly got the circulation going!

A rarity on flights these days is a plane that is not full so we're were overjoyed to realise that we had the 4 middle seats to ourselves. My legs sang a happy song!

Our next panic attack happened when we realised that our flight to Sao Paolo was landing over 30 mins late so we would only have 30 mins to find the boarding gate for Buenos Aires. Full marks must go to the SAA steward who collected us about 30 mins prior to landing and moved us to Business Class so that we were at the gate!

So for those precious moments we sat in Business Class Seats and could think how wonderful the entire flight would have been if only we were rich? Can't have it all!

This resulted in another hectic dash in Sao Paulo airport for our Buenos Aires flight and we made boarding by the skin of our teeth. This flight was jam packed and our bodies were protesting by this time - just too many hours in the air!

The miracle was that our suitcases were intact after all that and the shuttle guy was waiting to collect us. Traffic in Buenos Aires appears to be quite sane but time will tell.

Our hotel, the Palo Santo is great - a design and green hotel, it is modern with friendly staff who are most accommodating. This is the first green urban hotel in South America according  their room blurb. Unfortunately, we are only here for a few hours until up again at 04.30 for our flight to Cordoba. What I really love about travel, besides the sights, sounds and smells, is meeting the locals.

Our Reception chap was extremely interesting as he travelled Europe by train for 3 months. Sadly, he was unable to find a travel companion so braved the trip by himself. His English is perfect and he told us that he made the strict selection on Emirates airline staff selection only to be disqualified due to the tattoo on his arm! He will indeed rue the day he made that decision!

It's been a long and tiring day but, as everything really worked out well in the end, we cannot complain!

Cheers to the rest of our Argentinian adventure.....

We have now flown with SAA (South African Airways) Tam (Brazil) and then LAN for Argentina. TAM and LAN are joining forces in 2016 to start the first Latin American airline to be known as Latam. Airports the world over look the same - it's just the shops that are more extravagant. As we had no time to shop this just meant miles more of walking!

Travelling distances requires fitness! Up and down stairs, dashing between terminals,  rushing to check in, up and down escalators, and those, sometimes rickety stairs, to the plane, all take their toll!

We bypassed Cordoba city to get to our Timeshare. The area is very dry and hot and appears, at first glance, to have no redeeming features. The architecture leaves absolutely nothing to rave about, dogs wander freely and the current road works put a very heavy spanner in the works. But hey, we are in Argentina and amongst the people who live here so we will explore and enjoy.

There is not much English spoken in this region so sign language and Google Translate work well. The receptionist prattled away in Spanish but heaven only knows what she was saying!  However, even with the language barrier her sense of humour shown through.

The challenge now is to find  supermarket...!

To be continued....

The traquil view from our apartment at Villa Piren, near Carlos Paz, Argentina

And the pines near the apartments at Villa Piren, Argentina

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

Cape Town - Kommetjie, Cape Town

Slangkop Lighthouse, Kommetjie

Kommetjie - this village appears so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the suburbs closer to the city of Cape Town, that it feels as if one has entered into another world of laid-back seaside living. With it's rocky shores, beautiful Slangkop Lighthouse,  the Kom Cat Walk and village pubs that offer live music , it makes for an interesting outing.,  

Bird Life is prolific along the rocky shores and a variety of species can be seen - ideal for keen bird watchers to while away a lazy morning or afternoon while inhaling the fresh sea air. Sometimes, the tables are turned and the birds watch the photographers!

 Drive down Gladioli Way and park in Benning Drive - this gives you a walk to the left, all along the shore. The Boardwalk is at the end of this walk where you meet up with the Slangkop Lighthouse. This lighthouse was commissioned in 1919 and became fully automated in 1979. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is not open to the public over week-ends so if you wish to enjoy the steep climb to the top, you need to visit Monday to Friday 10.00 to 15.00 hrs (closed 12.00 - 12.30) 

Kommetjie is synonymous with surfing as this village just happens to be the first landfall on the African continent for swells generated in the stormy 4000 km stretch known as the "Roaring Forties" The result? Waves in all shapes and sizes, all year long. Whilst there were only a handful of surfers out today, the beach becomes very crowded at times as the surfers flock to get their adrenalin fix!

