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| Cape Town, South Africa - October, 2016 |
Cape Town, South Africa, has consistently been called one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. It's hard to disagree.
Cape Town is nestled in a bowl, surrounded by the 3,500-foot Table Mountain.
The majestic view is ever changing with ocean breezes blowing clouds and mist back and forth over the mountain,
leaving behind a lush landscape that's home to abundant wildlife.
These same cool, moist breezes help create an ideal environment for growing grapes used in some of the finest wines in the world.
The vineyards, as well as many of the city's sights, can easily be accessed via Cape Town's Hop-on/Hop-off bus.
Cape Town is an outdoor lover's paradise, featuring beaches, bicycling, and hiking. One popular option is a trek up Table Mountain, itself, or for those less inclined, a cable car whisks visitors to the top in four-to-five minutes.
I had planned to take the easy way up, but gale force winds eliminated that possibility. Instead, I hiked to the summit, allowing my ego to overrule common sense, as I did my best to keep up with a German student 30 years my junior.
My legs ached for days, but the view was worth it.
If it's animals you want, a short, scenic drive along the coast leads to Hout Bay
– home to a seal colony
– as well as nearby Simon's Town, with its penguins.
Within two hours, the road ends – and the actual continent ends – at Cape Point.
That's where you'll find the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-western spot in Africa.
The fierce winds ripping at my shirt demonstrate in small part why this is one of the world's most dangerous coasts for ships.
Many a vessel has met its demise attempting to sail around the tip of Africa.
You'll also likely run into additional exotic animals like ostriches.
No trip to Cape Town would be complete without a stop to Robben Island. The apartheid government locked up Nelson Mandela here for 18 of his 27 years in prison.
The future Noble Peace Prize winner, and later president of South Africa, lived in this seven-foot-square cell.
Mandela slept on the floor, used a bucket for a toilet, and was forced to do hard labor in a quarry.
There's no shortage of activities in Cape Town, and you won't go hungry, sampling cuisine from around the planet.
Finally, you can't beat the price. The South African currency is at a multi-year low, meaning your dollars or euros will go a lot farther.
