Day #5

11/22/08
This morning, B, Kenz, and I went out for breakfast to Cafe Sophia (I'm convinced that it's the best deal in town-yummy and cheap for only 20 Rand=$2).

After breakfast and the boys' pre-wedding preparations (a wedding that would be out in Stellenbosch for someone who works for their company), we picked up Elan and headed to the vineyards.

We stopped at SimonSig, where we met Henry and Josh for my first-ever wine tasting. SimonSig is 45 km east of Cape Town and is named after the Simonsberg Mountains. It comprises 201 hectares, producing a variety of red, white, and sparkling wines. We tried six different wines as we relaxed outside on a terrace set in the middle of the rolling wine vineyard landscape. It was beautiful. I felt like I was in Parent Trap or something.

After wine and cheese tasting, we drove into town as I glued my eyes and palms (literally) against the car windows in amazement. The scenery looked just like the pages of Bradley's coffee table book, "Wines of South Africa". It was the longest stretch of vineyards that I have ever seen, stretching endlessly for miles and miles as far as the eye could see. There were horses and cattle and old white houses, strawberry patches and scarecrows.

We escorted the boys to their bed and breakfast cottages, then grabbed lunch in downtown Stellenbosch. Downtown Stellenbosch reminded me of Charleston. The sunlight was so beautifully golden and the weather was dreamlike, just perfect. Henry, from London, coordinated our ride back to Cape Town for Kenz, me, and his brother Josh.

Tonight, Kenz and I went to Wired Internet, where we met Karmeeca's friend, Lenore. She was amazed that we were from North Carolina, as her boyfriend lives in South Carolina. She ended up insisting on driving us around, showing us all of her favorite spots. She took us to a huge mall, where we ate at one of her favorite restaurants, then slammed down mint chocolate chip gelato at a nearby vendor, before seeing Nights in Rodanthe at the mall movie theater.

It was nice spending time with a local South African for the night and it definitely provided for a new perspective on life in Cape Town. What a great day. Dreading the fact that tomorrow is our last day in this beautiful place.

Exhausted, but thankful,
Carly