Hello dear followers. I am here to post a special message just for you. I have run off with a member of the Xhosa tribe who is hung like a penguin. After a dinner of goat's head and tomatoes with beans, I could not resist his charm and wanton ways. Please forgive me for eschewing all sense and sensibility for life in a hut. The LA lifestyle just can't measure up!
Ok just jokes of course. I'm having a blast, albeit freezing my ass off, in Cape Town but am just happy to be here. For those of you who don't know, my car was broken into in a parking garage in Bev Hills Wed night. My purse was stolen, including my passport. After crying like a baby for an hour while waiting for the BH police to arrive, I was convinced I would not be making the trip afterall. But by the grace of god, my roommate Lisa kept calling my cellphone and a kind soul who found my purse in a BH park answered. He found my purse with EVERYTHING in it, and offered to drop it off on his way to work Thurs AM. So, I made my flight and here I am.
Went to Toronto where I was happy to see many French-Canadian sluts and guys who are a cross between extreme pot smokers and lumberjacks. Now I understand why everyone there drinks so much beer. Next it was on to London and an 11 hour layover. I took the tube into the city and saw Buckingham Palace, Trifalger Square, Soho, Drury Lane!!!!, and Covent Garden. It was a blistering day and I was not prepared. After a beer and onion rings at noon, I found myself fighting to stay awake and stay cool. Not even the mounds of hot British boys in button-down shirts and ties drinking beer at lunchtime could persuade me to stick it out. So I headed back to the airport a bit early, caught a spit bath, and took a nap. After boarding the last leg of my trip and devouring some scrumptious British Airways food, I was out like a light. And when I awoke, I was in Cape Town!
I arrived at Alla's hotel expecting her to be rushing out for work only to learn that it was in fact Saturday, not Friday as I had thought. I'll admit I had spent a good hour on the plane trying to figure out how I had traveled 36 hours but only been gone 24 hours. Call me blonde. We caught up on the gossip and excitement of the trip, took a short nap and readied ourselves for Sat night's group trip to the townships. The townships are the ghettos that the Black communities live in after moving to the city for work. We stayed in a Bed and Breakfast called the Kopanong, which means "meeting place." Three men from the neighborhood took us on a tour of the place. It was shocking to see the conditions many of them live in, but also amazing that they are soooo friendly to visitors. Many of the children who are dressed like Baby Gap ads play in the streets. They beg to have their picture taken and cling to your legs and hug you madly when they see their faces on a digital camera. Seriously, these people are some of the friendliest I've ever met in my life and the children are adorable. This is not my ovaries talking. They are so happy to meet people from foreign countries they can never even dream of visiting.
Anyway, enough of that soapbox. We went to a local pub that was closed down almost immediately after we arrived because the police were looking for a murder suspect. It was a bit daunting having very drunk friendly people everywhere, but I never felt in danger. Just welcomed. The brothers do like the blondes though... even in Africa.
Yesterday Alla and I went for a run along the beach and then headed to a local flea market. Super great cheap goods were abound! Then we grabbed a movie to get out of the cold and rain. This morning I visited Robben Island which housed Nelson Mandela for years. Actual former prisoners serve as tour guides. The island is its own little city and it was amazing to see how they lived. Reminded me of the concentration camp I visited in Germany. It's also home to penguins of all things. We watched them waddle around and jump into the freezing water. So cute. Now I'm in the local shopping mall internet cafe. I think it's quite dangerous they have many of the same shops we can find in our own malls here... and the prices are much cheaper. My wallet will never forgive me.
Since Alla is serving as an Arts & Entertainment reporter, we are going to a couple of shows and events this week. I'm also hoping to book a one-day safari trip since I won't be able to go on a real one! This weekend we'll visit some of the wineries and get silly drunk! Woo-hoo! You can get a good bottle of wine in a restaurant for about $5. Let's just say we're in trouble!
I'm hoping to post new updates every day now that I've found this cafe. Once I figure out how to download the pics from my new camera (props to Jeff) I'll post some of those too. Sorry Matt, no bikini shots. It's 50 degrees and raining. But you should be consoled that my headlights are on most of the time. ;-)
Cheers!
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