Click here for current times in Cape Town, South Africa, and the East Coast of the U.S.
Click here for current times in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the East Coast of the U.S.
Click here for weather in Cape Town, South Africa
Click here for weather in Johannesburg, South Africa
(note: this is one of my pre-scheduled posts set to appear at 5:00am EST each morning I am in a port city. I will post follow-up information about each trip once I am able to get back on the computer.)
The ship is scheduled to arrive at 0800 in Cape Town, South Africa.We will be in South Africa for the next 7 days.
These are the trips I will be going on today...
City Orientation (1300 - 1730)
Description:
Cape Town is a remarkable city where the present and the past harmoniously converge - in history, architecture, cultural pursuits and the essences of its people. Take a step back in time when you pay a visit to the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building in South Africa. Built between 1666 - 1679, it is a pentagonal fortification with a moat and bastions at each corner. Adderley Street is the principal thoroughfare of Cape Town and is renowned for its fine examples of old Cape architecture, including the Standard Bank Building, St. George's Anglican Cathedral and the Cultural History Museum. Afterwards, strolls through the Company's Garden, the oldest garden in South Africa. Established in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck, it was originally used as a vegetable garden to supply fresh produce to passing ships. Located within the gardens are the red-bricked House of Parliament, the South African National Gallery, the Jewish Museum and the Great Synagogue. Enjoy a refreshment stop in the tranquil surroundings of the gardens, before you proceed to the South African Museum.
Established in 1825, it is the oldest museum in sub-Saharan Africa and houses an extensive natural history collection. Before returning to the ship, end your city orientation with a visit to the Foreshore, an area of land which was reclaimed during the construction of the present day harbor, known as Duncan Dock. Vast quantities of sand dredged up during the building of the dock created 145 hectares of level ground. (PRICE: $40.00)
A Night of Theatre: "Everybody Else" (1830 - 2330)
Description:
Written by Karen Janus and directed by Lara Bye, "Everybody else (is fucking perfect)" is a sexy tale of love and deception and is a straight-forward look at modern South Africa and its sexual politics. The show provokes and delights showing Karen Janus to be a refreshing new and powerful voice coming out of South Africa. Meet Michael Williams, former SAS Theatre Professor, and Lara Bye, resident director of the Baxter theatre for hors d'oeuvres and savor some of South Africa's finest wines. (PRICE: $55.00)
Some links relating to today's trip...
Update:
I didn't sleep much last night because I knew we would be able to get a view of Cape Town very early this morning. I went to the computer lab for a little while around 4:00 am or so and there seemed to be a bunch of people who were already up and anxious to get there. We were told at the logistical pre-port briefing last night that we would be able to view Table Mountain at around 6:00 am, so I planned on going up to Deck 7 around then. Upon doing so, I discovered it was already quite packed. We were approaching the city head on so everyone was congregating at the very front of the ship to get a view of Table Mountain. It was really a monumental sight to see, especially pre-sunrise.
approaching Cape Town, South Africa on the ship
I tried to get some photos as best I could given the crowds (and the winds that were hard to bear) but again, I was lucky because I got to seek refuge in the faculty/staff lounge that is at the front of the ship on Deck 7. Along with the other faculty/staff/spouses/partners/lifelong learners who are allowed access to the faculty/staff lounge, we watched in a wind-free environment and were able to get some good photos by standing on the seats that go around the room. From that view point, you could get a photo above all of the students' heads outside.
some longer video I took of the ship approaching Cape Town, South Africa
(click here for bigger version of the video)
on the ship approaching Cape Town, South Africa
(click here for bigger version of the video)
on the ship approaching Cape Town, South Africa
(click here for bigger version of the video)
view from inside the Faculty/Staff Lounge approaching Cape Town, South Africa
me on deck 5, port side of the ship with Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
Some people in the lounge were kind of gleefully playing charades with students outside looking in who were envious of our shelter.
Approaching Cape Town, South Africa looking out at students from inside the Faculty/Staff Lounge (left to right: resident director Drew, AV coordinator John Paul, AV coordinator John Paul's wife Shannon)
view from deck 5 of the ship docked in Cape Town, South Africa
(click here for bigger version of the video)
Everyone was really hungry at that point and we had to wait until the dining area opened up at 7:00 am to get breakfast and by the time I got there around 7:10 am, there was a long, long line snaking around the cafeterias (there is a smaller one on Deck 6 where I tend to eat and a larger cafeteria on Deck 5).
We were also told at the logistical pre-port last night that we would be having a briefing from the consulate people who would be boarding the ship around 8:30 or so. I went back to my room after breakfast to wait for that announcement. Unlike in the other ports we have been in, we didn't have to go meet with customs officials face to face this time - I assume they just stamped all of our passports (all of them are kept in the purser's desk area).
At around 9:00 am, an announcement was made to come hear the consulate people and I went to that - essentially they just reiterated safety concerns (ie. don't pet dogs and monkeys, stay in groups, avoid the trails on Table Mountain early in the morning and late at night because there have been some muggings there, take taxis late at night instead of walking, etc.) After that, we were told that we could either hang out in the Union or disperse briefly until the premier from Cape Town would be speaking to us at around 10:00 am. Apparently he is on par with being the governor so he is a pretty high ranking official for Cape Town I assume - I forget his name at the moment so I can't google him and find out what his title is exactly...
