Cape Town: NY Times Profile, Video, etc.!!

From the New York Times Travel Section this coming Sunday morning, they will have this headline: "36 Hours in Cape Town" with these highlights: "Heralded as one of the world’s most beautiful cities — few destinations can mimic the scale of its mountain-ocean convergence — Cape Town could sit pretty on the merits of its natural bounties alone. It remains a singularly inviting place, wowing visitors with its colorful art and architecture, complex history, world-class wines and arguably one of the best culinary landscapes anywhere. How to squeeze all of Cape Town’s highlights, both man- and Mother Nature-made, into one weekend?"

There is a wonderful six-minutes-plus video that gives a nice sampling of options connected with this highly-rated city, plus a wide range of specific ideas and options to enjoy in and around Cape Town.

We are busy planning and preparing for our options during our five days in Cape Town before departing on a Feb. 2-12 cruise along the South Africa coast to Mozambique and back before doing stops at Victoria Falls and Botswana.

One of the great ideas mentioned is: "Saturday is market day. The pioneer is at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, where the weekly Neighbourgoods Market was at the forefront of this run-down district’s transformation into a creative enclave. The Oranjezicht City Farm Market is a more wholesome affair: From its humble origins at the site of a nonprofit urban farm, the market has grown and now occupies a sprawling tent near the V&A Waterfront."

Here's another key story highlight: "Somber lessons in apartheid continue in District Six, a multicultural enclave whose residents were forcibly removed beginning in the 1960s. The intimate District Six Museum paints a poignant picture of the devastation wreaked on close-knit communities, telling stories through personal narratives, pictures and memorabilia collected from uprooted families."

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/travel/what-to-do-in-36-hours-in-capetown.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftravel&action=click&contentCollection=travel&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 31,224 views for these postings.

Really great article - very helpful in planning our upcoming days in Cape Town. For those who don't know - the NYT runs this series of 36 Hours in ____

for many cities around the world.

Just google 36 hours in Singapore or Paris or Istanbul, etc.

And Terry, you do post the most amazing pictures. Thanks!

ETA: Our plans include a trip out to Boulders Beach to see the penguins. We've walked among penguin colonies in Antarctica, South America and Australia. Time to add the 4th continent where they are indigenous.

Really great article - very helpful in planning our upcoming days in Cape Town. For those who don't know - the NYT runs this series of 36 Hours in ____ for many cities around the world. Just google 36 hours in Singapore or Paris or Istanbul, etc. And Terry, you do post the most amazing pictures. Thanks! ETA: Our plans include a trip out to Boulders Beach to see the penguins. We've walked among penguin colonies in Antarctica, South America and Australia. Time to add the 4th continent where they are indigenous.

Appreciate this excellent follow-up information and the kind comments on my pictures. Yes, we are planning to visit Boulders Beach to see the penguins! Sounds like fun!!

Don't be shy! Keep posting and sharing here with other information from your research or past visits to Africa, questions regarding upcoming travel there, etc.

Also coming in this Sunday's New York Times Travel Section are some other stories that might be of interest for those planning options in Africa. Here are some of these other story options and potential news items to check out and consider:

1. Headline: "Into Africa: 6 Vacation Ideas From Our Experts". This includes these highlights about Victoria Falls: "Take In the Grandeur of Victoria Falls. We visited the falls in the most breathtaking way. Two Zambian guides led us out into the river on foot, pointing to a flat rock here and a route through the rapids there. Just a stone’s throw from the edge, we peered down into the mighty, thundering abyss as the water crashed over the mile-wide length of the cascade. It was a thrilling, if terrifying, moment as visions of slipping over the edge flitted through my mind."

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/23/travel/africa-vacation-ideas.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftravel&action=click&contentCollection=travel&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

2. Headline: "In Durban, 13 Curry Stops in 5 Days". This includes these highlights about Durban, South Africa: "I sat down for a 'bunny chow' in Durban, on South Africa’s east coast. It’s a funny-sounding name for a funny-looking concoction: a loaf of white bread hollowed out to form an edible vessel for a generous helping of curry, typically mutton or bean. I’ve been amazed by the quality and diversity of food, the mouthwatering result of centuries of intermingling — albeit not always voluntary — of Dutch, English, Indians and Malaysians with indigenous populations. "

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/travel/durban-south-africa-restaurants.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftravel&action=click&contentCollection=travel&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=sectionfront

3. Headline: "Want to Visit South Africa? How to Survive a Long Flight". This includes these highlights about long-distance flying: "There’s nothing like a 16-hour flight to get you over a fear of flying. After that first marathon ride from New York to Johannesburg, which is among the longest direct flights in existence, my focus has at least shifted from how to survive to how to make the long haul as painless as possible."

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/travel/south-africa-flight-time.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftravel&action=click&contentCollection=travel&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=8&pgtype=sectionfront

Lots of different tips, ideas, options to consider, etc., in reading these various articles. Hope this sharing is of help.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 124,755 views for this posting.

Thanks so much for sharing all this info, Terry - it's very time appropriate for us, as we'll be heading to Cape Town early December for the very first time ever. After a 3-day pre-cruise safari, we'll be boarding the Regent Seven Seas Mariner for a 14-day journey, traveling to Namibia, St.Helena, and ending in Rio de Janeiro.

Cape Town does sound like an amazing city and after reading your helpful info and watching the video in the NY Times article, we are more excited than ever to explore and to see it all!

~Benita

Thanks.... Hoping to cruise out of cape town in December.... Starting to research!

