A Little Thank You

We've been back in Lagos for four days now, and I am still feeling like I am on "vacation" time.  I LOVE going on holiday, but it is always such a chore to get back into the swing of things.  I swear you'd think I hadn't packed a lunch box in a year ( and not just 10 days) when you see how many times I have to go back to the fridge in the morning for everything I need.:)  But, I did have to write a quick note to the best trip planner, left- side- of -the- road driver, and travel partner....my husband!:)  Thank you for planning such a wonderful trip for all of us.:)  We had a great time!  Love you!!

Day 10- Easter in Cape Town

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter to everyone!!!  The Easter Bunny made his delivery to the kids last night, and they were all smiles this morning!:)

We were off to Mass at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Town…

We actually were able to find a church with a service this year.  Click here to see about what happened to us last year!:)

Saint Mary’s was beautiful…

and it had a pipe organ…

The kids liked it, too…

After Mass, we were back to the Winchester for an Easter Jazz Brunch….

The Easter bunny delivered here, tooJ

The kids had their own “bubbly!!( sparkling grape juice!)

But, the favorite by far was the chocolate mousse…what can I say?  She takes after her mom.:)

There was a jazz band playing in the courtyard…

Then, we were off to take a bus tour of the city…

The weather was still rainy today, so we sat inside…

We toured around by the Two Oceans Aquarium (where we were yesterday).  It is located in the V and A Mall (named after queen Victoria and her son, Alfred.  It is mistakenly thought to be named after Albert, her husband).  Near the V and A Mall, there are many ships. Sorry about the pictures…it was raining…

We passed by the Mount Nelson Hotel which we found out hosts many of the VERY wealthy and some major celebrities.  It was voted best High Tea in the world recently in a UK paper.:)

We saw Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 27 years.  You can barely see it out in the ocean because of the weather…

We passed through District 6 of Cape Town.  District 6 used to be a place where runaway slaves and freed slaves and many different people from all ethnicities came to live.  It was also the birth place of the famous Cape Minstrel Parade. When apartheid came into play, it was outlawed for anyone of another race to marry into another race.  The decision to get rid of District 6 was made, and in 1968 the government began bulldozing this area.  By 1985, 60,000 people were displaced from this area.  To this day, many parts of District 6 are still barren and covered with weeds.  It is a sad reminder of what apartheid did to the people of South Africa. For more information on District 6, click here.

Abandoned building in District 6…

empty land in District 6…

Then, we drove through the area known as Woodstock.  The city is trying to create a media and movie hub here in Woodstock along with several different businesses opening up in this area…

Next, we passed by the City Hall building.  It was built in 1905, and it was from the middle balcony at this building that Nelson Mandela addressed the people of South Africa in February 1990 after he had been released from prison.

Then, we were off to Camp Bay.  This is where the very wealthy people in Cape Town have their apartments and some celebrities like Prince Harry come to have a holiday.  Of course…it just doesn’t seem like the “holiday” place in the middle of all this weather.  Here is a picture of some children playing soccer on the beach.

And, here is a picture of some of the peaks of the “Twelve Apostles”.  No one is really sure why they are called the twelve apostles since there are 17 peaks….but the name still lives on…

But that is another picture of Camp’s Bay.

The bus tour was a little much for Lizzy who fell asleep half way through!

After a little resting up back at our  hotel, we were back to the Victoria and Alfred Mall for dinner…

The kids were really troopers walking through the rain…

and Jeremy managed to get a picture of Guy and me toasting on our last night in South Africa…

 And just in case you were wondering what  craw fish looks like in South Africa…here is an example!!

Yep!!!! It’s a freakin’ rock lobster!!!!!!!  And it was delicious!!!! After dinner since the kids were so good, we let them have a helicopter ride!!!

It’s always the “little things” which mean so much!!!:)  We had a great time in South Africa and we can’t believe that it’s time to head back to Lagos tomorrow.  It’s been a great holiday, and it is definitely one our entire family will always remember!:)

Day 9- Second Day in Cape Town

April 7, 2012

Today was a “good day for ducks” as my dear neighbor, Edna, used to say when we lived in New Orleans.  The forecast was a 90 percent chance of rain, and we were so happy that we decided to go up to Table Mountain yesterday.:)  So after we were dressed and our bellies were full from our great breakfast…

we headed over to the Two Oceans Aqaurium.

The cold wet weather couldn’t keep us inside our hotel room, though.  The Aquarium is named "Two Oceans" for the Atlantic and Indian Oceans which meet up together at the Cape of Good Hope.

This aquarium in Cape Town has tons of aquatic life which is abundant off all the shores of South Africa… the kids had a ball!

They LOVED the clown fish exhibit…it was like they were swimming in the middle of all the fish.:)

Then, we were off to explore the other creatures…

x-ray fish

I can’t remember their names…

huge star fish!!!

she was all dressed and ready to see the sea horses!!:)

Then, it was off the touch some sea creatures….

hermit crabs…

kelp , sea weed , and sponges….

Posing for pics!!!

Then, we were off to see the penguins…

The ocean predator exhibit was next, complete with a Jagged tooth shark which is native to the South African coasts…

Jeremy LOVES sharks so he was pretty excited to see them up close!!:)

Huge rays!!!!

And then, we were off for play time!:)

we had a very “American “afternoon of walking around the local mall and having McDonald’s for lunch ( the kids loved the nuggets and the play area there, too!!!) 

We tried to venture out for a walk this afternoon, and I only managed to get this one picture of the beach before it started raining again…

We went back to our hotel room, and Guy went out to get some Thai food!!!! Yeah!!:)  The kids had a bath and we all enjoyed watching Rio for the 5^th time!!:)  It was a very fun evening of all of us together.  Is it possible to wrap the kids up and keep them these ages forever???? I so wish it was!!!:)  The icing on the cake for them today was when housekeeping came in tonight to “turndown” the beds and left them cookies and milk.:)  They LOVE that here!:)

While Guy was brushing their teeth, I was looking at one of the coffee table books in our room….

It is a really interesting photo book about the people living in the shanty towns I was talking about in my earlier posts.  These “suburbs” started popping up in the 1930’s and started out as places where labor workers would live.  Now, they have turned into communities where people have come from rural areas to try and find jobs near the urban centers.  The lady who took the pictures, Mary Miyata, worked with HIV –positive orphans (HIV and AIDS is rampant across South Africa) and severely disabled children.  She also set up an arts program in Cape Town and extended it to the outside townships or shanty towns.  I found the pictures and the explanation of the people living there very eye opening.  There is always so much more to something than just what you see on the surface.:)