Visiting the townships outside of Cape Town

We went to the predominately black areas outside Cape Town, called townships, with a local guide called Pahks. He gave us the feeling that we were actually sharing instead of just taking pictures.
The all time high was when we attended a gospel ceremony. We thought we would be able to just sit quietly in the back seats, but were suddenly drawn up to the stage and had to say a few words to the congregation who all cheered and applauded... At first extremely embarrassing, but then a warm and uplifting experience!

Use Phaks if you are going to Cape Town!
http://www.babistours.com/

Swimming with sharks!

I can tell you straight away that you are very careful and humble when you are in freezing Atlantic ocean in a small cage with a live shark just outside!

Flexible feeding

Anything seem to be possible when it comes to brining or taking home food. As highly regulated Swedes, we were chocked to learn that it is perfectly alright in most restaurants to bring your own wine! It is also perfectly normal to take home uneaten food in a doggy-bag and the waiters are happy to re-cork your wine bottles so you can bring the last slurp with you home. Nice, but unthinkable back home.

For us Swedes with a strict "alcohol will dammage your health"-message upbringing, we are still enjoying the wine conversations that we have each day. The waitresses just cannot understand how anybody can eat a proper meal without sharing a bottle of wine.

Usually the conversation goes like this:
Sara: -Could I have a glass of chardonnay please?
Waiter: -Only a glass? (looking really surprised)
David: -I'll have a glass of the same.
Waiter: -But in that case, why don't you have a bottle?
Sara: -David is the designated driver, so I think that would be it.
Waiter: -But it is so much better value for money to take a bottle, and I'd be happy to re-cork it in case there would be anything left! Having two glasses of wine would really not make any sense!
Sara: -Well ok then...

And then we leave the restaurant with half a bottle of wine, straaaange...

The photo has nothing to do with the text above, but is only inserted as a reponse to comments regarding a certain lack of photos of us two at this blog!

A tribute to Dom Pedro

Thanks to a tip from one of Sara's colleagues we have discovered and taken the drink-dessert hybrid Dom Pedro to our hearts. It can best be described as a thick milkshake with a twist of liquor in it, usually the choice is between Kahlua and whiskey, served on a glass with a straw. This cold delight usually costs around 10-20 SEK and is a perfect companion to a cup of steaming espresso.

Should you plan a trip to South Africa, make sure you don't miss enjoying a Dom Pedro!

(The photos show David enjoying not a Dom Pedro but well a lovely fresh carrot&orange juice and our friend Miss Marie Bruce with the real stuff!)