Winter Wildlife
Sigh. Another reason to miss Cape Town. Despite what you may have heard, Cape Town winters can’t be all that bad. After all, this travel photo was taken in Kirstenbosch Gardens right smack in the middle of winter. Just look at that blue sky!
Teaching Again
Teaching English has become the hottest new excuse to travel. Between Dave’s ESL Cafe and discounted TEFL courses, everyone is primed to teach their way around the world. Maybe I’m no different. In a few days I’m headed off to Vietnam to meet new students, teach new books and join you bunch of traveling teachers…again.
At the ripe old age of 27 I’m leaving behind the glittery, cocktail infested world of PR (and its more realistic white walled office days) to re-enter a profession that’s a little closer to my heart: teaching. This is a big change. Not only will my new job pull me (and my extremely supportive boyfriend) away to a new continent, it will also require me to dust off my projector, freshen up old lessen plans and remember what it means to teach.
Who wouldn’t want to be here?
But seriously, who? On a lazy gray afternoon in Simon’s Town, Cape Town, these little fishing boats seemed so inviting…
The One Who Let Me Get Away
My guardian angel didn’t look the way I expected. I had always imagined big wings and a halo of sorts. Instead she had a sharp Eastern European accent and told me to hurry up; she didn’t have all day. And yet, it was undeniably, her. She was the Delta airline representative who singlehandedly saved the airline’s reputation (at least for me) and saved me 32 unnecessary hours in the Atlanta airport. She’s the one – the only one- I met in my recent airport adventure who agreed me that there must be another way; that having to wait an extra three days because of one delayed flight (that caused me to miss my subsequent connecting flight) was ridiculous. She was even the one who recorded that my first flight was delayed due to mechanical problems, not the weather, so I could score a free hotel room for the night (*note to travelers: airlines offer no compensation if delays are caused by weather – go figure). She is the one who let me get away – away from sweltering heat Atlanta and back to lovely Cape Town.
When I Grow Up…
It was just your typical Saturday afternoon out in Hout Bay, Cape Town. Tourists were dancing to the local band that had set up on the dock. When this little brother and sister walked out to admire the band, I couldn’t help but snap a quick travel photo!
Go Travel: Cape Town Wine Farms in Winter
By now you should know that I love wine. In fact friends and family are starting to call me a wino, but I’m sure that’s just a joke (?). Naturally I take no responsibility for my own actions. Rather, I blame Cape Town for this. After all it’s not my fault that I happen to live in the world’s best wine county. I mean, what else am I supposed to do – drink beer [laughs hysterically]? So it should be no surprise that I have spent many a weekend afternoon sipping away on one of the gorgeous wine farms in the area (it definitely beats exercising). And my favourite one? Well, glad you asked ‘cause it’s a beauty: Vrede en Lust.
Ruler of All they See
This about sums up Cape Town for me. Ocean, mountains, more ocean, more mountains and an incredible sense of having access to nature in its finest.
Go Travel: Hout Bay Cool
Who knew Hout Bay was cool? Not me. I’ve always liked Hout Bay, Cape Town. But in more the sleepy fisherman’s hangout way. It has gorgeous scenery and the harbour is a cute place to spend the afternoon. But the idea of spending a night – a precious Friday night – in Sleepy Shipville seemed strange to me. Until I met Hout Bay’s hottest new arrival, Kitima.
Why I Love Cape Town
As if the ocean, mountains and wine farms weren’t enough, here’s just one more reason to love Cape Town. While most cities have botanical gardens, they aren’t exactly like Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Instead of perfectly trimmed bushes and color coded flower beds, you get a massive park of indigenous plants growing as big and beautiful as they can at Kirstenbosch. Here trees, like this one, are free to go wild. Throw in a backdrop of mountains and a few strategic benches, and you’ve got yourself one great garden!
Visas Are a Big Fat Pain
Two years in South Africa has turned me lazy. I can speak the language, drive around (even if it is on the wrong – I mean “other” – side of the road), recommend good restaurants to tourists and even fake a South African accent when absolutely necessary. I have a South African bank account, hair stylist and temporary residency. I’m all settled in.
But now as I embark on the next Big Adventure, complete with new language, food and continent, I am faced with an all-too-familiar challenge: getting the visa.
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