Table Mountain and Cape Town as we came in to land.
Less than a week ago I returned from a trip to South Africa, a country that has rested quite securely in my "Top Two Countries to Visit" list for about half my life. If I had to sum up the experience in one sentence, it would be:
Cape Town was good for my soul.
It has been far too long since I have written regularly, so what better way to start doing something I love (again), than by writing about another love, travelling?
| Having wanted to visit South Africa for such a long time, upon learning that my friend Steph was going to do some volunteering at Jubilee Church down in Cape Town (learn more about all the incredible work they do in the community here), she received a promise from me that I would do everything in my power to come and visit her while she was there. There's a Swedish adage that goes: "Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow." Well an adventure with M-J is mischief multiplied, so naturally I roped some of Steph's best friends (Rach and Sarah) into coming to Cape Town as well. |  Airport goodbyes. |
 Sad plane home selfie from Rach and Sarah. ): | If we're counting my last trip home as a holiday (I suppose it is The Bahamas to be fair...), this was to be my first vacation in almost exactly two years. Even though it's now fall in the Southern hemisphere, knowing it would be warmer than England, the only thing I was looking forward to more than eating copious amounts of biltong, was ditching the anemic shade of International Beige I had been sporting, for my natural golden bronze. |
Aside from my goal of garnering a holiday glow, I came into this trip with no expectations.
I certainly did not come to South Africa with even the tiniest inkling that I might fall in love, but I did nonetheless. From the moment of my arrival in Cape Town (literally my first few steps into the Immigration Hall) I was awestruck by how much I already had a sense of being at home.
Upon hearing when I was leaving, the Immigration Officer told me that I wasn't staying in South Africa for long enough. It would quickly become clear how right she was. Though initially it felt like I could be in The Bahamas, between the deliciously warm African sun, the salty sea air tickling my nose each morning as I sat and took in our view, quick glimpses of bright purpley-magenta bougainvillea on our morning drive, some ridiculously incredible food, and the energy of every person with whom we interacted, over the coming days Cape Town came to be a heartwarmingly beautiful combination of three of places that hold a special place in my heart - Nassau (the place of my birth and "home home"), Miami (where I spent every summer for the first 20 years of my life), and Roseau (Dominica, my mum's birthplace and her "home home").
I certainly did not come to South Africa with even the tiniest inkling that I might fall in love, but I did nonetheless. From the moment of my arrival in Cape Town (literally my first few steps into the Immigration Hall) I was awestruck by how much I already had a sense of being at home.
Upon hearing when I was leaving, the Immigration Officer told me that I wasn't staying in South Africa for long enough. It would quickly become clear how right she was. Though initially it felt like I could be in The Bahamas, between the deliciously warm African sun, the salty sea air tickling my nose each morning as I sat and took in our view, quick glimpses of bright purpley-magenta bougainvillea on our morning drive, some ridiculously incredible food, and the energy of every person with whom we interacted, over the coming days Cape Town came to be a heartwarmingly beautiful combination of three of places that hold a special place in my heart - Nassau (the place of my birth and "home home"), Miami (where I spent every summer for the first 20 years of my life), and Roseau (Dominica, my mum's birthplace and her "home home").
The view from our balcony.
Early every morning before everyone else woke up I would sit outside and just bask in the moment, taking time to simply appreciate the fact that I was in South Africa, fulfilling a life-long dream. Several times a day - likely much to their annoyance - I would say to the girls incredulously "Guys, we're in South Africa," or "Guys, we're in Cape Town."
For someone who would consider being a traveller one of their intrinsic characteristics, as a rule, if given the choice between exploring somewhere new or returning to a past stamp in my passport, I will chose the former. ...but they say there's an exception to every rule, and it seems South Africa, or perhaps Cape Town specifically is mine. So soon after leaving, she is already tugging at my heart to come back.
Why?
Well, for even the short amount of time we spent in South Africa, one blog post is not nearly enough, so, trusting that your curiosity has been piqued, over the next few weeks I will publish several posts focusing on different aspects of our time in Cape Town, and welcome you to join me in reliving the adventure!
For someone who would consider being a traveller one of their intrinsic characteristics, as a rule, if given the choice between exploring somewhere new or returning to a past stamp in my passport, I will chose the former. ...but they say there's an exception to every rule, and it seems South Africa, or perhaps Cape Town specifically is mine. So soon after leaving, she is already tugging at my heart to come back.
Why?
Well, for even the short amount of time we spent in South Africa, one blog post is not nearly enough, so, trusting that your curiosity has been piqued, over the next few weeks I will publish several posts focusing on different aspects of our time in Cape Town, and welcome you to join me in reliving the adventure!
Until next time...
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