Trip Update #1

Greetings!

Almost one week ago I left my village and headed off for my December vacation. I met Dan in Pretoria and we left for our road trip. It was a LONG journey but we eventually made it to Cape Town! It took about 1500km (almost 900 miles) over the course of 2 days, through the desolate interior of the country--The Karoo. As I don't yet know how to drive Manual, Dan's been driving so far. Imagine 18 hours of listening to the new Tenacious D album, thanks to Tom's parents (Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee!!!) and you'll have some idea of what the journey was like.

Cape Town was as gorgeous as I remember it...possibly even more so. We went to the gorgeous Clifton and Camps Bay beaches, lounged on the Waterfront, and climbed Table Mountain. And astonishingly, we climbed that sucker quickly! Dan finished in 55 minutes; it took me 1 hour and 6 minutes. It was a hell of a climb, especially considering that it usually takes about 2 hours at a moderate pace, or 3 hours if you're hungover (as Dan was the last time he climbed it).

We left Cape Town yesterday and drove to Buffalo Bay, in the Garden Route. I must say, the Garden Route is BEAUTIFUL. It's been cloudy and overcast since yesterday, but that hasn't hidden the beauty of the coast. We stayed at an awesome backpackers right on the beach, went running this morning, and then left. We are now in Plettenberg Bay, which is incredibly gorgeous.

I can't wait for the rest of this trip.

For another perspective on the trip and for a few pictures (i.e. Dan and I on top of Table Mountain), check out Dan's blog entry.

PS yes I know we look like tools in that picture of us shirtless....but that was the point of the picture =)