Capetown

Hi from Capetown! I am writing from an internet cafe that doubles as a barbershop. Only in Africa...

I arrived here three days ago and have been having a blast. The morning before I caught the bus to Capetown, I went on a kloofing expedition - also known as canyoning - which basically involves hiking and swimming through a river canyon/ravine. It was beautiful but I was freezing cold, and couldn't help thinking that I am temporarily maxed out on outdoor adventure excursions and ready for some big city action.

Getting to Capetown after having spent a month in tribal village huts and tiny beach towns was definitely a shock to the system. I haven't been in a big city since my plane arrived in Johannesburg, and suffice to say, I didn't exactly venture out to see what it was all about. Luckily it didn't take long for me to tap into my city girl roots, and in no time I was doing some considerable damage at the local shops and bars.

It is great to see my brother again. University of Capetown is absolutely stunning - Ivy-flanked stone buildings set to the beautiful backdrop of Table Mountain. I enjoyed seeing David's new South African haunts, his house, and meeting his friends. Over the next couple of days we are taking a tour of the nearby winelands, visiting the city's best beaches, and venturing out to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years.

I just booked the next big chapter of my "Africa quest" - a 3-week overland camping tour through Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia, embarking from Capetown on Sunday the 27th and ending in Victoria Falls on May 16th. I met a girl from San Francisco at one of my hostels on the Garden Route, and she happens to be going on my same trip, so I am excited to have a friend in the group.

I still have more than a week in Capetown though, and I plan on making the most of it!

More soon...