Hello, Cape Town!

Hello everyone!

It's been a long time since I've written... but I think sometimes it's good to take a break especially when life seems a bit more chaotic than usual.

Finally after 2.5 years and many attempted trips home, I was able to find a window of time to fly! (yes, I did just say 2.5 years because that's how long covid has stopped me from traveling back to South Africa - damn you covid!)

Week 1:

I spent most of this first week settling in and well, studying tbh. Dan (my brother) and I flew in the middle of exam period because we were able to take our exams online. (Uhhh, thanks covid? I guess..) In between exams I tried new restaurants; Deck on Beach (Moullie Point), Ariel's (Sea Point), Kleinsky's (Sea Point), Zest (Sea Point) etc. It was hard for me to suddenly come back to Cape Town after so long. I recognized everything but it felt so distant. As stunning and colorful as Cape Town is, I realized it's just not my primary home anymore.

Zest - Sea Point

Kleinsky's - Sea Point

Deck on Beach - Moullie Point

Ariel's - Sea Point

Week 2:

This week I continued to study but mainly spent time catching up with friends and family. My cousins flew down from Joburg so we were able to have a long-awaited shabbos reunion. We went on sunset walks, visited the Oranjezicht City Farm Market, drove out to two cute little cafes (Four&Twenty, and Pajamas and Jam), And went to a bar with some friends (Fable - town.) After this week I could comfortably say that Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world - the walking trails, the mountains, the ocean, it's just all so beautiful!

Oranjezicht City Farm Market

Walk to Camps Bay

Pajama's and Jam Eatery

Four&Twenty Cafe

Week 3:

Now we're approaching the end of the exam period and honestly, at this stage I'm pretty bored of the routine already - studying, that is. This week was an amazing one! I met a friend for coffee from my gap year program (a huge throwback!) I went to the beach with some friends (the sun in February in Cape Town is magnificent!) We also went on a few family lunches (to have my favorite sushi from Willoughby&co) and we took a drive out to a restaurant in Hermanus, called Moggs Country Cookhouse, to end off the week.

Dan and I spent our summer holidays in Hermanus throughout our childhood years. It's like a second home for us. A quaint town outside of CT that holds our fondest memories.

Willoughby&Co

Family trip to Hermanus

Morro Gelato - Sea Point

Beach day @ Saunder's

Week 4:

Exams finally over - FREEDOM!

I celebrated this freedom with a pamper day, hair, nails etc. you know the drill ;) I met up with more friends, ate more, had an extended-family reunion, took a drive up to Constantia Uitsig and celebrated my Dad's birthday. List of recommendations coming up!

# Oranjezicht City Farm Market on a Wednesday night! SO vibey - food, drinks and music.

# Naked Coffee - for the best breakfast and until now my favorite iced coffee in Cape Town

# Celebratory cupcakes - @pinkbutter_bakery - SO perfect and so delicious.

# Magica Roma - authentic Italian restaurant (Pinelands)

# Blockhouse Kitchen - Constantia Uistig. Here we experienced an unwanted yet funny visitor in the restaurant - a baboon! - the entire restaurant staff worked in unison to shoo away the not-so-friendly but hungry monkey.

Taco's from O.C.F.M

Naked Coffee

Magica Roma

Blockhouse Kitchen

Week 5:

Our final week in Cape Town...

This week was wind-down and goodbye week. Lot's of coffee dates to say goodbyes, last minute shopping too! I celebrated two of my friends' birthdays which felt like old times:) - it really was like some sort of a 5 year reunion! It warmed my heart seeing people that have known me since childhood. I forgot how refreshing it is to have people that know your whole family! - and just continued to cherish the last few moments with special people before flying back home. My family and I drove out to Melkbos to a restaurant called Melkbos kitchen for lunch on Wednesday. I have to say that this is the best restaurant I've been to in Cape Town so far. The quality of the food - 10, The menu - 10, The Location - 10, and of course, The company - 10!

Melkbos Kitchen

Yu - restaurant in town

Picture perfect sunset

SushiBox takeaways

Overall

This time spent in Cape Town was much needed and just wonderful. It took some time to figure out my routine here but I have to say that I mostly enjoyed the sun, the restaurants, quality time with family and friends and the beachfront (and the shopping of course!)

Cape Town is the perfect holiday destination - relatively cheap, great quality food, pleasant shopping experiences, perfect weather, a fun but early night scene (another product of covid), and plenty beaches. (I wish I could give a hotel review but luckily I still have a home in Cape Town.) Over the years I forgot how friendly people are in Cape Town - you walk into a restaurant and someone asks "How are you?"... I love the politeness!!! Something you don't really get back home, haha.

As every place has it's amazing sides, it also has it's less pleasant sides. For Cape Town it was the security level. Growing up here I was programmed to always be alert about my safety and personal belongings. It took me some time on this trip to feel relaxed to do things on my own, walk around by myself etc. Every place has it's scary sides, just be super aware when in Cape Town!

As you reach the end of this post I know you may be thinking, how can one person eat SO much sushi? Well, I can promise you this, with the quality of the sushi restaurants in Cape Town, one can eat sushi everyday and still crave it the next.

I love it here but it's clear to me that my home isn't here anymore... I will be back on another holiday soon!

Has anyone been to Cape Town? Or planning a trip soon?

xx M