April 16 - ???, 2010:
As most of you know, we are currently stuck in Cape Town. Our flight leaving Cape Town to Europe was cancelled on Thursday night due to the volcanic ash cloud. We now have confirmed flights to return home on April 26th but are hoping that something may open up before that...keep you fingers crossed! So far we have been delayed 6 nights!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
South Africa - Day 23 - 25
April 13 -15, 2010:
A little more wine country; a few more jogs; some more babysitting; saying goodbye to South Africa. Here are some pictures that capture our last few days...or so we thought!
Wine estate in Stellenbosch...we got to meet the farm owner! 
Brad enjoying a cappuccino right outside out apartment.
Judy...Anderson's babysitter!
Bodega...one of our luch spots in the winelands.Thursday, April 15, 2010
South Africa - Day 22
April 12, 2010:
On Monday, we traveled to another area of the wine country...Franschhoek is tucked between mountain ranges. We took a spectacular drive to get to there over 4 different passes. We stopped at a couple of wine estates for some tasting and picked up a couple more bottles of wine. Anderson also got to play on a couple of playground and frolick in the green grass. He is getting more independent at the playgrounds. For lunch we stopped at a cafe that had some swings, a slide and a sand box...he sat and played while Brad and I enjoyed a drink. Here are a couple of pictures from the drive and our various stops.
Driving into Franschhoek
View from the top of one of the mountain passes.
Anderson is crazy about his wine!!
Anderson climing up the ladder to the slide.
Mom and Anderson at Dieu Donne Wine Estate
On Monday, we traveled to another area of the wine country...Franschhoek is tucked between mountain ranges. We took a spectacular drive to get to there over 4 different passes. We stopped at a couple of wine estates for some tasting and picked up a couple more bottles of wine. Anderson also got to play on a couple of playground and frolick in the green grass. He is getting more independent at the playgrounds. For lunch we stopped at a cafe that had some swings, a slide and a sand box...he sat and played while Brad and I enjoyed a drink. Here are a couple of pictures from the drive and our various stops.
Driving into Franschhoek View from the top of one of the mountain passes.
Anderson is crazy about his wine!!
Anderson climing up the ladder to the slide.
Mom and Anderson at Dieu Donne Wine EstateMonday, April 12, 2010
South Africa - Day 21
April 11, 2010:
Brad and I got a babysitter again and headed out to do some hiking in the Table Mountain National Park. We were very ambitious and thought we could bag two of the well known hikes just outside of Cape Town in one day. However, about 2 1/2 hours into the first hike we decided that wasn't going to happen. We hiked up to the top of Table Mountain. It was very pretty and great to have some time together while surrounded by nature. The route was pretty crazy too. Lots of rock scrambling and some free climbing with permenant protection in the rock that made the climbing more like going up a ladder than climbing.
On top of Table Mountain
Yep...we headed right up these boulders.
On the way up...
On top of Table Mountain
View of Cape Town
Indian Ocean (left) and Atlantic Ocean (right)South Africa - Day 20
April 10, 2010:
Big surprise...we headed out for some more wine tours and tastings. There's just so many!! We've really been enjoying the sun, relaxation, picnic lunches, and wine! It's been a long time since we've been able to spend this much time together and it's wonderful. We stopped at about 4 different wineries before eating a late picnic lunch on one of the winery lawns.
Mom and Anderson enjoying lunch at Spier Wine Estate
Dad and Anderson at Le Bonheur Wine Estate
Mom and Anderson at Morgenhof Wine Estate.
Dad and Anderson enjoying some wine with chocolate pairings...yum!!
Zevenwacht Wine Estate
Big surprise...we headed out for some more wine tours and tastings. There's just so many!! We've really been enjoying the sun, relaxation, picnic lunches, and wine! It's been a long time since we've been able to spend this much time together and it's wonderful. We stopped at about 4 different wineries before eating a late picnic lunch on one of the winery lawns.
Mom and Anderson enjoying lunch at Spier Wine Estate
Dad and Anderson at Le Bonheur Wine Estate
Mom and Anderson at Morgenhof Wine Estate.
Dad and Anderson enjoying some wine with chocolate pairings...yum!!
Zevenwacht Wine EstateSouth Africa - Day 19
April 9, 2010:
It was the first day of rain and cloudy skies. We had planned to head to a restraurant called The Barnyard with our friend, Lisa. It's too bad that it was raining because this place was awesome. There were chickens roaming around and all sorts of other animals in other various locations on the farm. The eggs were definitely fresh!! After breakfast, we headed to some more wineries in an area that is very close to the city, called Constantia. We tasted some great wine at Groot Constantia and Klien Constantia Wine Estates.
We forgot the camera, so no photos...sorry.