Thanks.... Hoping to cruise out of cape town in December.... Starting to research!

Here is an option for more research on Cape Town, etc. We are just back safely from four weeks in South Africa, Botswana, etc.

We enjoyed great sights, many safari/animal experiences and wonderful adventure times!! Lots of pictures on my live/blog and this trip detailing can be seen at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Now over 10,600 views for this reporting that includes Cape Town, all along the South Africa coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Delta area with lions, leopards, cape buffalo, elephants, giraffes, hippos, etc., etc.

For any questions, please post on this live/blog and I will be happy to provide more info, etc. Don't be shy!! Below are just six of my visual sample to help build your excitement for these many great areas in South Africa.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at more than 138,000 views for this posting.

For Cape Town where we enjoyed five and a half days prior to our cruise, here is one picture where I needed a little "help" to be "soaring like an eagle"! My secret? It's riding in a helicopter to travel around Cape Town, the nearby mountains, being south of the town, going along the beaches, over the Winelands, etc. Like the view? Table Mountain is clearly so dominate in the way it towers over Cape Town and the nearby areas, including the dramatic clouds rolling over the peaks. Recognize the Cape Town Stadium? Our pilot said it has a nickname down here and they call it the "Giant Toilet Bowl"!! Does kind of have that look!!:

When the park is called an “elephant park”, what would you expect there? Yes, elephants!! Here is one sample elephant visual to share from Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth (or PE) along the South Africa Coast. Don’t you just love these baby elephants that are so super cute?:

While at Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth, we saw several ostriches, including the adult male and female, both with very different colorations/coats. But, I also managed to get several shots of just of their three “babies”. This one view is a top favorite as the three heads are aligned in a special and very interesting angle. Agree that this one picture is a “super keeper”?:

Here is a sampling from Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Game Reserve near Richards Bay, South Africa, during our two-day, overnight adventure at this location. First shows a dramatic and wind-blown example of a male Kudu right after sunrise. Second shows two types of monkeys lovingly check each other for mites. The third picture shows what it is like being surrounded by a herd of Cape Buffalo. Is this being close enough to get that "stare"? At this park location, we found out what was so “personal” for being with a large White Rhino and to see this male ring both spraying (peeing) over and over, plus pooping right near us. I will spare showing those details here. This park has been a world leader in saving the White Rhino.:

Wondering what shots you took before traveling to Africa. Did you take preventative medication for Malaria?

Wondering what shots you took before traveling to Africa. Did you take preventative medication for Malaria?

Appreciate this good question from Cairn Mom. Yes, we did need to take the malaria meds due to our visits in the eastern parts of South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana. No problems for us in taking those pills. In early 2015, we did the adventure of going a 1000 miles up the Amazon River and needed to get a series of shots in connected with that trip. Some of these shots from a year ago took care of certain needs when doing this Africa trip. When going to parts of Africa, you will need to consult with an experienced travel med service that knows and can check the details for what countries need what types of shots, meds, etc. Some of these countries such as South Africa and Botswana are very large and the exact requirements will vary and depend on which specific regions of these territories that you will be actually visiting. Does this help? Need more info?

From the London/UK Independent newspaper late last month, they have this headline: "Cape Town travel tips: Where to go and what to see in 48 hours". In the sub-hard they note: "With sterling strong against the South African rand, this is a great time to visit".

Here are some of the story highlights: "Economic turmoil in South Africa has made something of a basket case of the rand – you currently get twice the ZAR for your pound than you did 10 years ago. Cape Town sprawls – largely because of the immense Table Mountain that sits at its centre. The Atlantic coastal resort spots of Camps Bay et al on the west side of Lion's Head feel like they belong to a different town – but are just minutes away from Green Point and the V&A Waterfront. Be cautious when walking around areas away from the Waterfront after dark – Cape Town is much safer than it used to be, but common sense should prevail."

There are lots of ideas and options to consider for when visiting Cape Town. Among their suggestions are: "Every visitor to Cape Town should feel duty-bound to sail to Robben Island to see where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for nearly two decades. Kirstenbosch is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world." There are number of pictures with this media profile.

Full story at:

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/cape-town-travel-tips-where-to-go-and-what-to-see-in-48-hours-a6897581.html

Below are some bonus visuals as a sample for just a few of the many photos on my live/blog for what we saw and enjoyed in Cape Town. Need more "eye-candy" from South Africa?

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 195,832 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Here are three views from in and around their older parts of the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD), including first the City Hall and the South Africa Parliament Building in the third visual.:

From high above Cape Town on Signal Hill, here is the view of the harbor area, including the dock where we will board the Silver Cloud. Bring back memories for those who have visited Cape Town?:

Here is just one of many spectacular views from riding the Cable Car up to the top of Table Mountain. You can see Lion's Head mountain that peaks at 2,195 feet above sea level. This peak forms part of a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and is part of the Table Mountain National Park. Amazing views all around. Friday was rated as a top 10% viewing day with the clearness and ability to enjoy such sights. The Table Mountain Cableway was Swiss designed and officially opened in 1929. It has been extensively upgraded and new cars now carry 65 instead of 25 passengers. The new cars give a faster journey and rotate through 360 degrees during the ascent and descent. The highest point on Table Mountain is 3,563 feet above sea level.:

Finally, here is one quick view of the multi-colored exteriors of some historic homes near the Central Business District. It is called Bo-Kaap and was formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is quintessentially a Township, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill and known for its brightly colored homes and cobble stoned streets.: