12/11/2011
Capetown, South Africa
The Western Cape is achingly beautiful, a cosmopolitan city scooped into a bowl of epic mountain over 250 million years old. These ranges are older than the Rockies, Andes, and Himalayans combined. I learned this from a marker on the top of Table Mountain. I opted for the cable car, due to sore feet which have bothered me on and off for months, while Ham quenched his desire to hike. A cold day in the Cape makes for blistering wind that feels like it could heave you over and off the lush green cliffs. There is vegetation in the Cape which can only grown here, species of flora which cannot flourish anywhere else.
Capetown holds all of these treasures most important to us when considering relocation: lush mountain views from anywhere in the city, the omnipotent Atlantic Ocean with its icy currents and cooling winds, and a context for meaningful social justice work. Within hours of walking about the city we are able to observe yet another phase in the wonder of human migration. We are surrounded by a beautiful gumbo with hints of Malaysian, Indian, African, Dutch, Boer; with somewhat confusing designations Colored, Black, Afrikaans..... Its intoxicating aroma feels ancient with equal parts pain, exploration, oppression, and reconciliation.
As I write this I am sitting on a sunny bench in the Company Garderns facing a lily pond surrounded by strolling caramel families, a labryinth of roses, and little girls feeding pigeons and squirrels right out of their little hands. Several times since our first visit to the garden Hamilton has recited some guidebook acquired knowledge, mainly that the Dutch East India Company was the first multinational corporation in the world. I reassured him that is case law that every first or second year law student is required to learn.
Capetown, South Africa
The Western Cape is achingly beautiful, a cosmopolitan city scooped into a bowl of epic mountain over 250 million years old. These ranges are older than the Rockies, Andes, and Himalayans combined. I learned this from a marker on the top of Table Mountain. I opted for the cable car, due to sore feet which have bothered me on and off for months, while Ham quenched his desire to hike. A cold day in the Cape makes for blistering wind that feels like it could heave you over and off the lush green cliffs. There is vegetation in the Cape which can only grown here, species of flora which cannot flourish anywhere else.
Capetown holds all of these treasures most important to us when considering relocation: lush mountain views from anywhere in the city, the omnipotent Atlantic Ocean with its icy currents and cooling winds, and a context for meaningful social justice work. Within hours of walking about the city we are able to observe yet another phase in the wonder of human migration. We are surrounded by a beautiful gumbo with hints of Malaysian, Indian, African, Dutch, Boer; with somewhat confusing designations Colored, Black, Afrikaans..... Its intoxicating aroma feels ancient with equal parts pain, exploration, oppression, and reconciliation.
As I write this I am sitting on a sunny bench in the Company Garderns facing a lily pond surrounded by strolling caramel families, a labryinth of roses, and little girls feeding pigeons and squirrels right out of their little hands. Several times since our first visit to the garden Hamilton has recited some guidebook acquired knowledge, mainly that the Dutch East India Company was the first multinational corporation in the world. I reassured him that is case law that every first or second year law student is required to learn.
Just over the planetarium I can see the side profile of Lion's Head, and if I had binoculars I imagine I could see my husband jubulantly scowering his way up to the peak. He finds an enormous sense of pleasure and fascination in flowers and mountain ranges. Today I'm slightly more excited by the solitude of walking through the city at my leisure, free to accept the advances of toddlers, admirers, and strangers in need of “only 10 Rand sista.”
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