It was the first day of rain and cloudy skies. We had planned to head to a restraurant called The Barnyard with our friend, Lisa. It's too bad that it was raining because this place was awesome. There were chickens roaming around and all sorts of other animals in other various locations on the farm. The eggs were definitely fresh!! After breakfast, we headed to some more wineries in an area that is very close to the city, called Constantia. We tasted some great wine at Groot Constantia and Klien Constantia Wine Estates.
We forgot the camera, so no photos...sorry.
South Africa - Day 17 - 18
April 7-8, 2010:
Here are some pictures from GF Jooste Hospital here Brad has been working. The hospital is located just outside of Cape Town - City Bowl, in one of the townships. Most of the population from Cape Town lives in the townships. They are small communities where most of the houses are made from sheet metal and tarps, etc and most just got electricity in the 1990's. The unemployment rate is around 30%. During the day, its quite safe...however, at night, it can be very dangerous. It's quite a drastic difference from the fancy houses and restraurants in the city.
GJ Jooste Hospital
Mom and Anderson at Camps Bay
Here are some pictures from GF Jooste Hospital here Brad has been working. The hospital is located just outside of Cape Town - City Bowl, in one of the townships. Most of the population from Cape Town lives in the townships. They are small communities where most of the houses are made from sheet metal and tarps, etc and most just got electricity in the 1990's. The unemployment rate is around 30%. During the day, its quite safe...however, at night, it can be very dangerous. It's quite a drastic difference from the fancy houses and restraurants in the city.
Townships of South Africa
Brad's lunch spot
GJ Jooste HospitalThe weather has been amazing! In the 70's and 80's so we've been hitting the beach to run or lounge while the sun sets. Anderson loves the water even though it is freezing cold. He would giggle and laugh when the waves rolled in. I could barely stand it and it was only coming up to my ankles...I can't imagine how cold it was for him. I love this picture below because of our footprints that trail behind us.
Mom and Anderson at Camps BayThursday, April 8, 2010
South Africa - Day 16
April 6, 2010:
Brad went back to work after the long holiday weekend. So Anderson and I headed out on a long walk to Deer Park Cafe...a very kid-friendly cafe. It opens up to a park with great outdoor seating. The park is fenced in and a mom's dream!! It is actually a city park and the cafe is lucky enough to be right next to it...so families can come and bring a picinic or order something from the cafe. I was able to get a couple of really cute pictures of Anderson playing!
Brad went back to work after the long holiday weekend. So Anderson and I headed out on a long walk to Deer Park Cafe...a very kid-friendly cafe. It opens up to a park with great outdoor seating. The park is fenced in and a mom's dream!! It is actually a city park and the cafe is lucky enough to be right next to it...so families can come and bring a picinic or order something from the cafe. I was able to get a couple of really cute pictures of Anderson playing!
On the way home from the park we got 2 flat tires on the BOB!!! Those flat tire are the only drawback of the BOB! We took it into a bike shop to get them fixed at they don't have any tire tube that size in South Africa. Anderson and I have been cooped up ever since while Brad is at work...
South Africa - Day 15
April 5, 2010:
Monday was a continuation of a huge holiday weekend in South Africa. Many businesses were closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for Easter. So it made for a pretty quiet and slow day. The weather was warm but very windy. We headed to The Castle of Good Hope. The oldest building in Cape Town. Cape Town, by the way, is the oldest city in South Africa and is referred to as "The Mother City". Anyway, below are some pictures from the castle.
The Parliment Building in Cape Town
The Castle of Good Hope
Monday was a continuation of a huge holiday weekend in South Africa. Many businesses were closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for Easter. So it made for a pretty quiet and slow day. The weather was warm but very windy. We headed to The Castle of Good Hope. The oldest building in Cape Town. Cape Town, by the way, is the oldest city in South Africa and is referred to as "The Mother City". Anyway, below are some pictures from the castle.
The Parliment Building in Cape Town
The Castle of Good HopeSouth Africa - Day 14
April 4, 2010:
Happy Easter!! We made a big breakfast together and then lounged around (trying to get better still from the stomach bug) most of the day on Sunday. However, in the evening we headed out to the Kirstenbosch Gardens (we went there last week) for the last of their outdoor summer concerts. It was amazing! We bought the tickets ahead of time for 45R which translates to about $6.50 per ticket (Anderson was free). The venue was so cool. It reminded me of a smaller version of the gorge in Washington...with seating on a large hillside. The mountains and fresh air as the back drop! We saw 3 different artists perform...Gang of Instrumentals, Tidal Waves, and Tumi Molekane. Very fun and funky music. Gates for the concert opened at 3:30 and the concert was from 5:30-6:45. Not long but it was perfect for Anderson who would not have lasted through a 2-3 hour concert. We brought a picinic dinner and we all ate and danced to the music.
