CAPE TOWN
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED
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I always start with "This is what happened" because what we plan often changes, often by the day.
By the time I get to fill in these pages, which set out the outline of our trip, with what we ACTUALLY did it can be a million miles from what we thought (or I hoped) we were going to do, mainly as a result of last minute better ideas popping up.
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Just like the last minute better idea of not setting out late December to join Miles in Dubai, even though we had booked our flight into Dubai and back to the UK in late January. Booked, paid for, seats decided, got the T shirt. Even if flying out near Christmas meant there was no way on God's green earth we could afford our normal luxury blow-out of Business Class seats.​​​​​
Nope, no chance, not at that price, no siree!
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So no cheery photo of Sara secure in her pod, big smile on her ready for flat bedded face. And to be fair, the Christmas surcharge was almost us in economy, but not quite.
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Until we changed our minds. We decided not to go straight to Dubai but to go to Cape Town almost three weeks earlier. Which involved paying B.A almost as much again to change our flights, routes, dates etc, as it would have to have flown Business in the first place!
As alluded to on the HOME page, we got pissed in the pub with our very good friends Sharon and Theo who were attending the wedding of the daughter of our equally very good friends Geoff & Sue Frost in Cape Town. Sharon & Theo had booked a lovely three bed apartment in Hout Bay for Emma & Craig's wedding, but two of their children rebelled and decided not to come.......... One spare bedroom! Three bottles of wine in - Why don't you guys come out! "Yesh pleeshh" said Sara. Job done. One hour later the incredibly kind Emma and Craig sent us a formal (and most unexpected, but most gratefully accepted) invitation to the wedding in wine country near Franschhoek,, plus goodness knows how many pre, during and post events and dinners.
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We then totally rearranged our dates, flights, dog sitters, house minders, paid out copious amounts of moolar to British Airways for a considerably longer flight, bought a sharp new lightweight suit and trendy shoes, lugged a whole extra suitcase halfway round the world, all in the name of having a bloody great time with a group of 10 or more really good friends, and meeting a load more new ones!! What could be better?
As you can see we were all pretty pleased to be out of the rather cold damp English December and into the warm dry South African Summer. Joining Geoff, Sue, Jim, Sydney, Guy, Phillipa, John, Linda, plus the wedding party, plus being introduced to new faces every 15 minutes. Plus beers at £1.50, great wines at £12 a bottle in a top restaurant serving fresh grilled fish for £!0. This I could get used to. That is how to start a holiday!!!
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Enjoy it while we can is our motto, as we have a funny feeling it won't be like this in Dubai price-wise!
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DAY 1 - FRIDAY - So began the three locations/seven events wedding programme, talk about the 'Wedding Planners', this was planned to the minute. Day 1 was settle into our amazing aprtment, then walk down to The Lookout restaurant in the harbour at Hout Bay. The cast assemble. EVENT NUMBER ONE - A superb dinner was had by all. Fresh fish andfine wine overlooking the sea and the view of our apartments.
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DAY 2 - A bit of a rest day and then off to MOJO MARKET in Sea Point, Cape Town, to catch up with Sharon's brother Gary and wife Tammy,
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DAY 3 - SUNDAY - Geoff and Sue kindly picked us up in their 45 year old Mercedes for a trip over Chapmans Peak to Noordhoek and round in a circle via Constantia, before dropping us back at The Lookout for EVENT NUMBER TWO - Long lunch with a great band. The results were as predictable as they were fun.........
DAY 4 - EVENT THREE - THE GENTLEMENS LUNCH - Held at Constantia Glen Winery with 12 of us. Beautiful setting, lovely private room, great group of guys.
OFF TO PAARL AND FRANSCHOEK
DAY 5 - TUESDAY - Drive 1.5 hours to Paarl and book into the Cana Vineyard Guesthouse, then EVENT FOUR - a party in the evening at La Grapparia Bistro on the Spice Route, amazing views, massive long table, terrific thin crust pizzas, just how I like them.
DAY 6 - Wednesday - THE BIG DAY at Bakenhof Wedding Venue in Wellington.
DAY 7 - Thursday - Drive to Franschhoek and book into Ashbourne Boutique Guesthouse for the AFTERPARTY at Underoaks Pizzaria-
DAY 8 - Friday - Day in Franschhoek
DAY 9 - Saturday - check out and set off somewhere TBN. 5 clear days wandering.
DAY 13 - Wednesday - back to Cape Town for two nights, fly to Dubai 18.30 on Day 16 Friday, arrive 0600 Saturday.