Jewseums, Mexican Food and Asians!

I really need to stay on top of this blog because so much happens that one day off will force me to write a painfully long blog. So be prepared...

Yesterday we went into the city again and wanted to check out a human evolution exhibit at the Jewish Museum (a Jewseum, if you will). When we arrived we were placed into a small tour that had just began with a small Jewish woman named.... drumroll.... Sheila! She was short and had dark hair (just like my Sheila), but she was 70 years old and Jewish. The tour was awesome, Sheila was a great guide and she spoke with a unique meter (like poetry) and was an encyclopedia of information. In short, Jews arrived in Cape Town to escape the Nazi's and have done fairly well for themselves out here.

We had lunch in the garden park that is in the city and listened to the same musicians as the day before. It must be where they go to write music, as they said it, their 'laboratory.' Then we heard some clapping and singing and, seeing how it was Sunday, we assumed it was church related and went to check it out. We got close and soon we were in the middle of it. Beautiful singing, all men singing, clapping their hands like a sort of gospel chant. Then we noticed a bride and groom and realized it was a wedding, and we were standing right in the middle of it. It was really awesome. Everyone seemed really happy an they sounded great. We watched it for a bit and then left.

I called Sheila and it was great because I had not heard her voice for nearly 5 days and it was a relief to get to talk to her.

We finished the night with a 5 K walk up a beautiful beach side that reminded me of San Diego. We paid a boat load to take a taxi back because the mini taxi's become very sketchy at night. For dinner we found a little Mexican restaurant and decided to check it out. I had nachos and let me tell you, the South African's really know their Tex Mex. You wouldn't guess it, especially since our waitress didn't speak English or Spanish but rather Zulu, Zutu, and other languages.

Today we hired a tour guide to take us to Cape of Good Hope. It was by far the most 'tourist' I have felt but it was worth it. Our guide was a white man named Warren who was just a cool guy. He has lived in Cape Town for 40 years and he knew his stuff as well as just letting me and Rootbeer be ourselves.

To start, Warren suggested that we take a short boat ride to see some seals and stuff. It sounded lame but we did it because we felt like he wanted us to. First I should mention that his Mercedes van was built for 8 but we were the only ones who booked for today. So we boarded the boat thinking we might be the only ones on it. Enter Asians. About 30 of them, all women. It was like an episode of MXE. We sent out and the Asains started going crazy. Giggling, and taking photos of the silliest things. Each other, the boat, the water, it didn't matter, they were hilarious. Nathan and I watched them for the majority of the 20 minute tour and at the end I asked if I could take a picture with them. They went nuts. Immediately they all wanted individual photos with us. One on each side. Nathan and I posed for about 100 photos. I am not sure why they were so excited about us but they loved it. Everyone was gathered around for about 15 minutes. It was hilarious. Somewhere in China there will be about 100 photos of us circulating. I really wish I knew why we were such an attraction.

Finally, we saw the cape and it was beautiful. Steep cliffs, crashing waves, and clear water. But in an instant, the sunshine turned to pouring rain and we became drenched as we walked the quarter mile back to the tour van.

This tour also marked a couple of firsts for me. First monkey, a baboon, first African ungulate, a BantoBak, and also the mighty Eland, a giant antelope about the size of a moose. It has been an expensive week but we only have one day left in Cape Town. Tomorrow we will go wine tasting and check out the wine country, supposedly very green and beautiful. Thank you for the comments and to let you know, there are plenty more pictures online now. The uploading process is very slow but today has been the first major break we have had since arriving.

Love,

Adam