Monday, January 18, 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Table Mountain is the iconic symbol of Cape Town.  It is more than 3000 feet in height.  This is our view driving up to the Aerial Cablecar.   We decided NOT to hike up because we're lazy and totally out of shape!

Views from the cablecar...



The views are amazing on top of this mountain!  The Atlantic Ocean in the background... 





The animal below is the dassie and they are all over Table Top Mountain.  Obviously, they are very used to humans!






You can see Green Point Stadium behind between the mountain and Table Bay.  This is the stadium that is being built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup (soccer).  Beyond that is Robben Island which held political prisoners here as early as 1636.  Nelson Mandela was held here as well and the last political prisoners were released in 1991.




We're now at Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.  In 1860, Queen Victoria's second son, Alfred, dumped a ceremonial bucket of stones into the sea which initiated the constructions of Cape Town's harbor.


Statues of the 4 Nobel Peace prize recipients from South Africa (and Tom).  From left to right - Albert Luthceli, Desmond Tutu, Tom, PW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.



We saw a great concert by Saint Fearless - a South African band.





Views of Table Top Mountain from the V&A waterfront...

1 comment:

islandgirl4ever2 said...

WOW! Sooo different from France, huh?! I bet you guys are just living it up there.. Looks sooo sunny and HOT... Can you say... "JEALOUS?!!!"