Back on the road

On Sunday 3rd December there was a final wedding event at Moira Jane's Bistro in Pollokshields, so that Matthew & Laura could bid their guests farewell, before the happy couple headed off on their honeymoon. It was a great opportunity for us, too, to say goodbye to all the family before we set off on our travels again.

We weren't sorry to leave the howling gales & cold rain of Glasgow behind - & 28 hours later, via Heathrow, Dubai & Johannesburg (a roundabout, but cheap way to go!) we reached Cape Town, South Africa.

We are staying in the home of Ruth & Charles Odigie in the Observatory area of the city. It's an area near the university & the Groote Schuur Hospital (world's 1st heart transplant performed there) where the artsy, hippy, young professionals & students seem to live amongst others - it seems to be quite a melting pot. The houses are pretty, painted in pastel colours. There are good small local shops, restaurants & cafes. It's a nice area, safe to walk, although we do note that most houses have barbed wire along the garden wall tops, the gates are locked & signs are displayed proclaiming that the property is protected by armed response security. Ruth is the Volunteers Manager for YDP (Youth Discovery Programmes) who arranged our project placement here in Cape Town. Charles is a Pastor from Nigeria. They were only married a few months ago! We are also sharing the house with a delightful 7 week old kitten called Felickitty (named in honour of the Odigies last volunteer lodger).

We have a very nice room in their corner bungalow. We will be catering for ourselves while we are there & our room is close to both the kitchen & the bathroom (& the back door, too, for Fiona to nip outside to feed her addiction). We have been told that we have to be careful with our use of water (precious in Cape Town in the summer) & electricity (expensive) but we are not to stint on the hot showers & washing! Hygiene is very important to South Africans & they will find it offensive if we do not shower at least once a day. We were told of some Scandinavians who only showered 2 or 3 times a week.................too horrible!