The Only Way Is Down...For Me!

I often ponder the afterlife and what waits for us when the sands of time run out.  Do I take the lift to the basement or am I raised up towards the pearly gates where the sun always shines and I play off a single figure handicap?  Many friends, indeed my own wife, feel the only way for me is down and I am afraid I have provided further evidence today of why my final ride will be a one way ticket South!!

It all began with our planned trip today to the summit of Table Mountain, a visit we had been trying to make for four days but without success due to those damned orographic clouds!

For those of you who aren't members of The Cloud Appreciation Society - yes it does exist and costs only £10.20 for Lifetime Membership - these are the clouds that are formed when a south-easterly wind is directed up the mountain's slopes into colder air where the moisture then condenses to form the so-called "table cloth".  They have been prevalent this week and so we have had to wait for the right opportunity to hit the cable car to the top.  Unfortunately, every visitor to Cape Town appears to have had the same idea and so when we arrived at the cable car station we were met by the sight of hundreds of people queuing to either buy tickets or for those who had already bought online, queuing to take the ride to the top.  It wasn't a pretty sight and for anyone that knows me and are aware of my pathological hatred of long lines of people it brings out what can only be described as the worst in me!

I don't get angry but I do get naughty in the nicest possible way and when I realised that it was going to take well in excess of an hour to get anywhere near the cable car, I turned to Linda, Ann and Paul and said "l'll be back in a minute".

All I did was head towards a very nice young man who appeared to be in charge of letting people from the lengthy queues either head towards the ticket office or more importantly, up towards the cable car and engage him in pleasant conversation.  Before I knew it, he invited me through his gold plated gate, showed me how to get tickets online (yes, I played the useless with technology age card.  Very successfully I may add) and then said, "go and get your party and bring them here."

When I went back for them, I almost had to drag them out of the queues.  They looked so embarrassed and almost reluctant to follow this person who had just saved them well over an hour of standing in the hot sun.  Fortunately, they did overcome the shame I appeared to have inflicted and before they knew it, we were being whisked to the top of Table Mountain.  What did I do wrong?

It has been a brilliant day to experience this iconic mountain which provides an amazing backdrop to the city of Cape Town.  Not only that but from the top it affords stunning panoramic views of the city, Robben Island, Cape Penninsula and the beautiful Camp's Bay.  It's breathtaking and despite it being our fifth visit to the top, you can't possibly get bored with the vistas on offer.

I could provide lots of fascinating facts like it was first climbed in 1503.  It's 1086 metres above sea level.  The plateau on top is 3km from side to side.  The cable cars carry 65 people and rotate through 360 degrees.  That's enough for now but it's a must do if you are ever in this part of the world.

We had intended to visit Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens after Table Mountain but instead found ourselves at the delightful Blues Restaurant in Camp's Bay sitting in the best seats in the house enjoying more great views which were complimented by good food and very cold alcohol.  Life doesn't get any better.

I do so hope I have time left to make amends for embarrassing family and friends?