September 22, 2014

September 22, 2014

Cape Town, Rovos Rail headed North: South Africa

Couple of side notes: 

• we loved the smoothies at our Victoria & Albert Hotel 
• We have played hours of cards on our trip and while we are waiting for meals we often pick up a game, last night I taught Sam Cribbage- Julie we now have one more person to play with us ;)
• We purchased a beautiful painting of Gannets - a bird we saw at the World of Birds our first day in South Africa. We loved the painting painted by a Cape Town artist and decided it would always remind us of our day of laughing and excitement when we witnessed this amazing sanctuary for the first time
• The most local art form we seemed to find everywhere around Cape Town was beaded artwork. When we were driving through Simons Town after leaving Boulder’s Beach and the penguins I spotted out of the corner of my eye some cool beaded animal heads. We had our guide circle around and we got out. We had seem every kind of beaded art from large than life sized Manela’s to huge elephants to tiny springbok keychains, but we hadn’t seen these masks, wall mounts…we bargained and got 2 one of an antelope and one of an elephant. Love them!! Nate look for them in th coming weeks please.

After we arrived at the train station we were welcomed into a lounge area for Rovos Rail passengers where we were offered drinks and waited till it was time to board. Inside the lounge there were musicians playing and drinks served in crystal glasses. It felt like we were in South Africa during colonial times. Turns out the gentleman that welcomed us aboard the train was the founder of Rovos Rail, Rohan Vos. He told us what to expect, the protocol, the itinerary, the dress attire, etc. They called each of us by name when it was time to go and we were escorted by someone out the doors, Sam reached and shook hands with Mr. Vos and then we excited the train station to our designated cars and our sleeping suites. It truly felt like it must have traveling in style 100 years ago with a violins playing as we excited…Sam thought that it was so funny…like just out of a movie. 

Our stateroom/sleeping suite is beautifully done in stained wood with large windows that have shudders and can open all the way, two twin beds and a closet, small table and chairs and small fridge. It is like we are on a ship. We are in “Cheetah”. We had fun unpacking and enjoying looking out the windows at the spectacular mountains and wild flowers everywhere - purple, and yellow all over the hills leading to the mountains. The train creaks and rocks along and really just lulls you. Sitting on our beds we can look at a moving landscape outside our windows. Leaving Cape Town the views were spectacular as we rode through wine country with the Hex River Mountains as their backdrop. 

We explored the train and went up to the observation areas which had couches and served high tea at 4:30- which we enjoyed tasty carrot cake, cucumber sandwiches (Sam loved) and small blueberry muffins while playing cards and enjoying the views.

Lunch was served with crystal, fresh flowers and a set menu of 4 courses, one  was a curry quiche like starter, next a prawn salad, a cheese course and dessert,Thankfully the portions are small so we could actually eat all of it. We sat across from a couple we introduced ourselves, which are sharing our same car. They are on their 4 week honeymoon from Moscow, Russia where they were just married. They finish up in the Maldives next week. They said they have to travel far, unlike in America, where they don’t have beautiful nature to enjoy. They said there is not much to see or do outside Moscow and St. Petersburg. So they spend their vacation time abroad and came from enjoying a few weeks along the Ca coast last summer. 

We enjoyed every bit of our  near 2 hour lunch I might add. We went back to our room following and Sam spent the next hour doing his homework while I read “The Last Train to Zona Verde”- enjoyable book about a man’s last journey through Africa. 

We stopped around 6 in the small town of Matijiesfontein, established in 1884, that is just really a train stop that then and now to provide a rest stop for travelers coming through. It’s old Victorian age buildings are well maintained and open to the public to walk around. The town is essentially a museum. Sam talked us into getting on an old double decker bus for the “10 minute” tour of the town. The gentleman was born in the town, he was quite a character and had his whole schtick and was very amusing. His mother had been a servant for the family that had originally settled this small town and whose home and stores we explored through. We had some good laughs up top of the 1950s bus. It was only a few minutes long, he was accurate and then we just explored. There was nothing before or after this town for quite a ways. 

For dinner on the train we “dressed” for dinner. Sam looked dapper and got many comments from the ladies “so handsome” to “looking smart” from the gents. He was cute and pulled out my chair at the table before we sat for our 4 course dinner. We sat next to a group from Vancouver Canada. They have been here 3 weeks and this is their last part and they will fly from Pretoria home. They were friendly and loving their trip. We had tasty scallops, tender lamb shank (seemed appropriate since we had passed many sheep in the pasture lands on the train- first we had seen) and then cheese and a tasty serving of tapioca pudding and an apricot sauce on top. It is great to have no cell phones allowed in public here and to be able to just enjoy talking with Sam. We have gotten into the habit during long dinners (another 2 hour meal) to play 21 questions which breaks up the conversation and always fun to play a game.

When we returned to our rooms our duvets were on beds and hot chocolate out for us to enjoy— this really is a dream. Sam just loves it, as do I. Looking right out the window at the end of my bed I can just watch one painting after another go by, like a film of beautiful landscapes.