Long Beach is a particular favourite with all surfers and the village has produced National Champions. With great surf on your doorstep, kids must learn to love the sea and those waves from an early age! What's more, they all appear to be very polite in greeting strangers to their turf.

The views are stunningly beautiful across to the mountains towards Hout Bay and especially so on a sunny day. Even with moody, grey skies, their is is a feeling of calm and peace here. 

For those wishing to really get back to nature and enjoy more than a few hours here, there is an interesting tented camp called Slangkop Tented Camp very close to the boardwalk. Ideal for watching sunsets while nestled between the Milkwood trees.

There are, of course, many other B&B's around but this one has something unique in it's location which struck a chord with me!

Further inland we chanced upon the Skilpadsvlei Conservation area. This wetland was drained and filled in during the 1940's - thankfully, it has now been restored and is a breeding ground for the endangered Western Leopard Toad. A local resident very kindly offered us some information on this area and said that the residents have to rescue these toads during mating season when they are often found on the roads nearby! There are 2 log seats close to the vlei - sit quietly and listen for the toads. We did not hear them - perhaps, a very busy night had left them a little tired or they were prepping up for another night of raucous mating!    

By now we were thirsty and hungry, so following local advice we headed to Fisherman's for a cold beer and something to eat. It turned out to be a good choice as the musician was entertaining the patrons with some amusing lyrics, sung to well-know tunes. Besides singing and playing his guitar, he also gave us a wonderful rendition of Baker Street, played on his saxophone..

All in all, a great afternoon out!

  © Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

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South Africa - Vergelegen Wine Estate, Somerset West

Vergelegen Wine Estate

This interesting name, Vergelegen, means "situated far away" but it depends where one is coming from as Somerset West is within easy reach of Cape Town these days. Perhaps in the 1700's it was far from the harbour and hence considered so far away, especially by ox-wagon or on horseback!!

The land was originally granted to Simon van der Stel in 1700 - today it is owned by the Anglo-American Group (since 1987)

If you are looking for history, architectural beauty, great gardens, very good wine plus restaurants, this is a special place to find all of the above.

The gardens are truly worth a wander as they encompass many different areas with the "Camellia Garden of Excellence" being the most prized when the blooms are at their best. The huge Camphor trees grace the front of the Homestead which is open to the public and furnished in shades of yesteryear.





The Library houses an amazing collection of books with the oldest being around 1686 and the "old" buildings blend in with the more modern wine tasting building and the Stables Restaurant.

Picnics are offered during the summer months (November - April)
There is nothing better than relaxing under magnificent, ancient camphor trees on a hot summer's day!

The Stables Restaurant is situated in a modern, glass building with stunning views of the Hottentots Holland Mountain range.

Camphors Retsaurant offers lunch or dinner (check times) paired with the Estate Wines.




I love visiting wine estates even though I never drink wine! The history behind so many of the Cape Wineries/Homesteads is fascinating, the buildings are often in immaculate condition despite being very old and most have incredible gardens. Thankfully, many of the Wine Estates restaurants now serve beer so I am saved from having to resort to the likes of Appletiser (which I love!) when enjoying a lunch time meal with all my wine drinking buddies!

Vergelegen Wine Estate ticks all of my "boxes" when it comes to a great outing!

Vergelegen Wine Estate

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

South Africa - Stellenbosch - Historic University Town

Dorp Street, Stellenbosch

When one thinks of Stellenbosch, the first things that come to mind are; oaks trees, students, wine, art galleries and food! Not in any particular order as they are all in abundance except during the University holidays when the younger set all depart for their home towns and leave the town in quiet mode for awhile!

