Wednesday 3rd December 202A good nights catch-up sleep and we’re ready to go, so after a hearty breakfast, we set out. We had two missions; one to get a couple of South African “sim” cards for our ‘phones, far cheaper than paying roaming charges and secondly get our bearings of the surrounding area, especially finding the pier where the boat trip to Robben Island leaves from.
We passed through the waterfront into the Victoria & Alfred shopping Mall, an enormous place where all the well known international brands, as well as local South African ones; just like any mall around the world!!! After asking, we soon found the local Vodacom (Vodafone to us!!), and five minutes later we were on our way with two new SA tel., nos. Woolworths is still out here so popped in for a “gander” and whilst there enjoyed the view from their cafe, especially the seals, perched on the end of a finger pontoon. Unfortunately for them there was a chap, probably a caretaker or something who kept chasing them back into the sea ; perhaps they made the place untidy!!!; anyway we were pleased to see the seals and enjoyed the seals getting back on as soon as the man with the big stick turned his back. The outcome was satisfying; man gave up and seals now took over two finger pontoons!!!!! I also Contacted Margaret Gibbons, a South African lady I first met on the 2011 Rugby tour of New Zealand as well as subsequent tours and she always said to make contact if I found myself in SA, so I did!!
We continued to “mooch” around; found the pier where the ferry for Robben Island leaves, “sharp” at 0900hrs but we have to be at the terminal at 0830hrs with Passports.
Returning to the Hotel, we received a note from Margaret saying “yes” to a meet-up so agreed 5pm in our foyer, then killed a hour or so by the pool; rather cold I have to say as the pool itself is shaded by the hotel building though the “laying-out” area is very hot!!!
We met up with Margaret at the appointed hour and after some discussion and telling her we were “in her hands” being a “local”!!; she ordered an “Uber” and we headed to our “first” stop, the “Mount Nelson Hotel” ( https://www.belmond.com/stories/belmond-mount-nelson-hotel-history); a magnificent Colonial building in a very lush tropical garden where we sat and enjoyed some local bubbly; very nice. After a stroll around the gardens we jumped in another “Uber” and headed to “Camp Bay”, a lively beach surrounded by high-end properties.
All my life I have believed, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” and tonight proved this is right. We headed to a bar on the first floor overlooking the “sea-n-sand” for a sun-downer (or two/three!), but by now it was too late to get in, as the best place on the sea front we were told by “she-who-knows” is the bar called the “Chin Chilla Bar” ( https://www.kovecollection.co.za/chinchilla). We were momentarily stopped at the bottom of the stairs and told it was full, however Margaret said something and up the stairs we went only to be stopped again and we could see why; the place was heaving, everywhere full, but again Margaret said something and we were in and taken to a table with only two people on and after a few words, the three of us sat down; nice one Margaret.
We got chatting as you do and discovered they were from the USA, Rhode Island to be precise, over here for their daughter’s wedding. By the end of our sundowners we were now new best buddies with Terry and Keven, we also met their son and daughter-in-law who they had been waiting for; they were a lovely couple and who knows, hopefully we will met up with them again somewhere, sometime.
By now it was dark and as we had a table booked at the local fish restaurant; “The Codfather” ( https://www.codfather.co.za/) for 2030hrs, so after ‘photos were taken we reluctantly had to leave the party.
Again we had to head to the first floor overlooking the beach, but being dark didn’t see anything!!! At the top of the stairs we hit a wall of people waiting to get in, but to be fair to the staff, they cleared the queue very quickly though we were “😂forced🤣” to order a drink at the bar first!!! We were also “amazed” by the fish counter, the contents and variety of fish available blew us away; again superb venue Margaret. When we were settled our waiter marched to the counter where we chose a variety of shellfish and normal fish to share; they weighed it “I think” and off it went to be cooked. We were back at our table in time to see this “feast” of cooked fish arrive and we tucked in; very fresh and perfectly cooked and we were pleasantly full.
Another “Uber” was summoned, this time to take us to the “Winchester Hotel” (https://newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/the-winchester-hotel#) another building from a by-gone century where we were having nightcaps!!! By now we had our bubbly to start, and several bottles of excellent South African wines along the way and now night caps!!!!! Why not?? Christine played it safe and by now she had had sufficient so went non alcoholic whilst Margaret introduced me to a local liquor called “Amurla”; very nice. She then went on to say they also have another drink, delivered in a “shot” glass called a “Spring Bok”, so we had a couple of those to finish the night off😂😂.
Time to call it a night, so this time ordered two ‘Ubers” to take us back to our respective bases. The three of us had a super evening, good wine, good company, new friends and excellent fish to eat. Saturday and Sunday we are heading to the Rugby Sevens and we are meeting up with Margaret at the stadium again on the Sunday.