Cape Town 2:17 pm - We made it to Cape Town with no glitches from South African Airways! Although there was a moment in Zanzibar, after we paid the $8 US security fee, the $25 US "departure tax" and were subjected to a very half assed "luggage search" when Grant looked at the staff and said "what could I possibly take from this god forsaken country?!?!?". Electricity availability being a little "sketchy" at best, there was none at the airport so the security scanner didn't work...neither did the fans, or the lights...gotta love the third world! Luckily, I don't imagine that terrorism is a big threat flying out of a beach town like Zanzibar.
We managed to get on standby for an earlier flight to Cape Town (with an upgrade to Business Class!!) from Jo'burg - all on South African Airways. One redemption for SAA on the trip so far. So we got in around 9 pm last night. The city is fantastic - kind of like a British version of San Francisco. It strikes me as a fabulous city to live in!! Tons to do - lots of wine and a million amazing restaurants!! (Don't worry Mom, I'm still coming home!). It is currently pouring rain (although I'm sure that doesn't elicit any sympathy back home) so we ducked into an internet cafe quickly in the hopes that the rain would soon pass. Due to the weather, we haven't actually "seen" Table Mountain yet but hope to get there sometime in the next few days. Tomorrow looks like a wine day through Stellenboesch (yes, Jenkins - I remember about shipping wine!!) and our plans eventually include heading out to Robben Island for some Nelson Mandela history.
Although our time in Tanzania was amazing and very eye opening, WOW! Was it ever great to get back to paved roads, big cities, coffee shops and yes, even McDonalds. Grant insisted that our first meal in Cape Town came from those "Golden Arches"!! Even I find it tough to pair a wine with that - even if McDonald's did sell it!!
See you all soon!!!!
k&g
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Travel blog for Kim & Grant's Second African Adventure -Dakar, Timbuktu, Accra, Libya - November/December 2007 Email us at macafrica@gmail.com
5 comments:
Ah yes, security. Your story of the scanners not working there remind me of the "metal detector" in Benghazi. I think it was more like a counter since it beeped at everybody walking through!
Sunshine and 30 degrees here this weeekend. BEAT THAT!
-Wrigs
At least Grant didn't get the rubber glove treatment...
I knew you wouldn't forget me Dickie!
Nothing going on at Pure today? Is Jamie away fishing??
Jenkins, since you have nothing to do...figure how much the excise duty is on excess bottles of wine which we bring back from South Africa that the wineries will pack for the plane ride home...and as your neighbour, I am sure you'll see the benefits of this little project!
Nothing to do? Come on. MFFL Draft Day is quickly approaching.
Here's what I got so far...looking at $0.5122 a litre...but that might be for registered importers. Wouldn't you know it, our government, just a little confusing. I've got a phone number to call and figure it out.
Rates of Excise Duty on Wine (Excise Act, 2001)
44. In the case of wine that contains not more than 1.2% of
absolute ethyl alcohol by volume: $0.0205 per litre.
45. In the case of wine that contains more than 1.2% of
absolute ethyl alcohol by volume but not more than 7% of
absolute ethyl alcohol by volume: $0.2459 per litre.
46. In the case of wine that contains more than 7% of
absolute ethyl alcohol by volume: $0.5122 per litre.
I just ate McDonalds and let me tell ya, if they were liscenced in Canada I would totally hammed right now! I can't believe you guys are home in a few short days - we (the MacEachern clan) have really missed you!
I have to stop writing, I wanted to write something witty and charming but apparently I am neither of those things (at the moment anyways!!)
See ya soon.
N-bomb-diggity
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