From the editor’s desk: The perfect place
Capetonians take great pride in their city and communities and it shows.
Cape Town. The mother city. Aptly named because, as I was told, it is the birthplace of our country.
It is, so far, the only place I’ve visited that has a crispy cleanliness to it. No papers blowing in the wind, and the southeaster is insanely wild, no potholes that are not in the process of being fixed, not even cigarette stubs on the pavements. Possibly the most well run city in this country. Why? I’m sure you know (and I cannot say without getting political about it).
I had the privilege to spend a few days in Cape Town, first on a conference and then visiting my elderly parents in Wemmerhoek, situated between Pniel and Franschoek.
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The conference delegation stayed in Blaauwberg Hotel with all the rooms facing the ocean. Late afternoon, when the southeaster picks up, kite surfers were lining the horizon, taking full advantage of the waves and the wind. The kites were all the colours of the rainbow, it makes for a postcard picture.
The most notable of Cape Town, however, was seeing the masses of people at the V & A Waterfront, it was properly buzzing. It made me wonder if Capetonians have a daytime job?
Wemmershoek, according to Wikipedia, is a small village, famous mostly for the Wemmershoek Dam on the Wemmershoek River. It was established in 1957. The San were the first known inhabitants. Khoi people, who were nomadic, were also in the area and they moved around looking for grazing for their cattle. The first European in the area of the Berg River, was Abraham Gabemma in 1657, when Jan van Riebeeck sent him to trade for meat with the Khoekhoe people. An outpost was established near Somerset West in 1679 for wheat cultivation which was needed, as food production was not enough to feed the growing settler population in the Cape.
What a beautiful place to visit, and I’m sure to live in as well. Simply because the people are proud to be called Capetonians, and they work together to keep the place neat and clean for tourists, and it shows.
The fact that there are too many vineyards to choose from for a family day out, makes Cape Town even more perfect. Have you been to the mother city recently? What are your best memories? Send an email to roelienv@caxton.co.za to share your news.
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