Cape Town, Day 3

Photos

We had an early start today. Clay was up a few minutes before the 3:45am wake up call he'd ordered. We had both showered the night before. We also both had a salvaged breakfast in the cabin fridge. We got a couple of bottles of cold water ready to go. I applied sun screen. We were out by 4:40 am or so. There were 2 security guards in the terminal building and we walked by both without waking them. Clay worried our driver would not be able to enter the port. I walked halfway across the parking lot to see if I could see the entry gate but it was blocked by a tanker truck. As I walked back to report, I saw a pedestrian approaching so I told Clay the gate must be open. We could just walk there and the car and driver can't get past us. It turned out the pedestrian was our driver! He had gotten permission to enter the port with his car but it hadn't been relayed to the night guard. The good news is that he did get to enter on foot. We'd have walked to the gate on our own eventually but then we'd have arrived late for our game drive since it left 15 minutes before scheduled as soon as we sat down. It was a 2 hour drive in the dark mostly to arrive at Aquila.

The game drive and game reserve were very different than any we've done in Africa before. It was more like Disney's Animal Kingdom safari. They had a much bigger 4x4 vehicle, maybe 20 passengers. We had the 2 seats that were their only row across from the entry gate/stairs so that was good. Probably the best seats on their. Our booking agent friend had evidently warned everyone we are elderly. Compared to the 20-somethings on the vehicle, we were! Anyway, Aquila feeds their resident animals so they know exactly where to find them, just like Disney AK. The lions were even in their own fenced in area separated from the rest of the reserve. This seemed like a bit of a cheat from game drive standards so, it was different but still we got a good viewing of animals close up in Africa. So that was good. We were glad we went.

We had a full buffet breakfast at the end of the game drive. The drive lasted just under 2 hours. We were ready to drive back by 10:30 am. Since we were going to get back early, we asked our driver about where we might find a gold elephant link bracelet. He took us to Canalwalk Mall in Century City that carried that bracelet with diamond elephant eyes in 2001. They don't anymore. I checked their website and they have a location in V&A Waterfront but we didn't find it. I got a business card in case I want them to find the bracelet (make it?) for me and courier it to me at home. I don't think so. I still think I'd prefer the plain gold one and we never found it or who had it in 2001. So, for now that's an end of that.

We got back around 1pm and had lunch at Trident & Scoops. Evidently after 2:30 pm (or whenever the immigration inspection actually started) the street side exit to the terminal was closed and you couldn't leave. So it is 5pm now and I guess inspection is over. We were group 5 and were called around 3:45 pm. I think there were 13 groups. We are about 4 minutes from the mandatory muster drill. We are back from the drill and it seemed better organized than last time. I guess we'll know tomorrow if we get a letter or not this time.

We are dining at Prego tonight. I guess we are still "departing" Cape Town at 7 pm. Every other port where we were all aboard early, we left early. But we've had different rules here in South Africa and we have a new captain. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Well, it is 7:35 pm and we are back from dinner in Prego. Prego has a new menu again. I believe this is the 3rd edition since we boarded so for a fixed menu it has changed regularly with each segment. It is still my least favorite restaurant on Serenity. In good news though, Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio is back.

We had mail this evening. A notification that Namibia tourism standards are not up to par and begging our understanding and patience. A notification that Namibia will require a face to face immigration interview and it will take place onboard starting at 1 pm tomorrow. They enclosed the arrival/departure cards we filled out in February. We bring 1 and our passport tomorrow and keep the 2nd copy to turn it at the exit interview.

We still haven't left the dock at Cape Town. No announcements have been made about this. The inner harbor that we can see has become filled with whitecaps which is not a good sign.

If we sail tonight, tomorrow is a sea day. We are scheduled to dock in Luderitz at 7am the following day. Fingers crossed. I'll keep you posted.

7:50 pm The captain just made a PA status update. Due to high winds, the port has been closed. There is a possibility it could reopen after midnight, but he hopes for at worst sometime tomorrow. He claims if that happens in the morning that we can still sail fast enough to arrive close to on time on the 16th. Stay tuned.

Photos