South African Musings

South Africa is an incredible destination. It turned out differently than I anticipated. Cape Town is situated right by the ocean and is both beautiful and cosmopolitan. I discovered a Pilates studio just across the street from our apartment. The classes were excellent, and I really liked the instructor. The students were from various countries, and I particularly enjoyed chatting with the Irish ☘️ men. They return every year to escape the cold weather. Two of these men have invested in South Africa, owning a hotel and restaurant. I'm so glad I found the studio.

There's an abundance of excellent food. Groceries are affordable, and the fruit is fantastic. I've developed a fondness for blueberries and Greek yogurt. Coffee is available everywhere, but instead of drip coffee, you'll find espressos. Avocado toast is a popular item in restaurants.

News. I can access CNN International, though I can't view MSNBC or American 🇺🇸 newspapers. South Africans have a remarkable understanding of American politics. We've taken many Ubers, and the drivers are keen to talk about politics.

The majority of Uber drivers are Zimbabwean rather than South African. We encountered only one white driver from Johannesburg (Joburg) and no female drivers. Ubers are affordable, and the vehicles are in excellent condition. We even used an Uber to travel to Hermanus for a weekend.

Hermanus is a small beach sleepy beach town that felt like Maui 20 years ago. We stayed in a guest house with great breakfasts, and 5 minute walk to town. The art is amazing. I wish I could take it all home. I also discovered roasted cauliflower with a red sauce and some cheese. Amazing.

This week, we were having breakfast at a Jewish deli when we met Stephen, an American living here with his wife and son. He attended law school in the United States and has experience in military intelligence and working for Google. Currently, as I understand it, he promotes technology platforms across Africa. He paid for our breakfast, so we reciprocated the gesture.

We had dinner with Stephen and his wife, with Kevin also joining us. Cheryl, a beautiful woman who was educated in London, is currently pursuing an International MBA at a university in San Francisco. She was once a contestant for Miss Universe representing a Caribbean country (though I can't recall which one), but her most important role is being a mom to their ten-year-old. It was a very enjoyable evening.