Day 9, 27th October 2007

Cape Town

Another early rise. Another packing of the bag. Another day on the bike ride, except it wasn't just another day.

Today was "it". After breakfast (and there was porridge! Woo) everyone gathered in reception and before you knew it the minivan arrived for everyone except Henck and me. Everyone else was on a half day trip to Cape Point Reserve, home of the Cape of Good Hope (never do a half day tour - I did a full day tour and it was rushed!). Hugs, kisses and best wishes later I was on my own. Henck had had to rush off as his wife was collecting him.

But hey! I was going on a full day tour of my own. Any minute now the tour guide would turn up and I'd be on my way. Minutes passed. Half an hour passed. This guy isn't coming. One hour after I was supposed to be collected I rang the company. "We had to cancel that tour owing to low numbers. Did someone not notify you?"! You'd think that my calling them to see where the tour guide was would have given them some clue that, No! No one had called me on the cancellation front.

So I headed off for a wander. My bags were stored in the secure room in the hotel. In any event I was looking for a bank. Being a Saturday I knew that they would shut around lunchtime. So I headed off in the general direction of the seafront. I say the general direction as I soon got well and truly disorientated (read lost) and found myself underground in the train station, having walked confidently (or so I thought) through a very crowded and very non-white flea market. No one troubled me in any way, but I guess it is a human trait that we feel most comfortable amongst people we readily identify with, and why through lack of integration and understanding that there is so much trouble in our societies amongst differing ethic and religious groupings. Just a thought! Soon enough though I re-emerged into a shopping area, and two cd's later I was on my way to the Waterfront. I did call into that bank, but it was after 12. Too late!

Cape Town has rather trendy street signs pointing to the various tourist spots and really easy to understand once you catch on. A sign pointing behind you doesn't necessarily mean the tourist spot is behind you. It can mean cross the street and turn right and follow the direction from the next sign you come across. Easy! Told you.

Eventually on a very sunny, very hot Saturday I arrived at the V&A Waterfront....Cape Town premier shopping and tourist spot. With Table Mountain as a backdrop they really have it made. Whilst there's lots of tourist paraphanelia around, there are some world class restaurants eg Baia (you need to book early in the day for this seafood specialty restaurant), hotels, normal shops, crafts and a huge mall. You can take a boat trip to Robben Island from here, boat tour of the harbour area or a helicopter ride over the city, or a Huey Ride if you like a bit more adventure.

The remainder of the group were supposed to be at the Waterfront to do some last minute shopping before they left for the airport, but try as I might, I couldn't see any of them. So I decided to head for a spot to eat. Who did I bump into but Dr. Sophie and Henck, heading for a 99! They had ran late on the Cape of Good Hope trip and the rest of the crew were busying themselves in the shops.

Henck assisted with my "Ballymena Guardian" shot, and we sauntered back through the masses with our 99's and over to the parking lot where Sam and his minivan were waiting.

It was strange saying goodbye to everyone, and watching them drive away, heading for Cape Town Internation Airport. The bike ride was well and truly over. I was no longer a cyclist making good on the thousands of pounds people had so generously donated. I was demoted to the rank of tourist. Just one of thousands in this magnificent city.