This evening at 7 o’ clock we were all still playing in the pool and having great fun. The temperature was still around 25 degrees celcius and the sun was setting in the ocean. An almost perfect situation and we realised that to live moments like this, was one of the reasons we wanted to travel he world.
After a few hectic last weeks of preparations, packing and preparing we finally boarded our plane to Johannesburg last Thursday. An 11 hour flight, so lots of time to watch movies, play with the ipad or read an e-book. Late at night we arrived in Johannesburg, where we were greeted by a very friendly staff member of the Aero Guest lodge, who brought us swiftly to our lodge. Around midnight we were all finally in bed and asleep. But the next morning we woke-up with a beautiful blue sky and lovely warm temperatures. When we left Schiphol the temperatures were still sub zero, but here in South Africa it is in the middle of the summer and we have already seen temperatures over 30 degrees. We had the morning to relax in the nice garden of the lodge, before taking our next flight to Cape Town.
It is great to be back in Cape Town. We have been here many times before, but always without kids. But each time when we arrive here again, it feels like home. We are now three days in Cape Town and slowly getting into a bit of a rhytm. Letting go of the stress we build-up, bonding together, catching-up some sleep from a few short nights and making the mental adjustment that this will be our life for the next 10 months. We are staying in a nice 2 bedroom apartment, close to Houtbay with views of the ocean and mountains in front of us. One of Cape Town best beaches is just a 10 minutes stroll away (downhill, a bit longer back uphill) and the area feels safe and quiet. It also has a garden where the kids can play and a pool that we can use. It is so refreshing to cool down a the end of the day in your own pool.
Today we visited some old friends we know from the time we lived and worked in Gabon. We had a fantastic lunch at their patio, with fish from the braai and the kids playing in the garden and pool. They have been living and working in Cape Town for the past 2.5 years and are doing exactly what we always dreamt off – being based in Cape Town. It was good to meet them again, but also to hear how it really is to life here, the good and the bad stories. It gave us something to reflect upon.
We will be staying here for another week, before slowly traveling the garden route. We have plenty of things we want to
do, but no fixed plan and we take it by the day. Most important for us now is to get out of the must and to-do mindset we have been running with for the last weeks and move into the feel what is good for the family and just relax and enjoy. Like spending time in our pool.
ps. Don’t forget to check our pictures page – there are new pictures from the travel days and the first days in Cape Town.