This morning I was greeted again by Phillip — this guy is everywhere. He helped me piece together some of the foggy memories from yesterday’s wine tour. You see, when someone says they’re going on a “wine tour,” it’s really just their classy way of saying, “I’m planning to get totally drunk during the day.” I’ve been keeping very detailed notes during this RTW Adventure. For the most part, they’ve been very clear. Until yesterday crossed my path. All you have to do is look at my notes about the wine tour to see that. They get progressively more difficult impossible to read.

I think that last bit is just a bunch of lines about a neighbor?

Anyway, today’s trip was far tamer. We struck out to explore the areas that lead to — and from — the storied Cape of Good Hope. This is the reason I wanted to come here. Explorers as far back as the Phoenicians have rounded this difficult place. Once it’s behind them, they become hopeful for what’s to come. I wanted to see it! And eat an ostrich burger on the balcony that overlooks it.

On the way, there were more stunning views of coastline than I can count.

The views were breathtaking. At times, literally. The climbs revealed just how out-of-shape I am.

We stopped for a quick boat ride to Seal Island. I forgot to ask how it got the name.

The sea was rough. No wonder so many ships have gone down here. See the 700-or-so seals?

After taking a ride over Chapman’s Peak Road (which has 144 curves, is 14 km, and was built by prisoners between 1915 – 1922), we were on our way to the Cape of Good Hope.

Phillip really seems to enjoy taking the obligatory tourist shots. Oh, well. I don’t mind posing for a camera.

Here’s the Cape from the lighthouse above. When they built the lighthouse, they forgot about the nearly constant fog that obscures it. They had to build another below.

Sadly, I had my own shipwreck at the Cape of Good Hope. I dropped my phone, cracking the screen. It still works, but now every time I check my email, I’ll be reminded of my time there.

There’s a nature preserve around the Cape of Good Hope. There are a lot of wild animals around. We were fortunate to see several including some kind of a rare antelope. I got a picture, but technology works differently in the Southern Hemisphere and I can’t upload it.

This wild ostrich wasn’t as nice as the one on my plate in burger form.

There were a lot of these lizards.

It’s Phillip and the turtle he caught.

We got to see the famous African Penguins that live just outside Cape Town, too.

The one on the right looks upset. Nothing came of his anger, though.

They’re so stately.

Here’s the thing about South Africa: They seem to love their signs. There are signs for everything. But their signs are not like our signs at home. They simply have other things to worry about.

You don’t see this one in the States!

According to other signs, Baboons are dangerous, attracted to food, and know how to open your bags.

Car vs. Penguin. Let’s see who wins.

Some signs just go over the top.

Other signs just raise questions.

We finished the day by going to Kirstenbosch Gardens. I don’t care for Gardens, but I was along for the ride. Here’s a glance…

It was nice, but I had no idea what I was looking at.

There were some really nice sculptures by a South African artist called Dylan Lewis.

After we were all done, I returned to my hotel. I had dinner on the top floor here. It was unbelievable. I had a four-course meal with a chicken and mushroom salad, crab cakes [the best I’ve ever had in my life], a vanilla sorbet, and guinea fowl. It cost about US $30, which was the same price I paid for that sub-par ham and cheese in Copenhagen. Oh, and also included was this view…

The clouds rolled over Table Mountain like a fog machine. I’ve seen a lot of amazing things during this trip — really, in my life — but nothing compared to that. It was truly an amazing sight. Locals call it the “table cloth.” I will never forget it.