After he spoke to us briefly and gave some welcoming remarks, we were told that the ship was cleared and that we could disembark whenever we wanted to. The ship is docked right at the waterfront in Cape Town and there is a hotel and a big shopping mall right as we get off the ship. We were told that the waterfront area is very safe overall.
Because I had the city orientation scheduled in a few hours, I decided to go back to my room to take a short nap before going on that. I set my alarm for 12:30 pm and for some reason, I could have sworn the city orientation trip was leaving at 1:30 pm. I showed up in the Union at 1:20 pm and that's when I discovered that I should have double-checked the time - it had left at 1:00 pm. Argh! I guess that serves me right for not checking the schedule again to be extra sure of the departure time.
After doing that I ran into Robyn, the art history professor, and Erin, the librarian, and they told me I should try to come on the tour they were going on called "Art and Architectural Gems" - they didn't know if there was room on that trip or not, but sometimes if you show up in the Union and there is still space on a trip, you can buy a ticket at the last minute from the field office. I mulled it over for a while and then I ran into Julie, the ethnomusicology professor. She was on her way out to just walk around the shopping mall area and I asked her if she wanted any company. I decided to join her to walk around because she had to be back at around 4:00 pm in order to take a shower and get ready for a trip she was going on at 6:00 pm...since I had the play at 6:30 pm, I thought I would be safer joining Julie rather than trying to join the other tour because it would have been a close call in terms of when that tour got back and the theater trip started.
So...Julie and I walked around a bit and found where the food store was. We ate lunch at one of the restaurants that had outside seating and we looked in a few stores, found the post office in the mall and then I exchanged about $200 worth of American money for South African rand so I wouldn't be stuck later. Actually, I tried to change the money at one exchange place and they asked for my passport in order to do so. Since the passport was still on the ship in the purser's office, I figured I would have to come back another time, but the guy at the exchange place said that there are other exchange places that will take driver's licenses as I.D. I didn't have my driver's license on me at the time either, but luckily Julie had hers with her so she exchanged the money for me. Given that so many people seemed to have money taken from their debit or credit cards in Brazil, I really want to avoid using my cards unless absolutely necessary on this trip in general. Hopefully, the cash I exchanged today will be enough to get me through the rest of the time here - I will probably go shopping for some clothes on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Julie and I went to the food store and picked up some snacks and water, etc. and headed back for the ship at around 4:00 pm. I took a shower, uploaded some photos, took a short nap and then headed to the Union to be on TIME for the trip to the theater!
The theater trip was ok. It was a short bus ride (5 - 10 minutes) from the ship and when we got there, there were glasses of wine and orange juice being served to our group as well as a buffet line of appetizer-type food. The contact person for the theater apparently is a South African man who has taught on Semester at Sea in the past so he welcomed us (there were two separate groups - one group who was seeing the play I was going to and another group seeing a play called "Truth in Translation") Apparently our play was only one act, but the other play had an intermission. Our play let out at around 9:00 pm and we were told that the buses we came on would be waiting for us, but they weren't anywhere in sight.
Baxter theatre in Cape Town, South Africa
me at the Baxter theatre in Cape Town, South Africa
After our trip leader called the ship to find out where they were, we took a short walk and found where the buses were parked. We got back to the ship at around 10:30 pm when all was said and done. The play was ok in general - it apparently won awards for being the best comedy play at some point and it was amusing to a degree (it was about two sisters - one of whom finds out that the other's husband is secretly gay). It ended pretty abruptly though so when the cast came out to take their bows, it took people by surprise.
At any rate, upon getting back to the ship, there was a note on my door from the Global Nomads Group people and they basically asked me if I would take a look at a rough cut of their Salvador program (I think it's what they will make available on the web as a web-umentary...I'm not entirely sure). I guess since they knew I had worked in production and had editing experience that I would have a good eye and could maybe make some suggestions. I was surprised that they thought of me actually, but their note was nice. (Incidentally, I learned a few days ago that Ben, one of the guys who is doing the camera work and has done some documentaries himself, worked on some reality shows - a few days ago, he mentioned he worked on the first season of The Simple Life. He said that Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie are just as stupid as they appear to be, if not more so. He also mentioned he worked on the Apprentice-type show that Richard Branson tried to do a few years ago. Through working on those crews, Ben has gotten to travel all over the world). At any rate, after I got the note, I tried to find the Global Nomads Group people on the ship and couldn't locate any of the three of them so I left them a note to say that I'd be happy to look at their rough cut, but that I would be leaving for my safari tomorrow. I told them I would probably be awake until about 2:00 am tonight though so they could call me if they got in before then, but I actually fell asleep after leaving them that note and I don't think anyone called my room...I woke up again at around 4:00 am and am now updating this blog before having to leave early for my safari...I need to be in the Union at 7:20 am in order to hand out the passports to our group (since I'm the trip leader for the safari, I had to pick up the packet of everyone's passports at the purser's desk last night). I will pass them out to the people on the trip and then they will be responsible for holding on to them until we get back. I will collect them again after we have returned back to Cape Town and I will then turn them all over to the purser's desk all at once.
I will go eat breakfast at 7:00 am when the cafeteria opens, get to the Union at 7:20 am, hand out passports, make sure everyone is there and then we are supposed to leave the ship at 7:45 am to head for the airport. A guide will meet us when we get off the ship and take us to the airport and then I think another guide will meet us once we get off the plane in Durban. Our flight leaves at 10:00 am from Cape Town and will arrive in Durban at 11:55 am.
Global Nomads Group video of the sights and sounds of Cape Town, South Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment