Linda keeps reminding me to stop talking about the cost of things here in South Africa because she believes anybody reading my musings will think that we only visit here because of how little everything costs. As a good Yorkshireman, that strikes me as a very rational and sensible approach when choosing a holiday destination!
Why would you visit anywhere for the natural beauty, the beaches, the wildlife, the food and wine, the sunshine, the infrastructure or indeed the history when the major benefit is that everything costs so little??
I'm being glib really, the value for money that we are enjoying this year is very much down to the collapse of the Rand, due in the main to the shenanigans of the country's President, Jacob Zuma. I could comment in much greater and possibly more boring detail but I don't intend to turn my readers away. No, we actually love being in South Africa and would return again and again regardless of exchange rates.
But before I move on, I must return to the tart. It's a custard one and has quickly established itself as a must have item in our daily food intake. The pastry is mouth watering and the filling is nothing like we enjoy in our custard tarts back home. It's super creamy, absolutely delicious and for me, a scoop of vanilla ice cream is the perfect companion. Oh and the large tart is less than £1. Damn! I'm back to the cost of things again!
Life continues to be relaxed and truly enjoyable here and although just over a week has passed since our arrival, it feels like we have been here forever. The sunshine, the food, the company and the sights and sounds all contribute to the enjoyment and one of the nicest things to do if staying in this area is to visit the Vergelegen Estate.
Vergelegen is one of the finest wine estates in the whole of South Africa with its roots going back to the early 1700s when it was established by Willem Adriaan van dear Stel, an early Governor of the Cape. The name Vergelegen means "situated far away" and the estate sits on the slopes of the dramatic Hottentots Holland mountains. The view of these from The Stables Restaurant where we had a delicious breakfast is stunning and they provide an incredible backdrop to the whole estate. It's a must visit place and well worth the R5 entry fee if you are a "student of life". A pensioner by any other name. If you are of a certain age and actually visit on a Monday, you get in for free saving the 25p charge! Things don't get better than that!
Final piece of news to report before signing off is the arrival of our daughter Sarah who is spending a couple of weeks down here, a week with us and a week with friends Ellie and Helen, fellow BA flight crew. She was supposed to travel on the same type of ticket as us ensuring a confirmed seat but due to an administrative error - a total cock up really - she ended up having to come down on a standby basis. Fate smiled on her I am happy to say and seeing her beaming smile come through the arrivals gate at Cape Town airport this afternoon was a real treat.
Monday tomorrow and as I post this report, the rain has begun to fall steadily outside. This wasn't in the script!
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