SOUTH AFRICA - THE BRIGHT AND THE BEAUTIFUL

On my recent trip back home, I photographed everything in sight.  I wanted to capture the colors, the smells, the delicious taste of the food, the feel of the soul of Africa.  Here are a few random pics around and about Cape Town - to me, the most spectacular area in the world.

One of the many stunning bunches of flowers with local protea and vynbos

A few local kiddies sheltering from some drizzling rain, outside the Hout Bay market

Umthombo Wesizwe - a multicultural program that my niece went through - aimed at the youth of South Africa age 11-15 to "develop an identity that will enable them to evolve as responsible citizens and ethical leaders, within a multicultural society".  

Coffee bar at the Hout Bay market.  I "needed" this old red metal jug with a bunch of locally picked pincushion proteas.

A box decorated as a "building block" by one of the kids at Umthombo Wesizwe.  They symbolically added their "brick" to the wall as they received their graduation certificate.  

Food stands at the Hout Bay market - serving the most delicious meals - I wanted one of everything

In the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Strelitzia and purple Plectranthus

A small multicolor Pincushion Protea - not sure of the species but amazing how it changed color as it progressed from a bud to a full open flower.

A wall of "building block" boxes decorated by the graduation kids of Umthombo Wesizwe - describing their dreams and hope for South Africa.

A spectacular sea of Pincushion Proteas

A sheet decorated by the kids of Umthombo Wesizwe, their footprints left behind.........

A blaze of color in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town

On a steep street corner of Bo-Kaap, a suburb of Cape Town, sits Haas - the most outrageously interesting and eclectic mix of goodies to buy in this decorating/coffee shop.  How are these cushions!!!

Bo-Kaap, also known as the Malay Quarter on the slopes of Table Mountain, above the city of Cape Town.  With cobbled streets and multi-colored houses, this is a very interesting area of the city to visit.

Private open gardens in Franschhoek, outside Cape Town - this one of an artist with interesting rusty collections of pot lids, spades, barbed wire and garden tools.

A courtyard area of Haas, a coffee shop/decorating store in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town.  They have an incredible collection of chairs and couches, old furniture, including a few velvet couches out on the pavement, to lounge around on, sip coffee and indulge in one of their yummy meals.

More colors of Bo-Kaap

Roses competing for pinkness against a wall in Bo-Kaap.

A multi-colored locust munching on the Clivia seed pods in my sister's garden

Vygies, ice flowers, or also known as Mesembryanthemums - desert blooms

Champagne, rose and white wine area of the bar at The Grand Cafe and Beach Bar in Cape Town

Purple columbines

Pink Alstromeria against a backdrop of yellow Nasturtiums

I couldn't imagine painting my house this color, but in the Bo-Kaap, it works - adds to the spicy aroma of the locally cooked malay curries.

Inside the ladies loo at The Grand Cafe and Beach Bar

Glorious pelagoniums (geraniums some say)

More garden art hanging in a private garden in Cape Town - lids of tin cans and a bit of beadwork - interesting

I loved this old red General Electric fridge standing inside Twist, a lovely restaurant out in the Cape winelands, with a simple bunch of pincushions, daisies and leek flowers.

THE MOST DELICIOUS DESERT EVER - a white chocolate and lemon tart - served at the glass house conservatory at Babylonstoren in Franschhoek, Cape Town

A breathtaking view along the roadside, driving from Cape Town to Camps Bay, looking down over the four beaches of Clifton - white sands and cold aqua water.

A delectable display inside the deli of Babylonstoren in Franschhoek of pickles, preserves and cordials.

My absolute favorite flower ever - I have many, but the Protea is the national flower of my homeland, huge, exotic and complex but breathtakingly beautiful.  Taken here for sale outside a farm shop at one of the many wine farms we visited.

The exotically amazing and over decorated but divine Cape to Cairo restaurant, overlooking the little fishing harbor of Kalk Bay outside Cape Town.

An old wooden rowboat bobbing peacefully in Simonstown.

BABYLONSTOREN PART IV - The Farmshop

Welcome to the Farmshop - Winetasting, Bakery, Charcuterie & Cheese

The Farmshop

The Bakery - the marble countertop where the breads are kneaded, behind is the old oven where amazing breads are baked

Beautiful bread creations, red stripes of beet juice, different herbs, seeds and nuts abound.

Wine tasting area - I absolutely love the table - a solid piece of wood on iron legs.

Wine gift baskets woven from grape vines.

More wine tasting in the attic.

Charcuterie - home smoked meats from the farm

Ready to slice, don't you just love their signature wall tile murals?

Biltong - South African dried meat

Selection of cheeses, fresh from their farm.

Taste, buy a slice, wedge or chunk of your favorite.
Babylonstoren - the most amazing farm to visit - for a wonderful walk amongst their 8 acre veg gardens, tea in the glass house, or wine tasting.  If you are in the Cape Winelands, you have to go!  

BABYLONSTOREN PART III - "TEEKAMER IN DIE GLASKAS" (tea room in the glass house) a beautiful place to visit, walk, ooh & aah, and eat delicious treats - fresh from the farm.

NESTLED AMONGST ORCHARDS AND 8 ACRES OF VEG GARDENS, CLIMBING ROSES, VINES DRIPPING WITH PASSION FRUIT, IS A HEAVENLY OASIS.  THE TEA GARDEN AND GLASS CONSERVATORY.

As the sign says, "Teekamer in die Glaskas" - walk this way to something spectacular (I just made that up), the "Tea Room in the Glass House".

And there she stands in all her glory, the glass house.  Inside are vegetable gardens on the one end, chairs and tables for tea and the most delicious delights ever on the other.  

Outside the glass conservatory are many more casual chairs and tables scattered under huge old oak trees.

What sandwich would you like - pick your bread, freshly baked in our own bakery, add your selection of cheese and then what about some smoked trout, fresh from the farm?  Or our own smoked ham, or even smoked chicken.  

Fresh bunches of orange blossom - talk about heaven "scent".

Bunches of freshly picked herbs scent the air.

And for the arrangement, long stems of heirloom tomatoes.

I wanted to stay here forever, quite comfortable.

I can honestly say without hesitating, this is the most delicious and BEST tart I have ever had, by far.  Thin pastry crust filled with a white chocolate and lemon custard and topped with fresh Strawberries and Cape Goosberries.

The LOO!

I must say, I had a thing for these amazing "loos/toilets/bathroms", call them what you may depending on where you're from.  Surrounded by lavender fields, fresh herbs, fig trees and lemon trees, wouldn't you?

And there is still more to come.  This place is endless in "oh my, look at that, I want it........"