This past Sautrday, April 17, a group of us decided to explore the city for my roommate, Brianna's birthday. So from BI in Kalk Bay, we had to take a train into Capetown, which is about a 20 min. train ride. Buying the tickets was an experience within itself, but the train ride held even more surprises for us. :) This lovely gentleman was really excited about Americans and he kept trying to impress us with his French, and it was quite the entertainment. Soon enough, one of the train officials came around to check tickets, and little did we know that we didn't have a "first class" ticket but were sitting in a "first class" cab. So, right then, we were told to stand up and told to move to the "third class" cab all the way in the back of the train. So at the next stop, our group of nine had to run out of the cab we were in and try and make it all the wa
y to the back of the train before the doors closed. It was pretty intense, hectic, and funny, but now looking back, it is crazy to think how that system is still in place today. It sort of reminded me of the infamous Rosa Parks incident. The weird thing to me though was that not only did we not know about the different tickets we could purchase for the different classes, the train guy who we bought our tickets from did not even ask us if we wanted to buy "first class" tickets, and our group did not even think about asking if a "first class" ticket even existed. I guess I just didn't even think about how this system was still in place in 2010, after ecerything that has happened in this country. IT was probably one of the more obvious cultural differences.
From the train station, we had to take a taxi/cab to the waterfront, but the cool thing was that it was less than $1 US dollar! When we finally got to the waterfront, we had lunch at this place called Mitchell's. It was a really cool Scottish pub, and they had the Manchester United vs. Manchester City soccer game playing. So we enjoyed watching that and seeing how excited all the Man. U. fans got when Man. U. scored in the last 30 seconds of the game...in overtime! It was really fun to be around such avid fans! :)
Soon after, we found a really good deal for 40 RAND to ride on a boat called Lady J around the harbor of the waterfront. We got to see a really good view of Table Mountain and a lot of other really cool ships and cruisers. I even got to attempt to literally put my cup on Table Mountain! Check out the pic! :) We also got to walk
around 
and see a couple of street shows of people performing different stunts and dances. Probably the weirdest thing about doing things here in Capetown is just the fact that we have to get our own transportation or walk wherever we want to go for the things that are not planned for the entire group. But luckily, it is gorgoeus every where one looks here and the scenery is breathtaking! :)
On Sunday, April 18, jsut Brianna and I journeyed out to Clovelli Beach, which is right next door to BI. The walk was about 20 min. and it was right along the water, so of course....it was gorgeous. :) WE stopped at an authentic Italian restaurant for lunch and had one of the best crust pizzas I had ever tasted! :) The owner was a straight-up Italian guy, like right out of the Godfather, but he was so funny! The entire time he talked to me in Italian, and I had to speak back to him in Spanish!!
At the beach, Brianna and I laid out and soaked up the last of summer here. We got in just a couple times, but the water was so cold...but super clear. Every time that I just stop and look around me, I am in awe of how beautiful the city, mountains, water, and everything is all around me! It is so amazing.
y to the back of the train before the doors closed. It was pretty intense, hectic, and funny, but now looking back, it is crazy to think how that system is still in place today. It sort of reminded me of the infamous Rosa Parks incident. The weird thing to me though was that not only did we not know about the different tickets we could purchase for the different classes, the train guy who we bought our tickets from did not even ask us if we wanted to buy "first class" tickets, and our group did not even think about asking if a "first class" ticket even existed. I guess I just didn't even think about how this system was still in place in 2010, after ecerything that has happened in this country. IT was probably one of the more obvious cultural differences.From the train station, we had to take a taxi/cab to the waterfront, but the cool thing was that it was less than $1 US dollar! When we finally got to the waterfront, we had lunch at this place called Mitchell's. It was a really cool Scottish pub, and they had the Manchester United vs. Manchester City soccer game playing. So we enjoyed watching that and seeing how excited all the Man. U. fans got when Man. U. scored in the last 30 seconds of the game...in overtime! It was really fun to be around such avid fans! :)
Soon after, we found a really good deal for 40 RAND to ride on a boat called Lady J around the harbor of the waterfront. We got to see a really good view of Table Mountain and a lot of other really cool ships and cruisers. I even got to attempt to literally put my cup on Table Mountain! Check out the pic! :) We also got to walk
around 
and see a couple of street shows of people performing different stunts and dances. Probably the weirdest thing about doing things here in Capetown is just the fact that we have to get our own transportation or walk wherever we want to go for the things that are not planned for the entire group. But luckily, it is gorgoeus every where one looks here and the scenery is breathtaking! :)
On Sunday, April 18, jsut Brianna and I journeyed out to Clovelli Beach, which is right next door to BI. The walk was about 20 min. and it was right along the water, so of course....it was gorgeous. :) WE stopped at an authentic Italian restaurant for lunch and had one of the best crust pizzas I had ever tasted! :) The owner was a straight-up Italian guy, like right out of the Godfather, but he was so funny! The entire time he talked to me in Italian, and I had to speak back to him in Spanish!!
At the beach, Brianna and I laid out and soaked up the last of summer here. We got in just a couple times, but the water was so cold...but super clear. Every time that I just stop and look around me, I am in awe of how beautiful the city, mountains, water, and everything is all around me! It is so amazing.
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