Cape Town 4

Wednesday was another full day of activities with a focus on learning about conservation along the Cape Peninsula.  First was an overivew of key environmental issues with Patrick Dowling from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA).  WESSA focuses on conservation and education. 

We headed to Kalk Bay for World Wildlife Federation marine site visits.  This area is big with surfers and is also a hot spot for white sharks.  Surfers and sharks don't really have a good relationship, so surfers started training the locals who found parking places for people to spot sharks for them.  The surfers would all chip in to pay them.  Shark spotters now also help collect data for researchers.  We stopped by a shark spotter's stand to have a look for ourselves, but we didn't see any sharks, only surfers.

We enjoyed a presentation at the Save our Seas Shark Center by Paul Miller, and then went to explore the tide pools.



A piece of leathery kelp in my hand.

Gail picked up a sea urchin for me to hold. 

I took a few moments after lunch to run outside and snap some photos of these changing huts on the beach.

As I was taking pictures of the beach, this man wanted to pose for me.

I am fascinated by the women who carry their babies like this.  I can't figure out how the babies stay up.

When they think about African wildlife, most people probably don't think about penguins, but they are there, and I was really looking forward to seeing them.  We drove to Boulders Beach, home to a large colony of African Penguins (also called Jackass Penguins) and one of the few places where they can be seen at close range.

Penguins in action.

Craft sellers at Boulders Beach.  Sharon was a champion shopper.

Some local talent.



We ended the day back at the V&A Waterfront and a brief visit to Two Oceans Aquarium before dinner. 

Cape Town 3

From the first time I read about it, I wanted to take the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain. 

I knew I would have to be brave, because that kind of thing scares me to death, but I was going to do it.  We had a free morning Tuesday, so some of us took a cab to the mountain.  When we got there, it was too windy for the cable car to run, and I was soooooooo disappointed.  I had to settle for these views from part way up the mountain. 

Three of our group decided to hike to the top, but Kathy and I knew our limitations and took the cab back down to the waterfront to do some shopping instead.  We had a great time buying souvenirs for friends and family back home, and wandering in and out of stores like Gucci, Prada, and Jimmy Choo pretending we could actually buy something if we wanted to.  However, I did learn that I could learn to like $1,000 shoes!

Our afternoon was spent at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (KNBG).  We met up with local teachers who would be sharing in our program for the rest of the week, and toured the garden in small groups getting to know each other.

Andrea and I were teamed up with Gail Neethling, a high school natural and life sciences teacher. 

KNBG sits at the foot of Table Mountain.

My favorite thing in the garden was a silver tree.

Calla lilies are everywhere!  If only I could bring them home for Karen's wedding.

Dinner was at Idasa's (the Africa Democracy Institute's) Cape Town Democracy Centre.  There was a book shop and restaurant in front where I had my first malva pudding (yum!), and a large meeting room in back with Desmond Tutu hanging from the ceiling.