PARIS PICNICS
It wouldn't be a proper reunion without picnics! Picnics defined our time in Paris, so I am expecting to have many here. My first full day in Jo-berg Sally, Wade and I went to Walter Sisusu Botanical gardens for a lovely first picnic. We ate way to much and enjoyed catching up. While visiting Reinett in Cape Town we traveled to Frankenbosch, a French inspired wine town, for another impressive picnic. I got to try some South African snacks at these picnics, my favorite being Beg Korn Bites which are kind of like Doritos. There is also a beef jerky kind of thing here called biltong, but it is much fresher. I tried some ostrich biltong which I'm still not sure how to feel about....
WINE
Following a Paris theme, my time spent with Reinette in the Cape Town area was full of yummy wine. On my first day we went on two wine tasting, which was a lot of fun. The second one we went to was a wine and chocolate tasting, AMAZING! Stellenbosch where Reinette lives in considered the wine country of South Africa, and is absolutely beautiful. Rolling hills full of vineyards, with white Dutch colonial houses scattered about, and a mountain range in the background. It was hard to leave such a beautiful place! MOUNTAINS
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| Cape Point |
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| Table Mountain View |
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| Pencil Skirt Trek |
To my surprise South Africa is full of mountains! While in Cape Town I was able to visit two of the more famous ones. After a lovely coastal drive and fresh fish and chips lunch on the water front, Reinette and I visited Cape Point. Technically it is the second most southern point of Africa, but it sure felt like you were on the edge of the world! On our way back down the mountain I spotted a wild ostrich, which may account for my odd feelings of eating one! The second mountain visited was Table Mountain in the heart of Cape Town. We had a great time exploring the city in the afternoon then headed to the mountain for the sunset special, half off tickets, woooo! We took the cable car up the mountain and then explored! Reinette and I weren't properly dressed, but enjoyed our fashion hike. I even climbed up an off shoot to be on the edge of the mountain, all in a pencil skirt. Very proud! The views were breath taking and so was the wind! BRIES
One thing that I quickly learned here is that South Africans looooooove to eat animals! I also quickly learned that there is no such thing as "grilling" or a "barbeque" only Bries. My first night in Stellenbosch I learned all about how to Brie. Proper wood, the right temperature, and high quality meat are the three most important parts of a Brie. I must admit, a Brie does make for a pretty darn good meal! My first Brie at Sally's I had bacon wrapped chicken, wow yum!
CONCERTS
And to round out my BIG 5, last night I went to see the Foo Fighters with Sally and some of her good friends. If you know me well, hard rock isn't reallllly my cup of tea (which I now love tea by the way), but I rocked out at this concert. It was funny to me, being the only American in the group, going to an American band, not knowing any of their music! I was amazed by all of the super serious Foo Fighters fans. I heard more than once last night that the lead singer was the God of rock and roll and other high praises. The concert was fun, but I was happy to get home, and have a cup of tea with a rusk (kind of like hard short bread that you dunk in tea).
My first 7 days here in South Africa have been more than amazing! I have made the most out of each day thus far and there are many more adventures to come! I have a few days here in Jo-berg before Sally, Wade and I head out for more mountains and the beach! 
