South Africa 1993

Jack Hodgson

REMEMBRANCES (1993):
Johannesburg: Stayed at the Sandton City Shopping Centre hotel and both mall and hotel were impressive. At that time, we were told not to leave the hotel except under armed guard.
Flew to and then drove from George to Capetown. Wonderful! Better infrastructure than we have. Never felt nervous. Very pleasant environs along the "Garden Route". Stopped enroute to look over the Fancourt Hotel and Golf Club. Very impressive club house but we did not stay or play the course. It's an Orient Express property.

Knysna: Stayed at Belvidere House on Belvidere Bay. Historic house circa 1850 with 12-15 cottages. Highly recommended. Expensive, as were most things, but well worth it. Spent a couple days here before driving to Capetown.

Capetown: We arrived at the 18th century Alphen, a small inn and winery in the posh suburbs late Friday afternoon. It started as an old estate and now includes an athletic club, pool, walking trails, etc. Flocks of handsome young couples arrived in the late afternoon with their Labs and Goldens to have wine and chat on the terrace of the pub. Hollywood couldn't have cast or set it better. The whites in South Africa are handsome people and live as well as any whites in the world. Very memorable. Highly recommended. The drive from Alphen to downtown passes some of the most beautiful suburbs to city scenes I've ever seen. Spent a couple of days here. The drive to Cape Point, the tram to Table Mountain, downtown, and the redevelopment of the docks into an upsale shopping mall are must visits. As you enter the park to the Cape of Good Hope, it is common for baboons to leap on your hood. DO NOT open the window of your car.

Paarl: Drove a short distance from Capetown to the wine country (Stellenbosch, Paarl, etal) and stayed at very small and nice Mountain Shadows, a B&B in Paarl. The Cape winelands are a fabulous merger of the Napa Valley and Palm Springs scenery. Gorgeous. Many fine wineries done in colonial Dutch and Huguenot architecture. Have lunch at the winery whose restaurant is named "Le Picnic". 5 stars at least. There is golf in this area as well.
We got a feeling about the Boers here. Lots of reactions but no conclusions. Read Prester John by Buchan before you go. The transition orchestrated by Mandella was a miraculous achievement. God bless him.

We returned to Johannesburg from Capetown via the Blue Train,which we considered to be over priced and overrated. Except for that, it was a terrific visit.