Must See in Cape Town...Table Mountain and Robben Island ....

Well where do i start with Table Mountain????!

Table mountain is an incredible place that gives panoramic views of the city below. It covers 24,500 hectars which is hard to comprehend is over 1000m above sea level and is covered by the infamous table cloth of cloud that the locals call the cape doctor as it helps keep the city clear as the clouds hover over the mountain tops.
I was really lucky as i was able to see some stunning views, but more difficult to see right at the top of the mountain because the table cloth was lay over it, was white and damp with the mist from the clouds, so surreal how the climate changes as the altitude rises from blue skys to white!

Peeking through the table cloth at the top of the mountain...WOW! x



An explanation of the mist...



Me just excited to be at the top amidst the mist:-)

I would love to come back again when the view is completely clear from the top although to be honest the height and some of the sheer drops i think would terrify me if i could have seen them, likewise i think its a terrifying thought that when on the cable car it's few cables between you and a 1085m drop eek haha!!!

Would definitely come come back and it deserves its wonder of the world status!

ROBBEN ISLAND

Robben Island was a very interesting experience which started by me boarding the boat at Jetty 1 at the Nelson Mandela Gateway...it is starnge to think people were sent there 12km over table bay for all different reasons over the years, it was used to house people with leprosy for fear that they were posessed by the devil and so they needed to be removed from mainstream society, it has been a military base due to its isolated position and most commonly known as a place where prisoners were incarcerated from the days of the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie-Dutch East India Company) until 1996.  The stories say it was nothing short of hell and has now been recognised as a world heritage sight educating and informing people of the past and the importance of looking to the future.

This can be read inside the Mandela Gateway Entrance again showing optimism for a brighter future

The boat that took us over was speedy only taking about 25mins however it was a ride over the choppy waters no wonder not many prisoners successfully escaped! Me and Ivy from Mexico below giggling at our rubbish sea legs!

Then a glipse of the island which is deceptively large once you set foot on it...

When on the island you can see the lime quarry where prisoners were forced to work, using caves to shelter from the mid-day sun and used as bathroom facilities, the stones that can be seen in the middle were placed by 120 ex-prisoners that returned to the island as a symbol of unity to stay strong and work together for a brighter future.

View from the island over looking table bay...quite cruel to think you can almost see and taste freedom especially when you have been imprisoned for figting for peoples rights and challenging the governments desire to surpress people.

 The entrance to Robben Island Prison and where the ex-prisoner below was held for 4 years!


It was a heartfelt experience especially as the ex prisoner talked about solitary confinement where he spent 5 months in silence except for experiences of torture, starvation, and humiliation i.e. being handcuffed naked to table legs whilst guards shouted things like look at the monkey.  It must have been horrific at times there and I think he was brave for sharing his experiences.

A priviledge on occasion was to mingle with others and play football, although guards didn't like such intellectual people mixing could have been quite danderous with such strong minds combined!

We were shown a large cell where we could ask questions about his experiences, hardships and he told us how the Red Cross faught so that they could get the floor matts as a basic need.  There were upto 40 people in a cell this size (above).

It was also interesting to see Nelson Mandela's cell with only a blanket, a bucket and a cup, such a tiny space for so many years served there. We were told how the prisoners would bury things in the garden to pass messages between each other and they would form secret political groups in their search for freedom, all of which were banned of course.

 The arch way that all prisoners walked under upon release from jail on their own personal long walk to freedom!

 But the most emotional part I felt was actually walking in the steps of former prisoners talking the long road to freedom to the blouberg boat below where they were handcuffed to the bottom below deck whilst transported, I couldn't help wonder what their first thoughts were when they had their freedom back.  

We are incredibly lucky to have our freedom and even luckier to have such strong people who are willing to challenge the higher powers to bring the changes that we all enjoy today...very inspirational and incredible how after all the wrong doing, the prisoner we spoke with wasn't bitter as he said that he could see his actions helped bring some change when it was and still is needed xx