Republic of SOUTH AFRICA 4th Day:- Cape Town - March,25th,2019

Republic of SOUTH AFRICA     

4th Day:- Cape Town - 25.03.2019

City Tours by Walking

There was strong wind during the night. When I woke up morning I saw heavily shaking trees outside. The wind was very strong. The people said that this is something normal for Cape Town. After the breakfast in our Hotel Lady Hamilton, around 08.00 o’clock, we had been declared that the boat tour and the visit to the Robben Island had cancelled.

We made an alternative plan for today. It was around 10.00 when we left the Hotel and walked to the direction of the Company’s Garden. We walked downwards on the Plein Street and saw the Jewish Museum and SA National Art Gallery from outside. Then we entered the Company’s Garden. It is like a Botanic Park for today. There are various trees and plants. The oldest tree of this area is also to see in a protected enclosure and support. The sky is partially cloudy but the wind is still effective. There are squirrels running in the garden.

Walk in the Company's Garden.

Open market

Starting with 1650 ‘ies the Dutch-Indian Company came here and started with agricultural production. They had used to produce food (vegetable, fruit and similar stuff) for those who were sailing between India and Europe. Cape Town had been accepted as the midpoint of this spice route and the company served for food logistics to the ships.

At 11:00 o’clock we came to the meeting point with the Green Umbrella Tour group.

Green Umbrella is the name of the organization which make walking tours in the city.

We participated at the “Historical City Tour”. Our guide took us through the streets and we saw Houses of Parliament, Grand Parade Square, Town Hall, Castle of Good Hope (from far away) and Green Market Square etc.

Open markets in the Green Market

Open  market

Centre of the Cape Town es established at the Green Market Square

House of Parliament

Town Hall

Town Hall at the side of the Grande Parade Square

As we finished at the Green Market Square we went to the Tiger’s Milk Restaurant. We had finished our lunch and then we walked to the meeting point of Green Umbrella.

At 14:00 there was another Walking Tour: Apartheid Tour. Our same guide took us this time to the street Buitenkant which was formerly the border line of the city. Here from starts the District Six. In the Apartheid time the entrance to the city was restricted and this was one of the bordering lines. We walked to the Slave Lodge. Slave Lodge had been used during the slave trading time and slaves from different parts of the world had been brought to this lodge. Then we walked through the Company’s Garden to Apartheid High Court. There, we saw symbolically two benches. One for the white people the other one for Non-White people. 

Previously Slave Lodge, now Cultural History Museum

Previously Slave Lodge

As we finished the walking tour we decided to walk to Castle of Good Hope. We went there and saw inside of the castle. The castle was first built between 1652 and 1653 out of clay. Starting with 1665 the castle had been built again out of stone. After spending almost 45 minutes here we went out and started to walk to our Hotel.

Entrance to the castle of Good Hope

Swimming Pool, Inside of the Castle of Good Hope

Outer yard of the Castle

 We took a rest in the room and then we decided to go to an Italian restaurant in Waterkant.

We called an UBER taxi and this one took us to the restaurant Osteria Tarantino. They were overbooked and we couldn’t find table. The gentle guy suggested us another Italian restaurant Al Forno which is very close. Al Forno is a nice Italian restaurant and the owner is Italian. The guy (around 65) was also there sitting with his friends.

After we finished our meal we walked back to our Hotel. We always used the busy streets and spent almost 50 minutes for walking. It was good time for being at our Hotel. Next morning we had our scheduled flight early in the morning to Johannesburg.