Too beautiful for words...

Well helloooooo (movie?! +5 cool points)
 
I’m am oh so sorry I haven’t posted in a while, it has been quite a few days…we changed rooms, were having internet issues and have been pretty busy, and I have been slightly lazy on top of that.  However, yes, I'm still alive! (also all I have to say would just make you even more eager to see pictures and jealous, so I thought id spare the pain.)  I swear, this place is too beautiful for words.  But to get back to where I left off…I believe this post will be a long one, for all of us sooo here enjoy!

Going back to Friday, June 8^th I believe, we went to signal hill which over looked Cape Town.  There are mountains to one side and the endless ocean to the other.  Stunning.  (the picture says 1000 words I cannot put together to even give you the slightest idea of its beauty.)  The mountain view over looks 12 different mountain peaks, called the 12 apostles.  Among these peaks there are many more, one in particular called lions head, its supposed to look like a lion looking up at the sky but I think it looks more like a gorilla head looking out…  Either way it’s up to interpretation and pretty cool.  We walked around there for a while and took a ton of pictures!  (look it up to get an idea if ya want).  We then headed to a big market where we all worked on our bargaining skills!  It’s harder then you might think, especially if you really want what you’re bargaining for.  But it was fun, I think well get better as go on.  We then went to Hout Bay where we got lunch...dun dun dun.... the fish... the fish I got was called Hake, ummm im not going to say that I loved it or that I liked it...but I ate it! Go me!! Andrew I was terrified! I think I was more scared then I will be to bungle jump!  After lunch we went to Chapmans Peake, for another fantastic view of the mountains and Cape Town.  And of course took many more pictures.  The final look out point for the day was Cape Flat.  This area is where the black and colored families were exiled to after their evacuations from district six.  We then ended our day of touring at the oldest winery in Cape Town for another wine tasting (only 1 this time).  Everyone was pretty tired at this point and it was close to closing so we didn’t spend too much time there.  As the day came to an end we experienced another traditional food for dinner, called the Gatsby.  This is a GIANT and I really mean giant (like 3 feet long 6 inches tall and wide) sub with chicken (choice of meat) lemon juice spices mayo tomatoes lettuce and chips (fries).  Chips can be found on and/or with nearly everything here!  Although it was mainly a sight seeing and food culture day it wore us out and we headed back early and I passed out, in preparation for a long day to follow, the hike down Table Mountain!

And so, on Saturday, began my favorite day so far!  The morning started off a little bit behind as we waited for one of our vans to get fixed, Stephanie, the red volts wagon, a hippie van, she wouldn’t start.  It seems like a lot of cars here are pretty sketchy.  Haha but anyways, she eventually turned around picked us up and we headed for the mountain!  This is the mountain that you will most often see in my pictures.  She’s a beauty!  we lucked out for sure because this day was b-e-a-utiful!! Clear sky, sun out, high temps ahhh life was good!  We all piled on to the cable car to take us up the mountain.  The cabin car floor rotates at 360 degrees giving riders the chance for a fantastic view on all sides as the car brings you up over 1000 meters high at 10 m/s…you do the math).  This mountain is a special one and it could be the oldest mountain in the world.  its not 100 percent sure, but its believed that Table Mountain is at least 6 times older then the Himalayas…soooo ya, you do the math there too!  (hint: it was formed under the sea about 6 million years a go).  The most common animal found on the mountain is the dassie, or the Rock Hyrax.  They are like mountain bunnies but without the floppy ears, you see tons of them, I got some great picts…that you cant see yet.  “Weird Rock Hyrax fact #455 in a twist of nature stranger then fiction, the dassie’s closest relative is the African Elephant…” Table Mountain is very special to Cape Town and serves locals and tourists on many levels.  Its 300 plus trails provides opportunity for all levels of hikers to enjoy the natural beauty.  To Capetonians it remains the geological and spiritual heart of the city.  Ok, enough facts and on to the adventure.  Now, this hike was no walk in the park, well it was technically a walk in a national park but, it was no measly little hike.  It was Western II 2004 style, if you know what I mean….and for those for those if you who don’t, its basically what I live for…and what that means is a true hikers/back-packers dream, a challenge, like a 4 on a scale of 1-5, 1 being the easiest, 5 being the hardest.  Steep…I mean reallyy steep!  Not a windy little path Corvell made it out to be.  I’m not complaining, well now I am because 2 days later I still can’t walk…seriously, I, among 15 others are really struggling to move, like in and out of the van..ha  Stairs are a no!  But, before I got sore, it was the most amazing thing I have ever done and more then worth it.  Sorry Western trip 2, ya just got beat, and I can’t believe I’m saying that, 7-year record was a damn good run!  The views were… __________ (you fill in the blank for my lack of a better description, I honestly cant – words just wouldn’t to justice).  From daytime to nightfall, I saw it all.  the sunlight glistened over the mountaintops, with clear blue skies in the distance, its rays sparkled over the water and slowly set on the distant horizon, to leave only the moonlight to guide the way.  The flicker of the city lights decorated the backdrop to the shore of the ocean leading to a black abyss where the sky and the water meet.  It was pure beauty in its most natural form.  Its moments like this that make you realize and appreciate what the world has to offer. I could see constellation upon constellation, ones that we don’t ever get to see in the Northern Hemisphere, I felt like I was watching the starts turn on as they glimmered in the pitch darkness.  As I laid there, on the gravel, gazing into the sky, comfortable as ever, stretching my legs after the 3ish hour hike down…a shooting star arched across the sky.  Nothing, at that moment, could have been more prefect.  Serenity.   

Its experiences like this, that build character, confidence and strength; physically, emotionally and mentally.  It is truly something spectacular to see the support and respect you gain from one another to conquer something so tremendous.  It’s a life experience, it’s an opportunity to prove to oneself their inner strength, it’s a test of integrity, and self-determination.  This is truly what I live for, I could do this everyday – national parks of the world watch out!  I am coming for you!

Ok wowza this was waaayy longer then intended so I'm going to cut myself off for now and I shall continue later…

Hopefully it will be later tonight or tomorrow, sorry I’m so behind  - typical Erin I guess.

Tata for now,

peace and love

p.s. if my future husband ever reads this blog…lets go backpacking for our honeymoon….we can save the paradise vaca to escape parenthood one-day (and it wont be too costly)…..hahahaha (sorry, but people on the trip are married and engaged and this type of convo comes up a lot, so I thought about it, just an idea…)