Hi everyone,

While in Cape Town in September, I wrote a port profile on the city for Cruise Critic. You can read the article here:
http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=227

Len and I can't wait to get back to SA!

Andrea

Nice article, Andrea! I asked in another thread, but I guess you never got back to it. Did they let you carry those bottles of Amarula all the way home? There were so many people reporting that the duty-free shops wouldn't sell it to them because of the stop on the way back.

Yes, we were able to carry them all the way back to New York, even though we changed planes in Dakar. It worked out great since we wanted to have something easily accessible to give our dog sitter when we walked through the door in Teaneck.

It was funny at the airport though because as we were boarding the plane in Johannesburg, a guy who looked like a bag handler (in a uniform) came up to us and told us we couldn't take the liquor and that he'd "stow" it for us. We basically brushed him off and when we entered the plane I asked the stewardess if the liquor was going to be a problem. She said it would be fine. I told her about the guy who approached us and she just rolled her eyes. She said to never accept any information at that airport unless the employee was wearing a Delta nametag! Who knows how many travelers give up some of their shopping bags to be "stowed" only to find them missing when they land at their home airport.

Andrea

Andrea - well written! Hope you will make your way back to Africa soon. We enjoyed our time with you & Len in Kings Camp.

Cheers, Anne

Good article Andrea - enjoyed reading that. So interesting about the "man in the uniform". A good travel writer like you can spot things like that. I am sure many would give up their liquor in a situation like that.

What a great article Andrea. I still want to go to Baboon Matters while we're in Cape Town. !

Enjoyed the article, Andrea. Since Alan and I haven't planned anything to do in Cape Town, we'll be using your information to guide us.

Hi Donna and Alan, Don't forget to do the hop on-hop off bus. They have two lines..the Blue line goes to Table Mountain ,etc and the red line goes to the botannical gardens and bird land...or vice versa.

If you have time get in touch with Ralph...his choice of restaurants was awesome.

Have a wonderful time...wish I was going with you all. Pat

Thanks, Pat. I had forgotten about the hop-on-hop-off buses. We have never done that. Maybe it's time to try one out. We'll miss seeing you and Ray.

We actually think we may do the hop on and off bus thing. Since we don't have a lot of time, it might be the best way to see the most! There is so much we would love to see....

We did the hop on and off bus when we were in Cape Town and it worked out great to see a lot in a limited amount of time. We went to top of Table Mountain in the morning which I'm glad we did...both afternoons it had cloud cover and cable stopped running.

We are torn, as we would love to go to the wine country as well, but that would be a 4-5 hour trip I think. We have to maximize that day! Thanks Marcie, sounds like a plan.

The hop on and off bus is right outside our hotel in CPT (Westin) so will use it. We have used the bus in other cities and it is a great way to see a city in short period of time. Marcie good idea about Table MT in the AM - Andrea thanks for a wonderful article packed with good info -

We have booked a private guide through Hylton Ross for our first day in CT. Table Mountain is our frist stop before heading down the penisula. Glad to know that AM is the best time to go to Table Mountain, Marcie. Our second day we have reservation for Robben Island. See y'all when you get onboard!!!

Beth, I can't promise that AM is best....just saying that it was the only time the cable operated the days we were there. I'm sure it could vary season to season, day to day. Hopefully it will be best the day you go!

Beth, As someone said,"if you can see Table Mountain clearly when you get up....GO"

The Aquarium (where you get the HOHO Bus) is nice...small but a good way to pass an hour or so.

Sundowners on the Radisson Patio was nice....The Margaritta and the Mohito were not very good. Better off to order wine or beer. I wouldn't even attempt to order a Manhatten there.

Marcie, Pat & Ray,

Thanks for your words of wisdom. We will just have to see if Table Mountain works for us. Thanks also for the tip about the aquarium. I do enjoy them. I would suspect that wine would be in order while in CT!!

I think we're opting for the HOHO bus with morning route to Table Mountain thanks to everyone's advice. We'd love to see the wine country but we can't do everything. That's ok. It just means we'll have to come back another time. :)