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Cape Town's central city area is relatively small, compared
to the sprawling expanse of suburbs which extends around and
far beyond Table Mountain. Join us on
a tour through the city to visit some of the many
places of interest, which are closely situated and best explored
on foot.
We will start our city walk at the Castle of Good Hope, which
has guided tours every hour, on the hour. The Castle was built
as a result of the constant threat of war between Britain and
Holland, and for effective defense purposes was built in the
shape of a pentagon. The corner stone was laid in 1666, but completion
was only achieved in 1679. The five bastions were named after
the titles of the Prince of Orange - Leerdam, Oranje, Nassau,
Buren and Katzenellenbogen. Besides the military exhibition and
archeological displays, the main attraction is The Kat, a 12m
high building which cuts across the open courtyard. It houses
the famous collection of William Fehr's paintings, the highlights
of which include old paintings depicting the Cape. The famed
Kat Balcony is certainly the most beautiful aspect of the Castle.
There is a wine boutique, a café and a good restaurant
on site - but don't tarry here too long, we still have a lot
to see!
Due west of the Castle, on the corner of Buitenkant and Darling
Streets is the Grand Parade. This was the scene of many a military
and political gathering, and is today occupied by a flea market
and parking area. Overlooking the Parade is Cape Town's City
Hall, built in 1905. The Hall was designed in the Italian Renaissance
style and was the last major Victorian building to be erected
in Cape Town. Magnificent and imposing, the City Hall commemorates
Kind Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, with its mosaic floors,
marble staircase, stained glass windows and specially designed
organ with 3165 pipes.
I will now take you on a small detour to show you something
special. The interesting, colourful history of Cape Town is emotionally
reconstructed in The Distric Six Museum. The future of the coloured
people at the time of Distric Six is a vital piece of history
and is needed to fully understand the history of Cape Town as
a city. The museum has been erected for the people of the late
District Six and is as much for them as it is about them. The
most remarkable thing is that most of the staff members are all
ex-citizens of District Six, each with a heart-rendering story
to tell.
Back on course, we continue on to the Company's Gardens at the
top of Adderley Street. At the entrance we find Cape Town's Cultural
History Museum, which was originally built as a slave lodge to
house the slaves working in the gardens. After the slaves were
sold it was used to house government offices, then as a courtroom,
and finally restored and converted into the museum. It now contains
an interesting collection of early postal stones and the history
of postage and currency in South Africa. There are many displays
of furniture, glass ceramics, weapons, musical instruments and
toys from the many countries whose people settled in South Africa.
The archaeological section includes interesting artefacts of
Egyptian, Greek and Roman origin. The reconstructed tombstone
of Jan van Riebeeck stands in the courtyard.
We start the walk up Government Avenue, the pedestrian walkway
through the centre of the gardnes, which is lined with majestic
oak trees on either side. I hope you remembered a packet of peanuts
to feed the many grey squirrels that scamper up and down the
tree trunks and are a deelight to passers by. We now come to
the South African National Art Gallery, which displays over 6
500 works of art by South African and international artists.
The famous Sir Abe Bailey Collection can be viewed here. Film
shows, lectures and workshops are held throughout the year.
Walking through the gardens we see a number of ponds and fountains,
statues and monuments, including the Memorial to South African
soldiers killed at Dellville Wood during the First World War.
Shaded benches invite us to rest our feet and enjoy the traniquility
of this oasis of green in the centre of 21st century Cape Town.
At the top of the gardens we enter the South African Museum,
the oldest museum in South Africa. Here you will see some amazing
displays, of the most remarkable being a fossilized human footprint
- about 117 000 years old - and the "Lynton Panel",
one of the most fantastic stone-artworks of the San people ever
recovered. Let the life-like Bushman figures teach you about
the daily life of a lost people, supported by a collection of
relics and paintings of this gentle race. The museum houses permanent
displays of natural history (marine life and birds), geology,
ethnology, archaeology and printing. The dioramas of the fossil
rich Karoo and its reptiles are impressive. You can even meet
the dinosaurs, depicted in realistic scenes which appeal to young
and old.
Cape Town's Planetarium is part of an extension of the South
African Museum. The Planetarium features spectacular audio visual
shows simulating panoramic terrestrial landscapes and celestial
objects.
We continue up Government Avenue to the ornamental gateways,
guarded by the notorious Stone Lions. Within these gates on the
right we find several buildings - some departments of the University
of Cape Town, the Michaelis School of Fine Arts, The Little Theatre
and Bertram House, which is the only surviving brick Georgian
house in Cape Town. An 18th century watercourse runs at the back
of the house.
Leaving the Company's Gardens, we face the entrance to the impressive
5 star The Mount Nelson Hotel. We return to the city centre via
Long Street, passing a delightful array of small shops and beautifully
restored buildings.
Soon we reach the hustle and bustle of Greenmarket Square, with
its closely packed market stalls and thriving flea market. The
original cobblestones are still in existence, so please watch
your step. The Square is flanked by a variety of restaurants
and coffee shops. On the one side is the Old Town House, which
started out as the Burgher Watch House and is now an art gallery.
From Greenmarket Square we walk down St. George's Mall, which
used to be a congested city street until it was closed off for
the use of pedestrians only. The many interesting shops and market
stalls offer so much to see, and restaurants and coffee shops
with umbrella shaded outdoor seating offer cool refreshments
and delicious meals.
We hope that you have enjoyed our tour through Cape Town, this
beautiful city with such a rich culture and history. For a pleasant
end to a lovely day there are many suggestions - a home brewed
beer at the V&A Waterfront, an encounter with some not-so-shy "dassies" on
top of Table Mountain, a boat cruise to world famous Robben Island,
or how about a peaceful sundowner on Signal Hill, where the stars
twinkle above and the myriad of Cape Town's city lights twinkle
below …
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