Cape Town a World Top 10 Party City

Lonely Planet has created a new guide, the “1000 Ultimate Experiences” and South Africa can feel proud as Cape Town has been awarded a place of honour in the world’s top 10 party cities. Other countries in the top 10 are Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Montreal, Canada and Thessaloniki, Greece.

But what makes Cape Town such a unique place and especially fabulous for a party? Well, Lonely Planet only hints at the possibilities when they suggest one could “luxuriate on some of the world’s best beaches by day and kick back under the moonlight at suave cocktail bars by night”.

Whilst on holiday in Cape Town or if you are lucky enough to reside here, as I am, we are fortunate enough to have a myriad of fantastic places to visit and things to do during the day. Spend a lazy day on one of our beautiful beaches, take a walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or indulge in a decadent lunch and some wine at one of the many wine estates in the area … Continued

Food & Wine Market at Hermanuspietersfontein

This is a popular market on a Saturday morning for residents of Hermanus and the surrounds. Its setting is the Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Cellars at the Hemel en Aarde Village closest to Onrus, and if you’re not there to pick up the weekend’s nibbles and nosh, then you’re there for breakfast with friends. It’s a market in much the same vein as the Neighbourgoods and the Earth Fair markets in Cape Town, although on a slightly smaller scale. It can get busy though, so you might want to get here relatively early. The market opens at 09h00 … Continued

Peaks, Valleys and Champagne … in the Drakensberg

One of my favourite holiday spots is the Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal. Don’t get me wrong, I love the beach and there is nothing better than an early morning swim in the Indian Ocean, but the Drakensberg offers just as good a holiday and there is no need to watch out for jellyfish and sand in your sarmies! Continued

Festivals and Events in the Garden Route over the Festive Season

Summer Fun Festival

We are heading into the festive season, time to take some time off, spend some quality time with family and friends and a popular holiday destination to do this in is the Garden Route, with many towns and interesting sites to explore.

I thought I’d give you a bit of a head start on your holiday plans and let you know which festivals and events are taking place over the festive season along the Garden Route. For starters, the Summer Sun Festival happens in Mossel Bay and runs from Tuesday 8 December right into the second week of 2010 (8 January 2010). It’s time to sizzle with summer and the Diaz Strand Hotel during this jam packed festival … Continued

Johannesburg Mozart Festival Programme

Mozart Festival

Lovers of classical music will be glad to know that the programme line up for the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival has been announced. So here is just a little taste of what you can expect from 23 January to 9 February 2010.

Originally organised in 2006 in celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 250th birthday anniversary this year’s festival will see almost 20 performances in various venues around Johannesburg … Continued

Smitswinkel Bay Photographs

Photographs taken of Smitswinkel Bay on the False Bay Coast in the Cape. Smitswinkel Bay (or Smitswinkelbaai) is practically inaccessible and right next to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Reached only by foot, it is worth the effort to get there. The bay here is popular for snorkelling, diving and fishing and the water is calm and great for swimming. Views are fantastic as the mountains are virtually to the back of the beach and one overlooks False Bay. Smitswinkel Bay lies just past Simonstown on the False Bay Coast … Continued

South African Sports News – 18 November

Graeme Smith

South African openers put England to the sword
Graeme Smith (pictured) and Loots Bosman propelled South Africa to a crushing 84-run victory over England in their Standard Bank Pro 20 match at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday. The Proteas amassed 241/6 in their allotted 20 overs, which was their second highest total in international Pro 20-cricket.

In reply, England could only muster 157/8, which was their biggest defeat in this format of the international game. The win helped South Africa square the Pro 20 series 1-1 after they lost to England by one run on Friday at the Wanderers. Continued

A stay in Vermont

Vermont

Tell people that you’re on your way to Vermont and many give you a puzzled response. They obviously are not expecting you to go all the way to America for the weekend, but whilst their brains are whizzing around trying to place the town on a map, I rescue them and explain that it lies close to Hermanus. The relief is palpable.

Acquaintances of ours have a wee cottage set in the heart of Vermont’s ‘old’ quarter. After staying in the town twice now, and familiarising myself with its streets, I have divided Vermont into the ‘old’ and ‘new’, or ‘east’ and ‘west’ quarters for my own reasons. The east or old side is relatively conservative with smaller homes and pretty gardens, whilst the west suffers from a serious case of ‘my house is bigger than yours’ syndrome (although there are obvious exceptions). Continued

Birds Eye View by Noula Bouwer (photograph)

Todays photograph was sent to us by Noula Bouwer as is entiled “Bird’s Eye View”. A great photograph of a giraffe, Noula has submitted a number of really great photographs to our current photography competition. You can see more of her entries at November Photography Competition. Giraffe are non-territorial, social animals that travel in large herds that are not organized in any way. They live in the savannas of Africa, where they roam freely among the tall trees, arid land, dense forests and open plains … Continued

Which two oceans, mum?

Two Oceans Aquarium

It’s a pretty valid question when asked by a four-year old en route to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, but it had me stumbling for a moment as, with my indicator stuck, my head craned round to see oncoming traffic, and my other finger reaching for the air conditioning that needed a mighty overhaul if you consider the angst with which it was emitting tepid air, my brain and mouth couldn’t get in synch to wrap around the rather meaty ‘Indian and Atlantic, love’.

Just as well it isn’t the Pacific Ocean that meets the Indian or the Atlantic, or my child would have spent at least ten minutes talking about specifics. The Two Oceans Aquarium based at the V&A Waterfront is probably the only major tourist attraction to which Capetonians actually go. Continued

Two Oceans Aquarium photographs

Todays photographs are a collection of photographs taken at the Two Oceans Aquarium. The Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town is without doubt one of the most exciting attractions in the city, particularly if you have children. Called the Two Oceans Aquarium because the vast Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet here, or almost here at the southern tip of the continent, the delightful underwater nature reserve displays over 3000 living sea animals, including sharks, fish, turtles, and penguins on display … Continued

Cape Town City Ballet celebrates 75 years in Cape Town

Sunday 22 November 2009 is a special day for ballet in Cape Town as Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) celebrates 75 years on ballet. This is South Africa’s premier ballet company and where better to commemorate this milestone but at the newly refurbished Artscape.

The evening will be commemorated with a once off gala performance from both past and present stars of the ballet. With a most fitting title the Happy Birthday Ballet will take the audience through the CTCB’s history. From the early beginnings at the UCT Ballet Company, through the days of CAPAB Ballet right until the Cape Town City Ballet as it is today. Continued

Farmstalls along the N2 between Sir Lowry’s Pass and the Houhoek Pass

Farmstalls on the N2

As the N2 summits Sir Lowry’s Pass and begins its meander through one of the most lovely valleys known to man – the Elgin Valley is sumptuous it is such a feast of beauty -  it passes no fewer than five farmstalls distributed fairly evenly on either side of the road (if you’re smart, you can stop at one or two on the way to your destination, and then another couple on your return).

We were headed to Vermont, the little village not far from Hermanus that has enjoyed a fair amount of attention if the number of holiday homes is anything to go by. We took it upon ourselves to stop at four of the farmstalls in an effort to do a comparison and to see just what each of them offers – besides, it’s great fun to fall out of the car, meander around the grounds, have a look at all the goodies, make a selection or two and then, between mouthfuls, rate the nosh … Continued