South Africa - Day 13 conintued
April 3, 2010:
The wine country is very kid-friendly! There are a ton of attractions for kids...Butterfly World and The Giraffe House are just a couple of examples. The first stop we made when we got into Stellenbosch was at the tourism office...they gave us a WONDERFUL map of all of the kid-friendly restraurants, wineries, and other attractions. It was great!
Here are some pictures from The Giraffe House. They had a bunch of different kinds of birds, zebras, a giraffe ("Gerri"), and a bunch of other animals. It wasn't that the animals were so exotic but we were able to get really close to the animals because the "cages" weren't really cages but more chicken wire wrapped around a couple of sticks! Anderson got a little tired of walking around so Brad carried him on his shoulders. He kept resting his head on Brad's...so sweet!
This pelican regurgitated a fish as we watched...yuck!!
Anderson enjoying the ride.
Note...the "cage".Wednesday, April 7, 2010
South Africa - Day 13
April 3, 2010:
On Saturday we headed to the wine country of South Africa...to the town of Stellenbosch. The wine country is only about 30-75 minutes away from Cape Town and there are over 100 different wineries! We only got to 4...Beyerskloof, Muratie, Belheim (our yummy lunch location) and Spier wineries.
Talley Family at Muratie
The wine country of Stellenbosch
Wine country roads...lots of flowers in bloom!
Mom and Anderson by some grapes.
Anderson trying to steal an old bike...he doesn't even know how to ride one yet!
On Saturday we headed to the wine country of South Africa...to the town of Stellenbosch. The wine country is only about 30-75 minutes away from Cape Town and there are over 100 different wineries! We only got to 4...Beyerskloof, Muratie, Belheim (our yummy lunch location) and Spier wineries.
Talley Family at Muratie
The wine country of Stellenbosch
Wine country roads...lots of flowers in bloom!
Mom and Anderson by some grapes.
Anderson trying to steal an old bike...he doesn't even know how to ride one yet!South Africa - Day 12
April 2, 2010:
Despite being a little under the weather (must have picked something up or eaten something bad on Thursday), Brad and I went out to eat at a REALLY fancy restraurant called The Roundhouse. It was amazing!!! We've definitely never had a meal and service like that before. It was one of those times when I wish I was good at photography and had a better camera because the food looked so perfect! There were 4 courses with wine pairings for each course. The best part was dessert...espressso suffle and cardamom ice cream!!
We got a babysitter for Anderson...he was sound asleep when we got home!
Despite being a little under the weather (must have picked something up or eaten something bad on Thursday), Brad and I went out to eat at a REALLY fancy restraurant called The Roundhouse. It was amazing!!! We've definitely never had a meal and service like that before. It was one of those times when I wish I was good at photography and had a better camera because the food looked so perfect! There were 4 courses with wine pairings for each course. The best part was dessert...espressso suffle and cardamom ice cream!!
We got a babysitter for Anderson...he was sound asleep when we got home!
South Africa - Day 11
April 1, 2010:
Last Thursday we went to the Two Oceans Aquarium on the waterfront. It's one of the "kid-friendly" activities listed in our travel books. I thought Anderson would get a kick out of all the fish...however, he was much more interested in the other kids! He would watch what they did and then try to copy them. Its so fun to watch him learn. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures...I don't think we'll go back. It was pretty expensive and cool enough to see one time.
"Mom, did you see that?!?"
Big, ugly fish...
Last Thursday we went to the Two Oceans Aquarium on the waterfront. It's one of the "kid-friendly" activities listed in our travel books. I thought Anderson would get a kick out of all the fish...however, he was much more interested in the other kids! He would watch what they did and then try to copy them. Its so fun to watch him learn. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures...I don't think we'll go back. It was pretty expensive and cool enough to see one time.
Anderson at Two Oceans Aquarium
"Mom, did you see that?!?"
Big, ugly fish...Thursday, April 1, 2010
South Africa - Days 10
March 31:
Anderson and I had lunch in the Company Gardens yesterday. There are tons of birds and squirrels that bugged us throughout our lunch. Its funny to see people following those stupid squirrels around with video cameras...I hate those things...they are like rats with a fluffy tail! Yuck! Anyway...after we finished lunch, I decided to give the birds our left over crackers...adding to the dependancy on human food, I know. Anderson loved it and kept saying "bird". Warning...this video is a little boring but I thought it was still cute!
Anderson and I had lunch in the Company Gardens yesterday. There are tons of birds and squirrels that bugged us throughout our lunch. Its funny to see people following those stupid squirrels around with video cameras...I hate those things...they are like rats with a fluffy tail! Yuck! Anyway...after we finished lunch, I decided to give the birds our left over crackers...adding to the dependancy on human food, I know. Anderson loved it and kept saying "bird". Warning...this video is a little boring but I thought it was still cute!
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