at our new friends! thanks debbie, michelle, and michelle - incredible!
o glorious day!
cape town continues to amaze. barely bigger than ottawa, it's so incredibly easy to navigate - even jane is driving with the steering wheel on the left, on the 'wrong side'. it has yet to take us more than five minutes to get anywhere, and traffic is non-existent. which means that world class dining, beaches, and shops are within easy range, and we can pack a ton into a day!
our day begins in de waterkaant district ... edna is right, it's fantastic! colorful and fun, full of life. we start at africa nova, with it's mod crafts interpretation of all things sub-saharan. really cool. we move onto café maxim - adorable and cupcake filled (has magnolia bakery really stretched it's long tentacles to south africa?). then, we are amazed by the french speaking team from martinique at lil'dreys de ci de la ... great kitsch kitchen bags (from amsterdam) and the most incredible chicken wire sculpture 'bust' of nelson mandela - design at it's best. we (i) are smitten with a crepe layered concoction with roasted squash and roquefort at le petit tart, our charming proprietor singing the praises of all those from new york (yeah!)...
we move onto just-off-kloof street. we are welcomed by michelle, our dear friend, at her-dear-friends lovely establishment, the hall collection. debbie has set up the most incredible cottage with imported italian linens, arranged with her incredibly keen eye for design. a modern, chic undertone permeates throughout; the goods are first rate, as is the arrangement of literally everything. towards the garden courtyard, we find a dressed table replete with the most gorgeous setting - an 'open wednesday' lunch awaits. cape town has their own ina garten; the barefoot contessa never had it this good. debbie regales us with stories and extravagances, buoyed by michelle's exuberance and enthusiasm. we sit down to a fine bottle of bubbly, a variety of salads, and towers of glass domes barely containing the most yummy confections, created by none other than debbie herself! we enjoy and incredible lunch in this divine setting, vowing to become lifelong friends and to forever recognize that the origin of humanity emanates from the transvaal, not far from our spot of repose and sophistication (wouldn't lucy be proud of our evolutionary triumphs!???). miranda has beaded us the most stunning bookmarks and we are thrilled to take them back with us as a further reminder of our time together!
finally, the sun emerges, just on time. the day has been rather mild, and we await our moment at the beach. here it is - a late afternoon drive to clifton 4, down a few steps, to sandy shores. we are all plugged into our i-phones and i-pods; the matkot paddles come out for rounds of paddleball, and jane does a brisk walk to camps bay for the summer-in-africa sunscreen. we laze about - i walk all the clifton beaches for my exercise, to work off my strictly vegetarian diet since i've been here.
at six we vow to go back 'home', instead driving to lundadno beach, and finally, hout bay. it's lovely out - at once appearing as if katrina will roll in, then other-worldly cloud formations break to reveal fantastic cliffs and rock formations.
finally home, wine flows, guests chat, and we prep for dinner at savoy cabbage. a lovely space welcomes us, but jared is not feeling great. so the evening is touch-and-go, he makes it through the spotty service, although the food is quite yummy. we laugh and laugh, feelings as if we've been her forever - so much fun, this very sophisticated, clean, and easy cape town.
what to do about going to our (real) home? we'll deal with that later in the week - for now, it's bedtime and another day of sun and fun awaits ...
h
cape town continues to amaze. barely bigger than ottawa, it's so incredibly easy to navigate - even jane is driving with the steering wheel on the left, on the 'wrong side'. it has yet to take us more than five minutes to get anywhere, and traffic is non-existent. which means that world class dining, beaches, and shops are within easy range, and we can pack a ton into a day!
our day begins in de waterkaant district ... edna is right, it's fantastic! colorful and fun, full of life. we start at africa nova, with it's mod crafts interpretation of all things sub-saharan. really cool. we move onto café maxim - adorable and cupcake filled (has magnolia bakery really stretched it's long tentacles to south africa?). then, we are amazed by the french speaking team from martinique at lil'dreys de ci de la ... great kitsch kitchen bags (from amsterdam) and the most incredible chicken wire sculpture 'bust' of nelson mandela - design at it's best. we (i) are smitten with a crepe layered concoction with roasted squash and roquefort at le petit tart, our charming proprietor singing the praises of all those from new york (yeah!)...
we move onto just-off-kloof street. we are welcomed by michelle, our dear friend, at her-dear-friends lovely establishment, the hall collection. debbie has set up the most incredible cottage with imported italian linens, arranged with her incredibly keen eye for design. a modern, chic undertone permeates throughout; the goods are first rate, as is the arrangement of literally everything. towards the garden courtyard, we find a dressed table replete with the most gorgeous setting - an 'open wednesday' lunch awaits. cape town has their own ina garten; the barefoot contessa never had it this good. debbie regales us with stories and extravagances, buoyed by michelle's exuberance and enthusiasm. we sit down to a fine bottle of bubbly, a variety of salads, and towers of glass domes barely containing the most yummy confections, created by none other than debbie herself! we enjoy and incredible lunch in this divine setting, vowing to become lifelong friends and to forever recognize that the origin of humanity emanates from the transvaal, not far from our spot of repose and sophistication (wouldn't lucy be proud of our evolutionary triumphs!???). miranda has beaded us the most stunning bookmarks and we are thrilled to take them back with us as a further reminder of our time together!
finally, the sun emerges, just on time. the day has been rather mild, and we await our moment at the beach. here it is - a late afternoon drive to clifton 4, down a few steps, to sandy shores. we are all plugged into our i-phones and i-pods; the matkot paddles come out for rounds of paddleball, and jane does a brisk walk to camps bay for the summer-in-africa sunscreen. we laze about - i walk all the clifton beaches for my exercise, to work off my strictly vegetarian diet since i've been here.
at six we vow to go back 'home', instead driving to lundadno beach, and finally, hout bay. it's lovely out - at once appearing as if katrina will roll in, then other-worldly cloud formations break to reveal fantastic cliffs and rock formations.
finally home, wine flows, guests chat, and we prep for dinner at savoy cabbage. a lovely space welcomes us, but jared is not feeling great. so the evening is touch-and-go, he makes it through the spotty service, although the food is quite yummy. we laugh and laugh, feelings as if we've been her forever - so much fun, this very sophisticated, clean, and easy cape town.
what to do about going to our (real) home? we'll deal with that later in the week - for now, it's bedtime and another day of sun and fun awaits ...
h
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