Orientation

We left the house, in the company of Ruth, at 9 o'clock on our 1st day & walked to Observatory's train station, about 5 minutes away, for a journey of 7 minutes into the centre of Cape Town. There is a choice between 1st & 3rd class carriages. We're told that it's less crowded, with cushions on the seats, in 1st class but that it's safer where there are more people although the trains are supposed to be patrolled by security guards, apart from the last trains of the day. (The trains stop running at 7.30pm on weekdays & 7.00pm at weekends.) The fares are incredibly cheap - 3.50 rands into town for a 3rd class single ticket, double that for 1st class (there are 14 rands to the pound).

We headed to YDP's office on Long Street, past the flea market stalls of Greenmarket Square, for an obligatory viewing of an AIDS video. Having been given various handouts outlining details of the organisation, rules & regulations of both YDP (http://www.ydp.co.za) & Beth Uriel (http://www.bethuriel.co.za), the place where we are volunteering, we headed for a pavement cafe in a pedestrianised area known as St George's Mall. There we talked over points raised in the handouts before we got into a "taxi" to Beth Uriel. The taxi in question was an overcrowded mini-bus - 1 of many which tear along the main roads, hooting frequently while the "guardjie" shouts out of the window drumming up business. Cheap again - 3.50 rands - but cramped & pretty crazy. Got to Beth Uriel to find that everyone was out for the day! So we walked back down through Obs towards our house, stopping at KwikSpar & a wholefood shop for our 1st weekly shop. Ruth then left us to our own devices.

We put away the shopping, then Fiona cooked & Howard slept (the travelling got to him again!). We thought we might swim in a nearby pool, but it was crowded with children - it's the school summer holidays. There was no shade on offer & shade was definitely needed! Knowing that beaches are just a train ride away, we decided that going to the seashore should be plan B. Half an hour later we were walking along the white sands of the Indian Ocean at Muizenberg. Although it's a surfer's beach, it was good for swimming too. The water was invitingly warm & Fiona couldn't resist plunging in, while Howard was happy to sit guard over our belongings - he's not a water baby by inclination. The scenery was stunning. Mountains dominate the landscape, following the curvature of False Bay - Table Mountain is not the only mountain in town!

So now we know our way to the city centre & the beaches, how the public transport system works & where the shops, restaurants & internet cafes are. We've had a taste of the wonderful scenery & our first experiences of African street life. We are really looking forward to our time here over the next 6 weeks.