A Thousand Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Have you ever really thought about that statement? I mean truly. And have you ever put it to a test? So perhaps the photos I share in this blog will not invoke seven or eight thousand words but at least you will get the 500 or so that I use to describe the context of each.

I returned from my spring break trip to Cape Town, South Africa last week and I am still slowly processing what a tremendously humbling, historical, and down right awesome experience it was. Cape Town is not a traditional spring break escape - especially not for Americans from the US - so allow me to create some clarity around my destination choice. Fortunate are the few, especially as adults, who can find new friendships with individuals who challenge them to be better people. I found that here at the Johnson School and when she told me she was going to study abroad in South Africa for our final semester I made no hesitation to agree to visit her during my spring break. Now, the trick was to find someone to travel with. The weeks and months passed and still no one was ready to commit to going. Just three weeks before the scheduled trip I still had not found anyone to travel with. I was ready to suck it up and prepare myself to make the trip half way across the globe alone when I received one of the most memorable text messages of my mobile communications life from a friend who had never before showed interest in going saying she wanted to come along!

We felt blessed to have found an unreal deal including flight and hotel for our 5 day stay. What's more is that we even had a long layover in London both ways to allow us to stretch our legs a bit part way through the trip.

Stunned and probably still in disbelief by what we were about to embark upon arrived at the Cape Town International Airport greeted by gorgeous weather and a sun we had not seen for awhile - we were still in what felt like winter in Ithaca. That night we saw one of the most glorious sunsets (the first photo above) and plotted out our ideas for the week's activities with our other friend who had flown down from Johannesburg to join us.

The first day we went wine tasting at a few of the wine farms. We had all already become fans of South African wine so visiting these farms was a real treat. Perhaps the best part of the day was the very affordable (thanks to the rand/dollar exchange rate) 5 course meal we had at one of the farms - Grand Provence. There we ordered not one but two of their best wines, invited the chef out for a glass - which he agreed to! - and dined in outdoors next to the fireplace - the best table in (or out) of the house. Our chef, as it turns out has worked in the US before, having most recently returned from a stint at Daniel in NYC. The second photo is the view from this last wine farm.

The next day was intended to be our trip around the cape with multiple stops along the way. Of course, some things are just out your control at times. Like your rental car make weird noises when you brake or are in reverse, for instance. It just didn't seem safe to continue the day with our car this way so we invested the two hours it took to return to the airport and replace the car for our own safety and my sanity. We visited a museum, the botanical gardens, and a couple historical sites. By the time we made it to Cape Point, they were closing their gates. There was no way I could leave South Africa without going to the very tip of the continent so I vowed to get up before dawn the next day and drive down here again for the experience if thats what it took. Fortunately, my friends took me seriously and we all got up at 5am the next morning. The fourth and fifth photos are the moon rising just above Chapman's Peak and then a photo of the road along the cliff - one of the most gorgeous drives I've ever taken!

The drive down the east coast of the cape was wonderful at sunrise but don't just take my word for it. Check out the third photo for proof! Finally reaching Cape Point, I could stand the build up no more and wanted to see the point at which two oceans unite! Of course, there was a hike before I could see that. Fortunately, we got there before anyone else - including some of the staff! This made the experience so much more intimate and memorable.

Standing there at the southern tip of the continent brought uncontrollable tears to my eyes. I let myself truly consider for the first time what I was doing. Some of my family members have never even been on a plane before let alone whole other continent that you have to fly 20 hours to get to...and not just any continent...the one where it all began. I felt unbelievable blessed and humbled in that moment. I wished everyone could have the opportunity to bear witness to such beauty. The way the new sun's soft golden rays glistened against the endless rippling ocean, the curvacious conture of the land that lined the east and west sides of the cape, and the demanding wind that could not make up its mind about which direction it wanted to blow so it blew every which way at once with such a force that I felt could almost carry us away.

On the very last day, we finally made it to the beach. Though we were in such a time crunch that we didn't even suit up for the occasion. Intead we marveled at the gorgeous scene for as long as we could before heading to the airport.

With all the beauty of Cape Town, it is easy to miss some of its hidden truths. For instance, the townships that border the city and can be seen of the side of the highway like the 7th photo in my collection. While some of Cape Town's residents live in seaside mansions that mirror those of Malibu, others live in shanty towns without running water, electricity, or toilets.

I can definitely see myself returning to South Africa someday...but next time I hope to have more than just five days to explore and learn. Until then, I don't have many international destinations to look forward to any more. The last one of this year will be a family trip to Cancun. If you've been a reader since the beginning, you'll remember this is the trip that makes up for last year's untimely visit from Hurricane Dean. Until then, though I am back in Ithaca still a student finishing out my MBA and bringing to a close two of the most challenging and exciting years of my life.

Cheers!

P.S. Be sure to check out the video of the penguins from South Africa below!