We are up and off the ship first thing, trying to make our 7:30 orientation meeting, so as soon as we see the bags have been off loaded we are gone. We are so early, only Nwagira is in the gangway to wave us off. Oh well we said all our goodbyes last night, no need for more tearful farewells.

And lucky thing we did run off the ship early! There are only 3 taxis in the port lot, oh, and a big group in front of us.  Yikes. But somehow we manage to score the last taxi and he gets us quickly to the Protea Sea Point, even if it’s for an exorbitant amount compared to Uber. I mean really – like 3 or 4x what Uber would be, but we didn’t want to mess with that this morning. Uber can’t come right into the port parking lot, you have to walk around the garage to meet them and we have a deadline this morning.  So, exorbitant taxi fee it is – and hey, we make the meeting with plenty of time to spare.

We are first to arrive, and as we chat with Colleen we find out the tour has 30 people, 19 of which are all in one big group together.  Hmmm….will that be better? Or worse?  Only time will tell as they all start to filter in. The big group is with a “travel agent” who we think does this in his spare time, and his travelers are all loosely connected in one way or another. They dub themselves the “Stevies” – since Steve is the “agent” who put this all together. Some work together, some know each other and are tagging along, some….well who knows?  All we know is that some of them aren’t’ really listening and others are just sort of listening but not understanding.  Might be fun?  Thankfully we won’t need to find out until the optional wine tour in 2 days.  Works for us!

After the meeting, we get settled in the room and then head out to the HoHo bus stop to catch the Peninsula bus again.  As we get situated on the bus, we decide to change plans. It’s really early and if we go to Constantia, we’ll sort of be stuck – drinking wine early and then lunch.  Plus, we’re going to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek with the group in 2 days, so there really isn’t a need to go to Constantia.  Plan B – we’re going to Kirstenbosch.  We were only there a short time on our last trip, so today we can explore to our hearts contents.  In addition, it is another stunningly gorgeous day. Why spend it inside a winery when we can spend it outside hiking around? 

Following along the same route as yesterday, we take the same gorgeous photos of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak.  And the Grecian inspired monument to Cecil Rhodes, the diamond magnate who was the 7^th Prime Minister of what was then the “Cape Colony,” and who also was instrumental in planning and building a Cape to Cairo railroad. 

We pass by the same vendors on the corner with all those cool beaded statues – oh the giraffes!  Thank heavens I can’t jump out!  Then arrive at Kirstenbosch and proceed to stand in the long line at the cashiers to buy our tickets.  And then we are through the gate and happily wandering around nature.  Our kind of day!

The mountain views from here are just as spectacular, serving as the backdrop to the gardens.  We meander about, heading through the Peninsula Garden and on through the Water-wise garden, which I find so smart and fascinating!  I even take a brochure that explains how to create a lush, colorful garden that needs less water than ordinary gardens.  Brilliant idea in a place where water can be scarce.

Next we head up to the Garden center and tea room, passing the cool leopard statue and lion hunting statue. Through the fragrance garden – which we remember from last year – and then to the useful plants – which has a disclaimer sign regarding medicinal properties.  Too funny. 

This time we make it to the Otter pond and Tree canopy walkway without any issues.  Helps after last year when we got lost and had to run our way through the gardens to make it on time back to the tour bus!  The views from here are again marvelous.  Just a picture perfect day.  Then it is time for lunch. 

Circling back, we go to the big restaurant, Moyo Kirstenbosch, choosing a table inside near the patio doors so we have both inside and outside feel – without the heat of the sun.  It is an excellent spot to hang out, enjoying the view, the drinks and the food.  We go with small plates – the calamari (cooked to perfection), crocodile (how can you not? It is excellent – yes, it tastes like chicken) beetroot carpaccio (no explanation necessary) and when we spy the Biltong Potbrood, you know we aren’t skipping that.  An excellent lunch that we can now walk off by exploring the rest of the gardens.

And walk it off we do.  Up, up, up to the viewing deck on the far side of the gardens.  We wanted exercise, we’re getting it!  Along the way of course, we stop to snap pictures of the mountains and the gorgeous fynbos vegetation, found only in the Cape area of South Africa (8,000 different varieties, many only found here).  The flowers are fabulous, as are the trees in the forested area which we walk through – fortunately all down hill now – on our way to the bus and our return trip to Sea Point.

We have time to grab a coffee and hit the restroom, and then, boom, the bus is there and we are on our way back into town – fortunately this time without a flat tire.  The drive along the coast is gorgeous, making the drive very pleasurable and picture taking opportunities plentiful.

Once we are back in Sea Point, we head to the Checkers grocery store for our picnic dinner supplies, freshen up in the room, then grab the HoHo bus back to the V&A so we can arrive early for the Sunset bus.  We are way early – as planned – with time for a drink at the V&A Market, now a TimeOut market just like in Lisbon. 

Drinks handled, we go get in the queue for the bus, which is huge, btw.  Darn. But we make it on, even though there is a problem with my ticket.  Ndara is our driver though – yay – and of course he remembers us and handles the ticket thing quickly!  He’s so sweet. There are 3 full buses that go up Signal Hill for the sunset and we are the 1^st to leave.  Excellent. 

On the way up the mountain, we actually get a picture of Pursuit sailing out of the harbor, sigh. But being first also means we score a table for our picnic dinner.  Perfect.  Beer, wine, ham sandwiches and a repurposed gift bag from Domat/Ems. What more could you want?

Everybody sort of congregates right by the parking lot area, sitting on this big tarp looking thing that runs down the slope of Signal Hill.  We’re happy with our table, but after we’re done eating, we walk away from the crowds- waving goodbye to Pursuit as we go toward the Kramat hike trail. 

A little way down the trail we find the perfect spot to perch – on an old fallen tree.  We have a place to sit. A place to put our drinks.  And we are off the trail, and the beaten path for a fantastic sunset. Perfect!

The bus ride back? Not so perfect.  By the time we get back to the bus, it is almost full.  And while we had planned to sit inside, it is too cold to be outside, we have to share our seats with others. Not too terrible, we sit with two lovely ladies, but inside is sweltering.  And I mean so hot we are sweating to death.  To make matters worse they take is to see the city lights which are holiday lights strung across the road for a couple of blocks.

Argh. Traffic is terrible and we sit there forever. Ndara finally turns on the air – oh thank God – and a bunch of people got off at the Westin – so we end up with our own seats.  But in hindsight, we really should have gotten of at the Weston too and then taken an Uber back to the hotel. Oh well – we’ve really got nothing but time.

Blessedly, we finally get back to the aquarium, order an Uber which arrives pretty quickly and are back to the hotel in no time.  Day done.