25.05.07 - What? An Early Night?!

This is a rare occurance indeed. At home in London I am rarely in bed before midnight because there is always something to divert my attention from the uninspiring idea of going to bed. Well, as Friday drew to a close I found myself strangely drawn to the idea of locking myself away in my sparse single bedroom. So guess what.... I did. I am not going to kick myself for missing out on some fun in Long Street where my hostel is because I had a tiring day. Trust me.

The idea of relying on my feet to get me around this awkward and sometimes intimidating city was becoming a little frustrating so I decided to hire a bike until Monday afternoon. I was quite chuffed with myself for breaking with the backpacker norm and set off for the Kloof Nek Road that runs out out of the west of Cape Town as the city gives way Table Mountain. This road then passes between the mountain peaks and drops down to the Atlantic coast. I decided to take the back roads through the hilly residential areas to meet Kloof Nek Road where some stunning houses sit behind big walls with stunning views over the city. It was hard going and I regretted stopping at the steepest point.... I just didn't have the body weight to get enough momentum get the bike moving again and to stay on the bike! Self-consciously I walked up the last part of the hill. I shall now be significantly increasing my intake of lard to avoid a repeat episode of this traumatic experience. But hey, I still cannot believe that I cycled that pass to then be looking down over the skyscrapers of Cape Town!

"You can take the Brit out of Britain, but you can never take the British out of the Brit."

This is what I muttered to myself with amusement as I took my t-shirt off on an almost deserted beach in Clifton on the Atlantic coast. Yes it is warm in the sun and the temperature must be about 20 degrees. But this is winter in South Africa! But am I bothered? The bay is one of four separated by big boulders of rock, glamorous villas clinging to the hillside all the way up through the luscious hillside. The water is clear and very blue but on walking into it the COLD stabbed through my toes and threatened to turn them blue. That was enough swimming for one day I felt.

I had had enough mountainous terrain for one day and so I decide to cycle back along the coast through Seapoint. This is actually Brighton or Portsmouth in the sunshine.... Table Mountain backdrop excused. Although there seemed to be as much excitement and buzz as a stagnant pond. Ok, it was a lovely place and the cycle ride was very pleasant. Six points.

Flat tyre. I feel deflated. That would never happen to my feet would it?

Excuse the diversion, but I need to get something off my chest. For the sake of humour I swiftly referred to Paul, whom I met in the hostel bar last night, as mad. I have done him an injustice. Granted, he is mad but he deserved a few more lines in my diary because we became entangled in a very deep and no doubt time-consuming conversation about life. As we conversed he really struck a chord with me in an amazing way. He pinpointed some very positive things in life that I have recently been feeling about myself but would never have discussed with anyone. I cannot go into it any more but I really appreciated talking to this nutter and felt quite blown away by his insight and the fact that someone else shares my opinion.

And so by 20.30 I have locked my door and started to tuck into the assortment of food I have purchased- some ham, a couple of cheeses, sweet peppers and a baguette. A bottle of Pinotage (19 Rands: about 1.30 in the UK!) only added to the novelty of the occasion and by 22.30 I had turned the lights out to fall asleep with the soothing tones of the live jazz band ambling through the corridors and the floorboards from the bar downstairs....