The Journey up Table Mountain

14 July –

Goooooooood morning!

Annika and I definitely have colds so look at what we're going to try taking this morning (with a cup of hot water):

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I will say – the cinnamon oil makes it taste nice…and strips away your taste buds at the same time!  (as I'm typing this post in October I've got a nasty head cold and I think I'll crack open the bottle I brought back from SA.)

Yogurt and meds.  Breakfast of champions! And throw in a little bit of Cadbury hot chocolate and we're set.IMG_5223

 

We're on the road. Heading from Stellenbosch into Cape Town. It's a beautiful morning!
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Ah!  There it is!  Do you see Table Mountain ahead of us?IMG_5234

IMG_5237A view of Table Mountain as we're driving through Cape Town:

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 We're driving up and up and up…isn't Cape Town lovely?

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Can you see the cable car that takes tourists to the top of the mountain? 

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Do you see it now?IMG_5260

Debbie bought tickets for us for the cable car in advance.  That means we can walk past the line of people waiting to buy tickets.  It also means we have to be up the cable car before a certain time (I think we had to be up before noon???). We grabbed a cup of coffee at the food and drink kiosk.  IMG_5263

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Table Mountain- one of the wonders of the world!  
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We're up and away!  This cable car is unique – it can carry up to 60 passengers at a time (wow!) and the floor of the car rotates as it moves up the mountain so that passengers can have a changing view.  Nicely done!

Here's Ava (as we're slightly squashed into the car)…and a view of the car park down below:IMG_5270

Up and up we go…have I mentioned what a gorgeous day it is??IMG_5276

This is the end stop:IMG_5283

At the top, which is a plateau, you can walk around on the many trails.  Our kiddos sure liked posing for photos. Not.
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At least we got some smiles out of them!IMG_5295

Debbie and me…
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Annika and Ava posing next to an informational sign:IMG_5305

Another view from the top:
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The sign below was posted in the restroom:
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Want to mail a letter or postcard?  This red mail box will gladly accept your mail:IMG_5318

Do you see the building in the very top left corner of the photo below?  That's the restaurant/cafe.  Next to it (outside the frame of this photo) is the souvenir shop.  There is also a sign posted below that a free, short tour of the area will start in a few minutes.  I think we'll join it and maybe learn a little bit more about this area:IMG_5324

Bright light!IMG_5327

The sun light is so bright that apparently the girls can't even open their eyes! LOL!IMG_5329

This is our tour guide:
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He showed us a plant that is also known as the "mountain climber's friend". Actually, it's NOT soft at all- it's very prickly.  IMG_2944

Oh. My. Such a gorgeous day!IMG_5335

Chatting with our guide:IMG_5336

Annika is NOT amused by my picture-taking:IMG_5342

Hmmm….I know I learned the names of the near-by peaks but I don't remember them now.  Oops.IMG_5343

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 Looking out at Cape Town:

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Do you see Juandre and Ava?IMG_5374

 A little info about the rock:IMG_5381

At least Ava still seems amused by my picture-taking:IMG_5376

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Going across the top of the plateau.  We're heading back to the cafe to buy some lunch.IMG_5408

Well, we couldn't have timed that perfectly.  We got there just as the grill opened.  I ordered an ostrich sausage.  The girls got cheese trays.  Yummy! Naturally we got juice from SA.  Excellent choices!IMG_5411

Souvenir shopping time (the shop is in the background).  Now we have to write and mail off several post cards:IMG_5413

Debbie and Croydon:
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 It's time to head back down the mountain (although, to be honest, I could stay up here FOREVER).  

Where shall we head next???