Blog #29 – Sun(ny)day Farewell

Today we didn’t quite wake up this morning as early as we had planned. However, it all worked out well as nothing really opens in Cape Town until 9 or 10 in the morning. We went out grabbed some breakfast and then picked up some last minute souvenirs and gifts. After we got back to the hostel we phoned the rental car company and ordered a car for rent. Today we were going to spend the day driving down the coast to the Cape.

As none of us were particularly comfortable driving stick shift, and given we had no idea where we were going, we decided to hire a driving guide for the day. The drive took just over an hour. It was a gorgeous scenic tour with winding roads and beautiful landscape. This was the first really nice day that we had while we were there. The sun was out and cascading down on the large hills with stunning profiles. It was one of those experiences that you get caught up in and would be fine with going on forever like that.

We passed some small villages on the coast – which would be an AMAZING place to live. The waves would be awesome for swimming and surfing – and we saw a few people trying out their luck. There were long stretches of gorgeous sandy beaches and I could just imagine what the summers here must be like (if this was winter!) We continued on our way and passed some ostrich farms, which were neat to see and a little bit bizarre! We also passed some small vineyards, but the big ones – and the ones with world-renowned wines comes from the valley, which wasn’t really on the way. Those tours and experiences would have to wait for another trip.

We made it into the National Park and headed for Cape Point – the most south-westerly point of South Africa. It was stunning. We were on a rock ledge some hundred feet of the water. Hills rose around us, with a lighthouse perched at the top of Cape Point. The ocean crashed audibly against the rock face shifting from a vibrant blue to the dark depths of the ocean. The horizon stretched on until you could see nothing but water and clouds. The soil was a rich red colour and the colour remained on your shoes and hands.

We didn’t have the whole day here, as we had to head back to the airport for Renne and Cait’s flights home, but we did everything we could in the time we were given. We walked on a path along the cliff side heading from Cape Point to the Cape of Good Hope. This was by far one of the most beautiful places that I have been in my life. The flora and fauna were not particularly special or unique and I have seen ocean and cliffs before, but there was something about this place that just made you happy. That filled you with a spirit that made you content and fulfilled with life. Everything was going to work out and all of your problems shrunk away in the grandness of the imagery before you.

As we headed along the cliff we caught a glimpse of a white sand beach tucked away in an inlet of the cliff. It was hard to see from far away and at least a hundred or two hundred feet down from the cliff’s edge. We decided to take the countless set of rickety wooden stairs down to the sand. The beach was no more than a hundred feet long and the waves that came in were still quite powerful. The sand was deep and untouched. We spent some time running around, splashing in the waves. I made a futile attempt to write messages in the sand, which were completely washed away once I was half done from a powerful wave. None of us were wearing bathing suits, but we got soaked and sandy. It was definitely worth it though! We had some fun times and some great pictures to remember it all by too!

Eventually we headed back up the stairs…even though it tooks quite a bit of time and I was wiped by the end of it, I was still so glad we trekked down to Diaz Beach. We made out way back to the car and said goodbye to the Cape. We began our journey back to Cape Town and for Renne and Caitling, this was the end of their trip and they were flying home.

Once we were back in Cape Town, we filled up the car with gas and said our goodbyes. I was finally getting used to all of these goodbyes, and I knew that we would have some wonderful times back in Guelph in the fall with everyone. However, it is still difficult for me to say goodbye to those that I have gotten to know so well on this trip, knowing now that I was just another step to doing this solo. I cannot speak highly enough of all of the people from Guelph – they were awesome to travel with, are amazing people, and I will miss them here very much.

Now it was just Sarah and I. Given the past seventy-two hours were jammed packed of different activities and excitement we decided to have a chill evening. We visited a bookstore and picked up some reading for our flights back the next day. After that, we did some light packing and then headed out for dinner. We ate at this amazing Thai restaurant. Our server was fantastic and really nice. We was willing to bring us things out of the kitchen to show us what they were before we ordered. It was a really nice meal, and probably the last time I will get to taste Thai until I am back in Guelph!

After supper we decided to go see a movie. While, this seems like a terrible thing to do while on vacation in another country it really did make sense. There are no movie theatres in Maun, so I wouldn’t be watching any new Hollywood blockbusters until I got back to North America. We also barely had the energy to do anything else, especially since it was really close to where we ate dinner, so it was so convenient.

We headed back to the hostel and went to sleep. We had to catch an early flight tomorrow, and needed the rest! Cape Town was unbelievable in so many ways. There are still a plethora of things that I would like to see and do here and I know in my heart that I will be back someday. I am really glad that the trip worked out, even after all of the different organizational nightmares! This was one of the most memorable weekends of my life.