Summer solstice is usually the longest day of the year, and it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, however today is the longest day for another reason because we are travelling today and by the time we reach our final ports of call it will be tomorrow afternoon or evening.
The day (Saturday) began at 8:30am local time in Capetown. I suppose that the local tour company had arranged the schedule in order to keep us all busy for as much of the day as possible, so that we would be ready to sleep oon the flight to Amsterdam when night fell.
Today was all about visiting the Cape. Throughout history, it was first known as the Cape of Storms, and then later as the Cape of Good Hope, perhaps as an early attempt at enticing potential inhabitants to want to make the 3-month sailing voyage from England or Holland to South Africa.
The virtuous communities along the Cape appear to boast increasing levels of affluence, but the cautious visitor should bear in mind that given the relatively deflated international exchange values, the cost of property in this part of the world is still very affordable compared with other metropolitan centres.
From one community to another, we travelled along the Southwestern shore, all the while enjoying the vistas of the Atlantic in all her beauty. The waters surrounding south Africa are home to Cape seals, cormorants, African penguins (a somewhat smaller version of the Emperor which is found only in Antarctica) and during the winter months, the Right Whales which migrate here in order to spawn.
A flotilla of vessels also spoke (as did our tour guide Arie) of the presence of the South African navy which is currently busy protecting the eastern shores of the continent (or at least parts of it) from piracy.
Other stops en route included a nod to Cape Point, sometimes advertised as the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, Cape Point is the Southwesternmost point on the African continent.
Back at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront complex, we were treated to a farewell feast before setting out for the airport. Unfortunately, this also meant that we had to bid farewell to Arie (our guide) and Johann (our driver), and to South Africa, but not before thanking them for having shared with us their passionate love for their adoptive homeland.
Next step, a 12-hour flight to Amsterdam and then a connecting flight to Toronto (and in some cases beyond).
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