New Year's Eve 2015/2016, Cape Town Waterfront

As the end of 2015 approached, we were visiting family in McGregor (whom we will be seeing again soon) and getting ready for the cultural experience of the year. Cape Town is one of the biggest cities in South Africa, and the most popular tourist city as well. The Waterfront was hosting a massive New Year's Festival, and we decided to go. 

Picking up where I left off in the previous post, we left Swellendam on the 30th and visited distant family in McGregor, a beautiful little town in the Riviersonderend Mountains. 

The Tradouw Pass on the way to McGregor. 

Lunch at a lovely restaurant next to the road (effective advertising as 'lunch in a vineyard').

On the 31st we left for Paarl where we had a place to stay after the party.

Many vineyards - the Cape Winelands. 

Once in Cape Town, we checked out the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Quick snack before we start with a look out onto a section of the harbor. 

"Oh hey Nemo".

Box jellyfish. 

Mermaid's Purse (we could see the developing sharks move inside). 

Honeycomb Moray Eel stare competition. 

One mad Samurai Crab. 

Anemones. 

Celebrations and Festivities

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!! We did something really cool for Christmas this year, and had some unexpected adventures as well. Here’s what happened...

For Christmas Eve, we had a very idyllic evening in mind. Our hosts on St. Ancothesa had told us about a stone cottage up in the mountains where they sometimes went for an exciting sleepover; we had no idea how exciting they meant until late that afternoon when we followed the instructions (and map) and arrived at about 6pm. It was not a cottage. It was a ruin; no windows, no doors, floor covered in cow dung. Oops. We hadn’t packed in our 2 hiking tents, so it was either driving back, or sleeping outside (dad suggested making a broom and sweeping but was quickly overruled). The adventurous side in my parents won and we decided to sleep outside in the open.

What a place to sleep.

We had an absolutely beautiful view; the clouds were ‘flowing’ over the Outeniqua mountains like a giant tsunami; the pure size and majesty couldn’t be captured on camera (I tried). 

Clouds. 

Sunset.

Beverages.