Capetown and the Garden route and wine country.

Capetown and a week of R&R.  Capetown is a wonderful city with a bit of an edge.  They do have a small problem with crime as they do everywhere in South Africa and many other large cities.  So, we watch where we walk, Jon's good camera goes in the closet and my minney one shot comes out and I don't carry a purse.  We had no problem.  First thing we headed for was some "home cooking".  Saigon near the hotel.  We had one of the best Vietnamese meals I have ever eaten.  In fact this week was a lot about eating and sampling some really good wines.
We stayed at a guesthouse hotel that is a true gem.  I can't say enough good things about this place especially as it had a wonderful shower.  We took two a day.  We saw table mountain, as it was clear everyday, and did all the tourist things but mostly we took it easy.
http://www.capetowncity.co.za/contact-us.php

                                             Wonderful start to the day on the patio dining area.

   
                                                         The chef behind the breakfast

  

Valerie and Martin sent us to the Whiskey bar and Jon had a great time deciding where to splurge.

                          Seafood was the best.  So good

  
                              Two of these earned me 45 minutes in the shops.

 Capetown has a gorgous botanical garden so a walk there was a lovely way to start the day.

                                                             Cape sugar birds

                                         Signature flower of South Africa, Protea

                                                The Boulders Penguin colony

 

                Stunning drive past Houts bay from Cape to Capetown.

                                         
          The winelands and a few days in Franschhoek

                          Oldest winery and typical Cape wineland architecture.

This Cheetah sanctuary has hit on a great new technique to protect the South African Cheetah.  The farmers destroy them by shooting, poisoning, and trapping.  It is to protect their sheep.  This place uses the money raised to breed a large sheep dog and gives them free to the farmers.  The dogs are larger than the Cheetahs and they keep them from attacking the sheep herds.
This is a young male only 7 months old and he is the largest they have.  The whole time I am petting him he is purring just like the cat he is.
http://www.cheetah.co.za/

 
                                       One of our favorite landscapes.

                                 
Tania was our driver for two days of touring and we loved her.  She and her husband run Discovery Tours in Capetown and they are great.

http://www.discoverytours.co.za/

The Graaf's of jewelry fame have built the ultimate vanity winery.  Unbelievable.  The tasting room is unlike any I have ever seen.  This is a bronze Cheetah overlooking on of the gardens.

Had to visit Fairview Winery, Home of Goats do Roam and these are the goats.

Franschhoek, a quaint and charming little wine town.

The morning clouds come pouring over the mountains.  Hot dry days and almost cold nights.  Perfect for grapes.

Farewell meal at one of the 50 top restaurants in the world. (According to someone.)  The food was amazing.

                        Happy day for Jon.  A great car museum.

           
In Franschhoek we stayed at http://www.leschambres.co.za/.  Great little guest house with 4 rooms right in heart of town.
               
      Drive to airport.  All day via Hermanus and scenic route along ocean.
                         

                                                       Homeward bound.

This is the first class cabin on the 777 on

 American.  The final ratings surprised us.  

Number 1 of course is Cathay Pacific.  Can't beat those little apartments and the service and food were exceptional.
Number 2 American on 777!  Loved the cabins and the whole thing is much more spacious than the 747 that Quantas and BA fly.  Food and service outstanding.  Only ding is they don't provide pajamas.
Number 3 Quantas.  Cabin feels crowded and cramped.  Other than that food and service is great and they have the best amenity bag. Include deoderant and a hair brush.
Number 4 by a long shot and a huge surprise was British Air as they have always been our favorite.  Bad service, tired cabin  plus an inedible breakfast.  I was in shock.  Good thing I slept most of the flight.
                                                               

So here we are 50 days later, 45,000 air miles, not one down day or sick moment, nothing but one adventure and new experience after another.  Oh it has been grand!