Capetown

We left Stellenbosch and headed to Capetown, less than an hour away. Known as South Africa's mother city, It was established first in the mid-1600's by the Dutch East Indies Company as they needed a place to replenish ships making the trek around the Cape of Good Hope. The metro area is about 3.7 people, with the greatest racial diversity in Africa. The picture above is taken from the ferry heading to Robben Island, and is the iconic view of the city, its harbor, and imposing Table Mountain as the backdrop. Spent the morning on a city tour, part of our package. We were lucky in that the weather was perfect for a visit toTable Mountain, a cable car ride up. The views of the city, Robben Island and the water were spectacular.

Below, Robben Island from the top of Table Mountain.

Table Mountain is a national park, and is very well done. Great walking paths allow you to get a view from all sides of the top..

 

A memorial to the Slave Tree where slaves were bought and sold in the early days of Capetown's history. Many of the slaves came from Indonesia and Madagascar; their descendants form the greatest part of the 'colored' race here on the cape.

This is Archbishop Tutu's church, just off the main walk through the Company Garden. There was an exhibit on "Making Peace" in the gardens.

 

Everywhere we went in South Africa we saw school kids, easily recognizable by their uniforms.

This is the Malay quarter, home to many of the descendants of slaves brought from what is now Indonesia. Their language was Malayu, hence the name.

South Africa is the only nation with Four Nobel Peace prizewinners. As shown on the waterfront at Nobel Square, Chief Albert Lutuli (1960),one of the early leaders of the African National Congress, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1984) who as Anglican archbishop of Capetown preached for years against apartheid, and Presidents de Klerk and Mandela, who were both awarded the prize in 1993.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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