oh, why, oh why - sweet cape town, parting is such sour sorrow!
the kids benefit from our vigorous friendship with michelle and david - who insist on a delectable farewell petit dejeuner. yes, they get to sleep in, lounge about, and have breakfast in their robes poolside while the grown ups go out for an early breakfast. over lattés, farmhouse fresh food, political discussions, and learning about afrikaans, we bask in each other's now-familiar company. it's hard to believe that just a few months ago, we were strangers seated next to each other at café gitane. and here we are, intimately wrapped up in each other's lives, thoughts, beliefs - and loving it! there's debbie, and colin, and all manner of cape town's tony set! ahhh, the joys of human safari ...
yet, parting is such sweet sorrow ... and we must all be on our way. we profess undying love for each other, they drop us back at the lovely 2 inn 1, where we quickly pack up the carry-ons ... how we'll miss klaus, chris, and the gang! and just when a new french couple has arrived from paris ... we barely have a chance to break out our conjugated verbs!!!
so it's off to long street for us - a few souvenirs (like ikea, whatever can be flat packed). this area is funky, cool, and seedy - cape town's own east village - but it's a perfect place for t-shirts, small handbags, board shorts. we stock up, then quickly zip down to the v&a waterfront, much vilified by our anti-establishment family (too neatly packaged for us!) ... andi gets his soccer souvenirs and rugby ball, and it's back to manna epicure for the most savory late lunch and sweet desserts. we ingest and imbibe all that is brought forth, much to the horror of our waitress. yet, she finds it all humorous. i insist that if i'm ever to have an eatery, this would be it - clean, white, fresh, with the most incredible food and staff. you just feel amazing being in this place - heaven!
it's time for the airport, we kiss and hug anyone that will have us - chris and klaus promise a visit to new york, and we relish our last moments at this boutique, exquisite hotel. goodbye table mountain; au revoir lion's head; adios camps bay ... we loved you, now we must leave you!
back to where it all begins ... the impeccable cape town airport. we glide through security, and alas, jane finds her much beloved orange feather 'hat' - the very same that has adorned our bedroom for the last eight nights. i am sent along, and she makes her purchase, which brings her much joy and happiness ...
we are greeted warmly and serendipitously by michael and leesa and their girls - so nice, and what a surprise to see them on our flight - although we've never met personally, we've heard all good things about them from ruth and andrew - fun!
nineteen hours later, we are home, having lived through a nine hour flight to dakar, senegal, and an eight hour flight back to jfk. there is an email from klaus and chris, telling us they miss our energy - we feel the same way! ... quickly to nolita for breakfast at café gitane (stopping to chat with all the regulars, all of whom have already been to cape town!) before heading home. the first thing we do upon entering the house? we hang jane's feathers proudly over the fireplace - a tangible and perfect end to the memories of this, the most incredible swedler holiday yet.
the kids benefit from our vigorous friendship with michelle and david - who insist on a delectable farewell petit dejeuner. yes, they get to sleep in, lounge about, and have breakfast in their robes poolside while the grown ups go out for an early breakfast. over lattés, farmhouse fresh food, political discussions, and learning about afrikaans, we bask in each other's now-familiar company. it's hard to believe that just a few months ago, we were strangers seated next to each other at café gitane. and here we are, intimately wrapped up in each other's lives, thoughts, beliefs - and loving it! there's debbie, and colin, and all manner of cape town's tony set! ahhh, the joys of human safari ...
yet, parting is such sweet sorrow ... and we must all be on our way. we profess undying love for each other, they drop us back at the lovely 2 inn 1, where we quickly pack up the carry-ons ... how we'll miss klaus, chris, and the gang! and just when a new french couple has arrived from paris ... we barely have a chance to break out our conjugated verbs!!!
so it's off to long street for us - a few souvenirs (like ikea, whatever can be flat packed). this area is funky, cool, and seedy - cape town's own east village - but it's a perfect place for t-shirts, small handbags, board shorts. we stock up, then quickly zip down to the v&a waterfront, much vilified by our anti-establishment family (too neatly packaged for us!) ... andi gets his soccer souvenirs and rugby ball, and it's back to manna epicure for the most savory late lunch and sweet desserts. we ingest and imbibe all that is brought forth, much to the horror of our waitress. yet, she finds it all humorous. i insist that if i'm ever to have an eatery, this would be it - clean, white, fresh, with the most incredible food and staff. you just feel amazing being in this place - heaven!
it's time for the airport, we kiss and hug anyone that will have us - chris and klaus promise a visit to new york, and we relish our last moments at this boutique, exquisite hotel. goodbye table mountain; au revoir lion's head; adios camps bay ... we loved you, now we must leave you!
back to where it all begins ... the impeccable cape town airport. we glide through security, and alas, jane finds her much beloved orange feather 'hat' - the very same that has adorned our bedroom for the last eight nights. i am sent along, and she makes her purchase, which brings her much joy and happiness ...
we are greeted warmly and serendipitously by michael and leesa and their girls - so nice, and what a surprise to see them on our flight - although we've never met personally, we've heard all good things about them from ruth and andrew - fun!
nineteen hours later, we are home, having lived through a nine hour flight to dakar, senegal, and an eight hour flight back to jfk. there is an email from klaus and chris, telling us they miss our energy - we feel the same way! ... quickly to nolita for breakfast at café gitane (stopping to chat with all the regulars, all of whom have already been to cape town!) before heading home. the first thing we do upon entering the house? we hang jane's feathers proudly over the fireplace - a tangible and perfect end to the memories of this, the most incredible swedler holiday yet.
but not the last ...
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