My first impressions of Capetown are mixed. Table Mountain is stunning and looms as the backdrop of any view of the city. The bay views are equally beautiful, though I haven’t really made it to the waterfront yet. My hotel sits right in the central business district, which (frankly) underwhelms me as I take my first stroll. First, I’m noticing a lot of lingering around on the street corners and it’s a bit dirty. My radar is on high alert since my driver from the airport told me that there is 27% unemployment across South Africa. I’m always careful of petty crime in high tourist areas but all these people just hanging around are slightly unnerving. It could that it’s fairly early on a Saturday morning. Time will tell.
As I write this, I’m enjoying a cappuccino at a lovely outdoor cafe near the Greenmarket Square. I’m realizing that my initial thoughts about Capetown are largely driven by my tiredness and achy feet. I’m stretching my legs while I await my room being made ready. Although that sounds good, it really means I’m walking around on my swollen, elephantine ankles and feet. I’m far too vain for a visual, but I’m sure you can picture it. That’s making a normal stroll slightly less fun. And my first cruise around a market also proved uninspiring. If I can’t find anything I’d want to buy, it’s a sad commentary on the market as a whole. Seriously. I’m a shopper.
My mood lightened considerably when a troop of young performers began to entertain the crowd. Singing and dancing with a uniquely African abandon, big smiles, and amazing footwork. What they lacked in glamour costumes, they made up for in effort. I noticed that the noisemakers around the boys feet were really a clever use of discarded plastic water bottles, filled with rocks to make noise and then sewn together. It reminds me that when resources are scarce, life demands reuse and recycle.
I met a friend of a friend for lunch and had the most amazing Indian food that I’ve had in a long time. And so it begins, I can tell I won’t lack good food on this trip. We had a nice discourse about growing up in Apartheid governed South Africa and living through the birth of a new republic with equality for all. Apparently, South Africa’s leadership these days falls far short of Nelson Mandela, but somehow the fact the US can elect someone like Trump gives them solace. Is that the only upside? The greatest democracy on earth can elect (and hopefully survive) the election of unqualified and dangerous leaders. Food for thought.
Boonedoggler 