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 I - heaven on earth in the Cape winelands of South Africa

Welcome to Babylonstoren.   Located in the picturesque Drakenstein Valley between Franschhoek and Paarl in the Cape Winelands of South Africa, Babylonstoren is one of the best preserved working farms (werfs) in the Cape Dutch tradition.  Dating back to the founding of the farm in 1690, great attention to detail has been applied to the preservation of buildings and traditions, with a spectacular twist on guest houses, a world class restaurant and glass conservatory teahouse.  8 acres of formal vegetable and herb gardens and fruit orchards can be walked and the smell of herbs permeates the hot summer air as you marvel the creative wonder.  
www.babylonstoren.com

Babel the restaurant - a rustic courtyard with the Babel restaurant on one side, farm store on the other, and the most exquisitely intricate knot garden of lavender and thymes on the far side.  

Baskets abundantly overflowing with lemons, freshly picked from the orchard.  Double doors lead to the store.

Babel, the restaurant

Inside the world class restaurant that is Babel

Deliciously decadent deserts on display - lemon meringue served in porcelain teacups

Reading the Babel menu, outside the double doors leading to the store

Store counter - exquisite piece of furniture - wish list!

The amazing Babel book, which I had to purchase and bring back home, with a rustic turnip garnish!

Home made preserves, jams, pickles, syrups, bottled honey harvested just down the way!

Leading from Babel, the knot garden with a selection of lavenders and thymes surrounded by low rustic walls and beyond that, fragrant orchards

Looking back to the restaurant, Babel.

With a backdrop of the Drakenstein Mountains, could there be a more exquisite beautiful place on earth?

Traditionally South African, waterblommetjies (water flowers), are harvested and used to cook up a flavorful "bredie", a type of stew.

Harvesting waterblommetjies, not just to cook into a delicious "bredie", but also for the incredible flower, fruit and veg table decorations they are so renowned for.

Lavender, the waterblommetjie ponds, orchards and the spectacular mountains beyond.  What a gorgeous place to visit.  Watch this space - LOTS more to come.