Cape Town

Patio Lounge of The Backpack

The Naked and Famous - Young Blood

This trip has so far been terrible because it has in no way discouraged me from continuing on this path of reckless last-minuteness. 

Right now, sitting under the open wooden roof that canopies over the front lounge area of The Backpack, watching people shoot pool. The guy in a red sweatshirt has his hand down the mouth of a can of sour cream and onion Pringles. Pretty sick place to chill. Lots of young people from all over, AC/DC blasting from the flat screen, bottles and bottles of local and imported beers on demand. And free wi-fi. 

Today was chilly by South African, Brazilian, and Colombian standards, but the Swiss and I felt more than comfortable in the 19 Celsius. After arriving in Cape Town at noon, I found a taxi and was shuttled to my hostel. During the ride, the driver and I shared stories. He said that many people will find my 'American accent' interesting. He's lived in Cape Town for eight years but hails from Nigeria originally. He doesn't travel back too often because it is a six hour flight and can be quite exorbitant. The Nigerian prime minister visited Cape Town last week, and the Canadian prime minister must be visiting this week, since the poles lining the freeway from the airport to Nelson Mandela Avenue (welcome to South Africa) were decorated with the Canadian flag as well as the South African one. His favorite food is a kind of semolina soup that is very South African, although he also really enjoys seafood (he recommends Ocean Basket). He was a personal trainer for a while and will probably be working on oil rigs in the near future. We drove by communities of shacks called townships, including Langa Township, the one that Denzel Washington's character was sent to and featured in "Safe House". I can't recall the other things we talked about, but he was extremely friendly. 

The hostel is fantastic. Upon walking through the gate, you are greeted by an open lounge space with a worn pool table, wicker dining tables and mismatched chairs, a red-pillowed set of couches, and a sliding door to an indoor bar, decorated similarly. The lobby has its own gift shop, where local free-trade crafts are sold, and theres nothing like the condom dispensers in the bathrooms and common areas to make it feel even more like home (Yale-home obviously, not home-home). 

Get your Warhol-ed Nelson Mandelas here! 

All of this was really exciting, but the most exciting part of my morning was showering!!! HOLY CRAP. As soon as I got up to my room, said a few quick greetings to the girl occupying the corner bed, and set down my luggage, I dashed for the showers. It was awesome. Probably the third best shower I've had, runner-up to the one in Yeti Guest House after the 30-hour JFK -> Delhi -> Kathmandu flight, which takes the cake, and the one in Ldub E21 after a weeklong hike through the White Mountains. 

I'm rooming with a girl named Sara, a third-generation Brazilian who has spent the last three months in South Africa studying English and leaves to go home tomorrow. Her family owns a farm in Brazil, but she mostly attended German schools, and she has one sister. She lived in a homestay for the greater part of her time here and recently returned from a trip to Port Elizabeth. After my shower, we went to lunch with two of her friends. Angela, who is Colombian, is a lawyer and shares my love for underrated countries and living locally. Nicole, who is Swiss, is an optician and has some of the most craziest drunk stories (like being robbed and knifed when leaving a club several weeks ago). Entirely different personalities, all absolutely awesome and inspiring. Can't wait to be a member of the travel girls club. We talked leisurely about our lives, experiences, and plans over gnocci, caprese salads, and smoked mozzarella. Inhaled Peroni and second-handed Nicole's Winstons on the outdoor patio of a restaurant on Long Street. 

Self explanatory

The sun peaking out behind a building across from where we ate

After splitting a chocolate fondant and downing cups of coffee and tea, we walked around town, stopped by various stores, and bought everything ranging from ostrich dog treats and biltong to metal wall hangings and love-quoted scarves. Sara and I then took a taxi to Waterfront, a touristy harbor, where we overpaid for ornately decorated ostrich eggs and carved-elephant lighters. It's usually packed during the summer, but winter is coming, and the restaurants and walkways are noticeably less crowded. 

Part of Lion's Head Mountain from a moving taxi

The harbor at Waterfront

Table mountain in the background

The ferris wheel! And Sara!

All of the lights all of the lights

Got back just now. Party later tonight at some club that's a 10 minute taxi ride away. Departing at 4:40 AM for Gansbaai. Nursing a beer currently. It's gonna be a good two weeks.