Easter Weekend in Cape Town

Easter comes to Cape Town in the fall each year, not the spring.  We celebrate in many, many ways.

Starting with Good Friday and the International Fun Run, the 5k run around the Cape Town waterfront for all international participants and their families. Niles’ first “race” and good fun for all of us to run together.

Daddy ran ahead of Niles and Mommie and did well! Niles says, “I’m never doing this again!”

The family that runs together, always has fun together?

Easter Saturday – the Two Oceans Marathon

35,000 people gather for the Two Oceans marathon. 16,000 or so of us are doing the half, starting at 6:00 am. Chuck escorts Susie to the starting line

Two and a half hours later (plus a little) she crosses the finish line.

 

Sunday Morning Easter Egg Hunt and Fun

The Easter bunny comes to South Africa, too.

Somethings never change in the search for chocolate eggs, regardless of continent!

Sometimes when looking for chocolate eggs, you find a little something else nearby.

 

Easter breakfast at Cassis

 

 

Lamb chops on the braii for easter dinner with friend, Michael.

The old people take the kids to a Goldfish concert at the Grand Beach Cafe on the waterfront.

Easter Monday at the Science museum in Observatory

Is this Easter Monday lunch?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December Vacation from Niles View

An even better description of our December vacation – no need for me to write any more!

 

Niles Video: Grandparents’ Xmas Present:

The Cradle of Humankind

We wake up early Saturday morning and drive out of the suburbs north to the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.  This ends of up being one of Niles’ ‘top ten’ of our December trip because, he says, “I like fossils.” Maropeng, the site which focuses on the development of humankind over the past million years, shows how humans originated and evolved from this area of South Africa. The end of the exhibition touches on new human history in South Africa, encouraging the ‘similarities’ of it’s citizens, not the differences that so long separated them. Nearby, in the Sterkfontein Caves, “scientists have discovered many hominid fossils including Mrs. Ples (whom we later learn from our guide is actually Mr. Ples, but it’s too late to change that!) the skeleton of a precursor to humans which is 3 million years old.  The caves are a cool escape from the heat overhead and mix archaeology, geology and Indiana Jones.

Invitation outside the Maropeng Center

Entering the uniquely constructed site. Note who is taller and continues to be!

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Irene is our tour guide for the caves.

Caveman!

Peking Duck for dinner outside in a mall that night at a place called Koi. Fabulous! Niles pointed and said, “Let’s eat there!” Good choice. J’burg is famous for great food, and we found it.

 

The Apartheid Museum

We visited the Apartheid Museum which chronicles the legal separation of people by race, telling the stories of injustice and persecution by the government.

Among many blacks, coloureds and whites who fought apartheid, Mandela is the most revered for his tremendous integrity and leadership.

This interesting installation combines mirrors with life size photos of people who experienced apartheid. It is ‘interactive’ as we found out.

At the museum cafe, The Truth, we notice the mural: Steve Biko, Desmond Tutu, Obama and Mandela. Sadly, we had to ask who the women were. One is Miriam Makeba, a famous singer, and the other we still don’t know – as neither did the waiter or the cook.

www.apartheidmuseum.org

Trip to J’burg

The day after school let out December 6th, we were on our way to Johannesburg.  Arriving just before noon, we quickly got lost in our rental car along the drive from the airport to the B&B.  After a bit of recovery, close examination of maps and a taxi ride that afternoon, we spent the next 3 days in the big Jozi, visiting the Apartheid Museum, the Cradle of Humankind, and Soweto – where we were able to spend one night in the township.  J’burg is a big city – and we enjoyed the things we saw, but it was ‘hectic’ as they say here in South Africa, and driving out of town Monday morning was refreshing as we headed east towards the mountain region with trout fishing and Kruger National Park.

View of Johannesburg from the freeway; we never actually went into the heart of the city.

First Day of 8th Grade in South Africa!

5 weeks of summer and all grown up. Oh, but the fun we had in those 5 weeks!

Last Day of 7th Grade

Today was the last day of 7th grade.  All the students of St. George’s met at St. George’s Cathedral in the middle of the City Centre, dressed in formal uniforms.  They piled in for an hour plus Anglican service including hymns, readings, a homily and communion – even though a good number of the kids are Muslim!  Afterwards, they lined up again to receive their marks and Niles’ new friend, Jae from South Korea, generously handed out Korean chocolates. A quick photo of Nick, Niles and Michael and then we were home for haircuts (aren’t you glad, Grammie? Aren’t you disappointed, Grandpa?), sax, tennis, a run and a dip in the pool before dinner and computer time.  Now that school’s over, we head out on vacation for new adventures.

The priest did a very nice job of talking to the kids about doing your best while finding out what you enjoy most

St. George’s Cathedral in the middle of town sits next to Parliament and the lush public gardens, set up centuries ago by the Dutch East India Company

 

A perfect day under the mountains for a walk through the gardens before the service

Advent Begins!

Every Advent is accompanied by the Advent Calendar sent from Cork Oak – even to Cape Town – with a chocolate for each day.  Though there is Christmas music playing in all the stores, it’s hard to believe it is Christmas in 78 degree weather.  The other day we spent the morning at the Victoria and Alfred (British influence) Waterfront – a tourist area on the docks with extensive malls and entertainment.  Even there, the Christmas tree felt out of place.  But stopping for lunch we enjoyed some Cape Flat jazz while sipping cappuccinos.  If this is Christmas in Cape Town, we’ll take it!

Thursday Teachers

Ron teaches Sax

Thursday is lesson day.  After a quick snack at home, we drive to Herschel’s Girls School in Newlands where Niles meets Ron in a small music practice room.  For 45 minutes they play duets and pieces ranging from two part inventions to jazz to pop and we listen from the car as we read our books.  Then it is home in time to change and walk over to the tennis courts where Niles meets Fred for an hour of tennis.  Thursdays are great days.  Thursday’s teachers are great, too.

Fred!

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Dinner with New Friends

Company! Niles’ friend, Michael’s, Mom and little sister

The new after dinner games