Table Mountain & Robben Island

CLICK HERE: VALENTINE'S PHOTO ALBUM
CLICK HERE: TODAY'S  PHOTO ALBUM

Up and out of the house by 7 am.  Got to Table Mountain around 8.  We were able to drive up pretty close to the cable station.  Buying  the ticket in advance really helped with the queuing.  Made it to the top and the views were spectacular.  We were very fortunate that the winds behaved.  It was sunny and warm.  Hiked one of the trails, had a coffee, and headed back down.  Ready to do battle with the traffic going into town, we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to catch our ferry out to Robben Island.

That being said, it was a piece of cake.  Parked the car, walked around the waterfront, stopped for a bite and off we went to the clock tower to meet the ferry.  There is a small museum on our way to the boat.  The ride itself lasts for approx 1/2 hour.  When you disembark, you are greeted with a tour bus to take you for a 45 min. tour of the island.  After which, a former prisoner will give you a tour of the maximum prison.  Our ex-prisoner was Kgotso Dede Ntsoelengoe.  He was a prisoner for 7 years, starting in 1984.  Finally released early from his 25 yr sentence in April of 1991 thanks to Mandela. His story of capture and torture was riveting.  As was the island tour.  To learn the history of the Lime Quarry was most fascinating.  Mandela used his time in the quarry to educate himself along with others.

Robben Island had a long reputation even before Mandela.  It was a great leper colony at one point.  In 1961 it was turned into a prison.  Many criminals along with political dissidents were sent there. Of course the dissidents brought the criminals over to their side, which strengthened their cause. Mandela was held in B-Section, Cell 4 for 18 years.  This was the third prison out of five that he was held captive -- this being the longest.  Looking into this cell, with it's blanket on the floor, a tin cup and a bucket, it is hard not to have chills running through you.

Kgotso told us on the day they were released, they asked to be sent up to Table Mountain.  For it was looking at Table Mountain every day that gave them the spirit and inspiration to go on.  Their wish was granted.  Their  second wish was for some KFC!!

Leaving Kgotso, we walked back to the ferry by passing the gift shop.  Seemed a bit too unreal.  Got back to the dock.  Walked through the throngs of tourists to the garage to collect our car.  Not looking forward to the dreaded rush hour traffic.  However, we quite pleasantly surprised to learn that Friday afternoons are pretty mild.  We encountered just a bit of traffic around the airport but the rest was clear sailing.  It was getting late, and going back to the house before dinner seemed unreasonable.  I picked a spot not too far from home.  The Open Door restaurant on the grounds of a winery.  Just lovely.  Everything from the scenery to the food to the service.  A perfect ending for a most wonderful day.

NOTE:  I am doing a work-around with Google photos for the albums.  Not happy but it will have to do. Also, in your desktop monitor, there is now a Photo Album column.  Please enjoy!

CLICK HERE: VALENTINE'S PHOTO ALBUM
CLICK HERE: TODAY'S  PHOTO ALBUM

Next time..... The Cape of Good Hope