Seals in Hout Bay

Again, the blustery south-easter - a very tangible reality at this time of the year in Cape Town. But it's warm and not a big deal.  Hout Bay is on the Atlantic side so the sea is cold. Everywhere you travel in this part of the world is incredibly beautiful. We hopscotched our way here, there and everywhere.  We cannot get enough of the beauty of the Cape, everywhere we turn to look - the sea or the mountains - we are absolutely in awe.

Blustery sea at Hout Bay.

Urban sprawl up the mountain.

Hullo South Africa! 

Stats indicate a 24% unemployment rate.

Karbonkelberg Table Mountain National Park. There are hikes up to the peak. Safety is an issue, so we did not hike anywhere per se.  However, others do and arm themselves with pepper spray and big, vicious dogs like the Doberman.  This is South Africa's reality. Sticking to the crowds is a good motto.
Is it time to do the Two Oceans Marathon?

The harbour area in Hout Bay is delightful.  These two have a business venture going which I imagine is lucrative for Mr Lover of Seals, and ensures that Slippery Flippers gets his meals every day. 

A great deal of talking goes on - prior to sharing a meal.

On land they look superb, but they are in their element in the water.
Up, down, in and out, loops this way and that - such powerful control.

Exquisite photos, Marek! 

Of course, the beauty of language is the accent - Mr Lover of Seals has a typical local accent, ask Marek to give you a demo and you will be in stitches.
 Slippery Flippers, yes, he is definitely listening.

No, I think you can give me a better deal than THAT!

It's the best I can do, if you don't like it, I am outta here.

Looks like they came to an amicable agreement.

iKhaya Coffee Bar and Art Shop. 

Blustery!

Shanty town in Hout Bay.

African Penguins in Simonstown

Despite a blowing south-easter which whips up the sand like acupuncture needles around your ankles, we braved the wind and settled on the beach at Simonstown. We soon moved off onto the rocks, the sun still out, hoping for a tanning session. Instead, we were mesmerized by a crowd of penguins who shot out of the water, and onto the rocks - also with the idea of a bit of tanning, though some were settling in for the night between the boulders. What was really fascinating was watching a few of them playing with the waves, hang loose and let the wave bring you in and then jet back out again like a rocket into the sea.  Hang loose, jet back, hang loose, jet back - are they fast! Cheetahs in the Magaliesburg, flowers at Kirstenbosch, African penguins in Simonstown, seals in Hout Bay - we've really struck gold this vacation.

A great multicultural crowd at the beach on Sunday.

Looking happy but feeling the prickle of wind blown sand whipping around me.

Cartwheels.

Strolling the rocks - great shot, Marek.

The wonder of seeing penguins up close.

Where did they all go?

More and more coming on shore, plump, healthy and beautiful. 

Burrowing for the night.
You look comfortable, but aren't you hitting the hay a bit early tonight?

The closer you get the more they don't seem to mind.

Here's the fun - swimming around, catching a wave, just before being tossed onto the sandy beach,
jet away like a rocket out to sea and catch another wave - guess it's penguin surfing.

Penguins, anyone?

Lira - Return to Love

http://www.misslira.co.za/


LIRA at the Kirstenbosch Gardens - Summer Sunset Concerts


More than 5,000 people packed the concert gardens venue to listen to Lira. Almost all of them knew every single number of Lira's and sang and danced along with her - soul and jazz rhythms beat out in song and dance on the grass around us. We loved every minute of being there. It was a super charged atmosphere - baskets of food, wine and beer, blankets and chairs, a happy dancing crowd. Tiny kids on Dad's shoulders learning to move with the beat and little girls with puffy skirts swirling to the tune.

Against a magnificent backdrop of the mountains in Cape Town.

Kids learning the beat

I love this ma'am's cap/doek.

Whilst you are otherwise engaged, may I remind you of upcoming events?

Live concerts at Kirstenbosch Gardens

Our own video will not load up on to the site here - here is a youtube of Lira.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XwKlmsxG-4&feature=related

Back Home, and more pix on the way.

We're back in Canada after a visceral, intellectual and stimulating 2 week vacation, from Washington DC to Joburg and Cape Town and back.

Thanks to Vayama.ca for our lucky draw to South Africa!

We are spending the weekend in Victoria and will head back home on Sunday. After which we'll post up more pix of our fabulous trip.

Summer time in our gorgeous Inner Harbour, Victoria BC.

Super new airport terminal in Cape Town

Having our luggage wrapped for security

Part of SAA's modern fleet - Boeing 737-800