Stellenbosch Pavement Cafe

It's a fabulous place for students, they basically have the run of this beautiful tree-lined place during term time. It's an idyllic situation and most students will always fondly remember the Varsity days. Sometimes, I wonder how they ever pass any exams - it is just such a laid back kind of place where students are king! However, having attended a graduation ceremony, it seems that most do pass and with excellent results!



Stellenbosch, founded in 1659, is the 2nd oldest settlement in the Cape after Cape Town and is fondly known as the "City of Oaks" or "Eikestad" due the the huge number of oak trees. These trees were planted by Simon van der Stel and lend a gracious air to the streets in both their autumn, winter or summer coats. During autumn the foliage is so picturesque, during winter the bare branches cast intriging shapes on the surrounding buildings and, in summer, the beautiful green foliage provides welcome shade from the heat of the day.

Dorp Street, Stellenbosch

Anybody who is interested in architecture will love the more well-known streets of this town as the Cape Dutch buildings are picture perfect. Dorp Street, which has been declared a National Monument, has one of the longest rows of historic houses in South Africa. Walking is an absolute must - start at "Oom Samie se Winkel", an "olde world" type of store where you can get lost in bygone times! Then walk the rest of the street to admire the buidlings of yesteryear.

Near the end of Dorp Street you will find the Theological Seminary. The gates are normally open and one can wander around. This became the first university-level institution in 1859.

Food and Wine - what can one say! This area is renowned for both and boasts the oldest wine route in the country. Check out:  www.wineroute.co.za

Food lovers will revel in this town with many, many restaurants - from coffee shops to 5* dining - you should find something that caters to your pocket and your palate. 

Astronomer's Head by Anton Smit

The Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens are rather hidden away but we managed to find them purely by chance. These gardens are not very big but worth a 10 minute stroll or a respite from all the food and wine! 








This is just a brief blog to whet your appetite to explore this renowned town - there is much to see and do, much to eat and drink, and loads of art galleries and shops in which to spend your money!

If you over-indulge, there are many places to choose from for an overnight or week-end stay.

Enjoy!

The drive to Stellenbosch is stunningly beautiful!

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

om Samie se Winkel (a ‘living museum’) is the ‘old world’ village store housing antiques, collectables, old-fashioned sweets and local products and produce.

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• Theological Seminary, Dorp St.. On the site of the original settlement, which was on an island in the Eerste River until one of its watercourses was filled in. This became the first university-level institution in 1859. The garden contains two pines from Norfolk Island, near Australia, which the University's students sometimes like to climb!  edit

Theological Seminary, Dorp St.. On the site of the original settlement, which was on an island in the Eerste River until one of its watercourses was filled in. This became the first university-level institution in 1859. The garden contains two pines from Norfolk Island, near Australia, which the University's students sometimes like to climb!  edit

South Africa - Gordon's Bay

Gordon's Bay Harbour

Seaside villages, both in South Africa and abroad, usually offer charming harbours, quirky shops and interesting places to eat.  Sometimes, one will chance upon a coastal village in South Africa which appears to be totally soulless with only huge, pretentious mansions lining the shore. We tend to avoid those as they don't have much to offer unless all you require is a very laid-back beach holiday with nothing but sand and sea. This scenario is great for relaxation but not much else!

However, sometimes, one just wants to escape the city, so we decided to head out towards Gordon's Bay, one of my favourites, just 50 km or so from Cape Town. Gordon's Bay is very spread out and the huge mansions do line the hillside but they don't detract from the pretty beachfront area. This beachfront simply buzzes in summer which makes parking rather a nightmare. During winter, the scene is much more laid back, parking is not an issue and there are no queues at the restaurants.

This seaside village has the most dramatic backdrop of the Hottentots-Holland mountains, making it extremely picturesque and well worth some exploration, especially along the shore. The small harbour and the quirky, interesting shops will also draw one in. Personally, the Book Store is my best - I can lose myself in that place for hours, wandering the aisles looking for an interesting read. Take loads of cash as temptation is sure to strike if you are an avid reader.  Although it is named "Bikini Beach" books it is not above Bikini Beach!

