I’ve now been here a couple of days now and I’m gradually settling in. Yesterday (Monday) started with breakfast – cereal followed by an omelette before heading off to work.
It was a long day, punctuated only by half an hour at lunchtime while we wandered around a couple of supermarkets in the local mall unsuccessfully trying to find some sandwiches. I ended up with a pasta salad. We finished work at around 6.45ish and we decided to head out into Cape Town and get some refreshment somewhere in the Waterfront. After some discussion three of us decided to get a taxi and the hotel reception ordered one for us.
The others drove into Cape Town and we waited for the taxi. Eventually a clapped out Mercedes turned up with the fattest guy you ever saw behind the wheel. We all piled in and he dropped us at the Waterfront, leaving us with his number so we could call him later. He was a chatty guy and a Manchester United supporter (aren’t all overseas football fans?) and very proud of his city.
We met up with the others in Mitchell’s a pub that brews its own beer and had a couple of drinks. Then, after some discussion, we headed for a fish restaurant called the Ocean Basket. We quizzed the maitre de about the possibility of a veggie meal and he said they would do a halloumi cheese stir fry.
We started with a few olives, fried halloumi and some feta accompanied by some tasting of the various chilli sauces on the table (one of which was very hot) while we waited for the mains to turn up. When they did, the fish meals were huge and my halloumi stir fry was pretty good. It was served in a large frying pan along with some chips.
I was planning on having dessert, but the main meal was so filling that I decided not too.
Once we had paid our bill we went back to Mitchell’s for a drink – I had an 18yr Glenfiddich and we phoned the taxi. Once he arrived, three of us went back to the hotel, but the others decided they’d stop off at the club down the road for a couple more drinks.
Today started with another omelette for breakfast before heading off once again to the office. Despite planning to leave around 5.30pm we still ended up leaving around 6.30pm although we did go out for lunch to a place called Casablanca in the local mall. It was pretty much a burger joint and I ended up with a salad, which was okay, but not particularly exciting.
After arriving back at the hotel, I spent a couple of hours catching up on some work before meeting the some of the others for a late dinner in the Wild Fig.
The dinner was quite spectacular. I started with the fried camembert again and then followed it with a Thai vegetable curry which was lovely. I managed to pick a nice white wine which accompanied the meal nicely. For dessert I had chilli nut ice cream with chocolate sauce – wow! It was lovely. After the meal, despite the bar being closed, the waiter got us some whiskies and brandy to finish the meal off. I had a very pleasing 21yr old Speyburn. They have quite an extensive collection of single malts so I reckon I’ll be back there before the end of the week.
