Kirstenbosch Gardens, V & A Waterfront, Camps Bay

Our last full day in Cape Town...hard to believe we have to leave this incredible place. As excited as we are to head to Knysna, we have fallen in love with Cape Town, and wish we had more time to spend here. Yesterday, Nat turned to me and said, "I found a new place I'd like to die," and in case you don't yet know the story, the last time he said that, we up and moved to Charleston. Don't think we'll be making the move to Cape Town, but that's the effect this very special place has had on us. If it's not already, South Africa in general, and particularly Cape Town, should be at the top of everyone's bucket list!
Anyway, we elected to spend our last day checking out Green Market Square and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Green Market Square is a local craft and curio market which sells all sorts of African handiwork. While it is fun to browse the various products they are selling, it is the experience itself that is most memorable. Every vendor can give you the best price, and for you sister, you will get a special price today because you are my sister. The bargaining that takes place is a part of the game, however, since they play the game every day, they are definitely more in control of the process. The spirit is lively, the banter is fun and you will inevitably leave with an assortment of African curios and crafts to take home.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is an internationally renowned botanical garden that was established in 1913 to conserve and promote the indigenous flora of southern Africa. It is situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, and offers beautiful displays of African plants, including many rare and endangered species, all set against the incredible backdrop of Table Mountain. I've included some photos from our afternoon at the gardens. This, however, is merely a sampling-it was hard to choose a representative selection from the close to 200 photos I took. If you do ever get to Cape Town, the botanical gardens are a must-see!
After a final stroll around the V & A Waterfront, we headed to Camp's Bay, a bustling beach community just outside of the city, for dinner and a sunset. The food was excellent and the sunset was spectacular, but the best part of the evening was the people watching. From our outdoor table just off the sidewalk that parallels the beach, we were treated to African street musicians and peddlers, as well as a vast array of international visitors-all ages and types-who had descended on this funky, upscale beach community on this hot summer day.
And now it's time to pack up and head to Knysna, a town in the Garden Route area of the Eastern Cape. Sorry to leave Cape Town, but anticipating many more exciting adventures! Stay tuned!