Parys and ward friends

On Saturday, 26 February 2011 Ron and I went on a day excursion to Parys, South Africa. Driving 1 1/2 hours south of Johannesburg into the rolling countryside with Elder and Sister Larry and Pam Richardson (Humanitarian senior missionary couple from Louisiana) we browsed through antique shops and art galleries before eating lunch in the Hoi Polloi Bistro.

This second story restaurant which offers gourmet dishes served by waitrons wearing white gloves sits atop a car repair garage named Sabat Parys Batterye (Battery Charging and Hydraulics)! Accessed by steep metal stairs, the shaded outdoor deck gave us a good view of the town's main street.

On Sunday we said good-bye to a dynamic couple moving from our ward, Nonhlanhla and Thembinkosi. She has been serving as the Primary president for children ages 18 months-11 years and he was on the stake High Council.

Later at our flat we hosted dinner for two young couples who have extended their friendship to us, Natalie and Bnekani and newly weds Sandile and Nicole. These young people are serving in ward leadership positions and have been blessed with great talents and potential for their futures.

Cape peninsula highlights

Interspersed with our security surveys, meetings and training with stake and units leaders in the Cape Town mission and stake were excursions into the gorgeous scenery which surrounded us.

At the southern tip of the Cape peninsula we hiked to the Cape Point lighthouse and later stood on the rocky shore of the Cape of Good Hope (sixth photo down). With waves crashing virtually at their feet were a male ostrich and a troop of baboons eating berries.

Just south of Simon's Town on False Bay we were delighted by the antics of a colony of African penguins that live at Boulders Beach, one of the few colonies on the mainland. Arriving during the molting and breeding season of the penguins, we stayed a respectful distance from them. Notice the pair "holding hands."

From an overview on Chapman's Peak Drive, our destination was the white sandy beach of Hout Bay, an active fishing port in clear blue waters. Here we watched boys dive from fishing boats into the deep bay, had an ice cream and let the icy cold Atlantic waters wash over our feet.

Luxury beaches to township life

The Cape Town experience includes a wide range of perspectives from gorgeous luxury beaches to township communities.

Descending from Table Mountain we made our way past Lion's Head (as seen rising from the parking lot) to Camps Bay's white sand beach that we had observed from the top of the mountain. Notice the leaning trees along the road which do not stand straight due to the prevailing winds.

At Camps Bay we found a park bench in the shade and took in the scenery with the Twelve Apostles range of mountains and row of restaurants behind us, the Atlantic Ocean and beach activities before us. For our anniversary dinner we enjoyed seafood with a sunset view of the beach in the calm, warm evening air.







On Sunday, 13 February 2011 Ron and I made security surveys of two meetinghouses and met with the respective leaders of these units--Mowbray Ward close to downtown and Khayelitsha Branch in the township of the same name. With a population of 2 million, Khayelitsha is the second largest township in South Africa following Soweto with 3 million people living adjacent to Johannesburg. We were warmly welcomed at both venues and enjoyed visits with the bishop and branch president.

The plaque in the photo below gives a historical summary of the property on which the current Mowbray Ward is built. Purchased in 1916 it was the first property owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the continent of Africa.

Walking throughout the building we happened upon the Primary nursery class for children ages 18 months to three years of age.

A drive into a township is a sobering experience as one views people from many countries attempting to make a productive existence for themselves and their families. In Cape Town dramatic views of Table Mountain silhouette township streets.

The final two photos are of tidy homes on the hillside directly to the south of our hotel with the bay, downtown wharf and shipping yards to the north.

Tablecloth on the mountain

Cape Town has many striking features--perhaps the most imposing being Table Mountain which defines the skyline between ocean, city and inland mountain range. In a flawless, blue-sky day (our 36th wedding anniversary) Ron and I arrived before noon on a flight from Johannesburg. Our drive into downtown was toward this majestic centerpiece as seen in the first photo.

Checking in at our hotel we were informed the calm day is a rarity in this typically windy city and were encouraged to promptly make our way to the gondola ride to the top of Table Mountain. The floor inside the gondola makes a 360 degree turn in each ascent and descent for a remarkable panoramic view by each passenger.

In the Atlantic Ocean to the north is Robben Island (seen slightly on the far left in photo seven) neighboring Cape Town's active shipping-harbor bay and downtown wharf highlighted by the Victoria and Alfred waterfront with a myriad of shops and restaurants. Notice the white circular Cape Town Stadium on the shore to the left in the same photo.

Westward lie beautiful Atlantic beaches at the foot of Table Mountain. South views glimpse Cape Point and eastward bays which face the Indian Ocean. As Ron and I are sitting on the rock ledge the Cape of Good Hope is to the south behind us.

Along our hiking path we spotted a Rock Hyrax, or dassie, sunning on a ledge with two babies on either side.

In our six days in Cape Town, four were remarkably calm. On day five we witnessed the cloud formation phenomenon named "the tablecloth"--clouds which tumble down from the heights and drape halfway down the mountain slopes. It is a spectacular sight.