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.