Hello! Today is the final Monday Session. I hope you have enjoyed reading about the adventures that my friends have had around the globe. I hope they have inspired you to perhaps consider some of the destinations and to have learned a bit more about various aspects of travel. The final session is with my long time friend and sometime travel partner Cat (yes even a solo traveller will partner up for fun adventures). Cat spent much of her youth in Cape Town, South Africa. In April 2016 Cat returned for a class reunion and to spend time with good friends.
WTW: You spent much of your youth in South Africa and returned for a class reunion. How long had it been since you were there?
Cat: 30 years!!
WTW: That is a long time. It’s wonderful that you were able to get back there. What had changed?
Cat: It had developed a fair bit, especially the downtown Waterfront area. I didn’t see much else in Cape Town as I was outside Cape Town for most of my time.
WTW: What feeling did you have when you returned?
Cat: I felt like I was home again. I got to see places that I’ve never seen before when I lived there previously. I was enjoying the culture, the people, and the scenery. It felt like being home and it felt comfortable.
WTW: It’s your happy place. Which areas Did you visit on this trip?
Cat: Predominantly Hermanus which is a beach community 3 hours outside of Cape Town. Then from Hermanus we did the Garden Route which goes up the east coast through Plattenberg Bay, Knysna, and onto Stormsriver where we ended.
WTW: How did you get around? What type of accommodations did you stay in?
Cat: My friend’s husband drove us so we did a road trip. We stayed at a golf resort for one of the nights, my friend has a timeshare in the golf resort. Then for the other two nights we stayed at my friend’s brother-in-law’s vacation home right on the beach.
WTW: You covered plenty of ground. Which places did you see or visit that really stood out for you?
Cat: I went ziplining in Tsitsikamma Park and to Cango Wildlife Park & Conservation Centre where I got to pet a baby cheetah. We did the Cango Caves and saw Knysna Heads which has some beautiful scenery along its the coast.
WTW: What was your favourite part or favourite memory?
Cat: Spending time with my best friend of 30 some years.
WTW: Friends are always the best part. South Africa has a very large wine industry. Did you take part in any wine tasting and if so can you tell me a bit about your favourites?
Cat: We did a couple of wine tours. My favorite was Creation Wines. We did a wine tasting lunch there in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, which is just near Hermanus. That was probably one of my favourites. And also a Graham Beck bubbly which we had sitting on the veranda watching the sunset with the beach and the waves crashing in front of us.
WTW: Wine is yummy. Your 30-year class reunion was held at a winery. Which one was it & how was it?
Cat: It was as the De Grendel Wine Farm. It was beautiful. Gorgeous views of Table Mountain and from the area called Panorama.
WTW: Any tips, recommendations for suggestions for anyone wanting to go to Cape Town and area?
Cat: Definitely to get out of Cape Town. Cape Town is beautiful but you also need to see the rest of South Africa. The scenery up both the west coast and the east coast of the Cape is absolutely amazing. You can go from beach to desert within the matter of an hour and it’s absolutely beautiful.
WTW: Thank you so much Cat. It does sound like a stunning place and I can’t wait to see it – we need to plan a trip soon. All photos owned & taken by Cat and used with permission.
Wanders The World 
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