Bikini Beach Books

The village has a number of restaurants and the town boasts over 400 accommodation establishments should one wish to stay over. It's idyllic for a week-end away, during both winter and summer.

Bikini beach is a secluded beach next to the harbour and this is hugely popular during the summer months. On a slightly chilly July day, needless to say, there were no slim beauties for any male to feast their eyes on.

Walk along the harbour wall for interesting views of the town, the sleek yachts and possibly a whale or two during the whale season (August & September)

The South African Naval College is situated next to the harbour - this facility is an officer training centre.

The anchor with GB high above Gordon's Bay

High above the very opulent houses there is a huge GB sign on the mountain. Now most folk would take that to mean "Gordon's Bay" but, in fact, it stands for General Botha which was the original name of the Naval Station in the town. This should be a lesson to all of us never to "assume" that we know everything!





There are a number of restaurants in town - check out the Trip Advisor Reviews before making your choice as quality can vary substantially.


The town was named after Robert Jacob Gordon (1743 - 1795) - this man was a Dutch explorer of Scottish descent - a strange combination? As well as speaking French, Dutch and English , this gent also learnt to speak Xhosa and the local Hottentot dialect. He obviously enjoyed a talent for languages. If you ever wondered where the merino sheep in South Africa came from, this was the man who introduced them to South Africa!

Artwork depicting a poem by Ingrid Jonker

There is an interesting art work along the walk near the beach depicting a poem " The Child" by Ingrid Jonker (1933 - 1965). This poem was read out by Nelson Mandela at his inaugural address to the first democratic parliament on 24th May 1994. Sadly, the poet herself suffered from severe depression and took her own life.







So, if you are looking for a fun day out, just 50 km from Cape Town, give Gordon's Bay a try.

Gordon's Bay

© Judelle Drake

                        http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

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Cape Town - Camps Bay

Camps Bay - Cape Town

Camps Bay conjures up the glamour side of Cape Town with the many mansions perched on the mountainside, housing the wealthier Cape Town's citizens.

However, it is a welcoming suburb and the beachfront rocks during most of the year, even during the winter months as the vibe is usually "sunny" despite what the weather may be doing.

Camps Bay - Cape Town

During winter, the pounding surf can be just as invigorating as the gentler summer waves.

Camps Bay attracts both locals and visitors who enjoy the famous Camps Bay strip with it's many restaurants; catering for all tastes. Some restaurants only seem to last a season while others have stood the test of time and are all-time favourites.



The wide beach attracts many sun-lovers during the hot summer months but it is big enough for all. Parking can be a nightmare though so take a cab if you are staying in another suburb. Take a stroll, play a ball game, take a bike ride or just sit and gaze at the waves.

Theatre on the Bay - Camps Bay - Cape Town

The "Theatre on the Bay" is the local spot for some magical musicals, serious drama or side-splitting comedies, The program changes on a regular basis in this intimate theatre. A life-sized sculpture, which was unveiled 20th March 2012, welcomes patrons who arrive from the Victoria Road side.
During the day, it casts an interesting shadow -  unfortunately, the air-bricks in the wall behind spoil the photo, so I deleted my attempts to capture the theatrical bow.

  The Red Top Open Bus stops in Camps Bay and this is a great way to enjoy the city for an orientation tour or if your time is limited. Hop off for a stroll along the beach or a sundowner and absorb some of the atmosphere of this seaside suburb.





 

Sunsets are magical in this suburb, whether in summer or winter.
Sit quietly on the beach and bask in the last rays of the sun as it sets over the ocean.
Many restaurants have lovely views over the sea so pop along for sundowners!




Its a suburb bursting with LIFE so take some time out to enjoy the beauty of Camps Bay.

Camps Bay - Cape Town

© Judelle Drake

                      http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com