Debbie's Travels : Cape Town, South Africa

My count-down is at 100 days for my next visit to Cape Town, so it seems like a good time to recall last year's visit. For those who don't know, June is winter, June is cold, It rains in June, and my birthday is in June. Follow my blog with Bloglovin I go to Cape Town every year during Uni break to see my mom, my son and my nephew and his wife. Sometimes I'm fortunate enough to meet with friends during my 3-4 week holiday, but my primary purpose is to see my mom who is in a home for the aged. She is going to be 83 years old this year, and sadly I cannot spend her birthday or Christmases with her anymore, but at least we get to celebrate a little on my birthday. Last year, on the morning of my birthday, I went to the home with cakes and savoury snacks for all the residents. When I got there, they were not sitting at their usual sunny spot in the lounge. For a moment I thought that I had arrived too early, and that they were perhaps still going through their morning routines, so I went along to the kitchen to start cutting the cakes and tarts. Well, surprise surprise, there they were, sitting in the dining room waiting for me. When they saw me they broke out in Happy Birthday song, clapping and cheering and they had even painted birthday cards for me. It wasn't long before music started, and the staff and residents (especially mom), were on the floor and dancing away. What a wonderful surprise, and a birthday to remember - certainly one of my best birthday memories. I see mom everyday during my holiday, usually in the morning, as she naps in the afternoon after lunch. I'm at a loose end until the evening, so I usually do some shopping and run errands for mom. I spend the evenings with my son, sometimes out for dinner, having a braai (weather permitting), watching movies or just chatting and sipping red wine to warm the cold bones. Weekends are reserved for long, leisurely peninsula drives, wine tasting at some of the many excellent wine farms, and pretty much anything else that can be crammed into a short weekend. The unfortunate thing about going to SA in June is that I'm a tourist and everyone is working. However, I do manage to catch up with some friends who do have time. A lovely drive to Gordon's Bay takes me to see my nephew and his wife, have lunch or dinner and spend hours catching up. I rent a car while I'm in Cape Town, so getting around is easy. Last year my daughter was in Cape Town at the same time as me, so we spent some days being tourists together. Inasmuch as there is a lot of negativity about SA, and rightfully so, I do enjoy going back to Cape Town. It's a stunning place with so much beauty surrounding the entire peninsula. Table mountain is a sight to behold, and long before the plane descends to the runway, I'm already peeping out of the little window for my first glimpse. Cold or not, I've no doubt that I'm going to have a fabulous holiday again this year. Most importantly, I'll be spending time with the people I love and miss so much. Count down continues :-)