Western Cape: Day 1

UPDATE: this trip was the 1st weekend of June, I'm just getting around to posting it now.

Upon arriving in at the Cape Town airport we quickly made way for the coast in order to maximize what sun we were going to have for the weekend. We drive straight south for False Bay and then on to Simon's Town where we had a lovely lunch next to the South Africa naval academy and an impromptu show from a choir. You'll have to forgive my lack of insight to South African music, but the choir was very similar to that on Paul Simon's Graceland. After our meal we made our way along the coast to Boulder Park to see the penguin park. As soon as we walked into the park a penguin hopped onto the path and showed us to the beach. As we went along the boardwalk we found penguins everywhere. They were napping in little ditches along the fence, they were wagging their chins in the shade under the tree, they were having a swim in the ocean. 

After leaving our tiny tuxedoed friends we made our way to Cape Town via the coastal road. Our pictures do not do it justice. The view is absolutely breathtaking. Giant slabs of mountain shoot straight out of the roaring sea and the road is draped along the rocks like garland on a Christmas tree. It looked like something out of a movie. Here and there we were able to pull off the road and take in the view. We even saw a black flag signalling that a shark had been sighted within the last two hours. As if driving along this narrow winding road wasn't dangerous enough, now we had to watch out for MOUNTAIN SHARKS!!

We arrived safely to Cape Town and decided to take a break on the beach beneath the Lion's Head Mountain. I couldn't have imagined a more idyllic drive.

A mother and her babies

Kris on the beach in Cape Town

Here is our guide who greeted us at the gate to the park and showed us to the beach.