Written on 27/01/2013
So the day finally arrived, we were heading for Cape Town to carry on
the long-standing tradition of Project Trust volunteers gathering in Cape Town
for the festive period. Our
rucksacks full to the brim – heavier than when I arrived in South Africa!! – we
boarded the 19 hour coach journey.
It’s fair to say we were more than excited! After 19 long hours we arrived in Cape Town on Christmas
Eve, tired, smelly but eager to freshen up and see all the other volunteers. It has to be said, that first night out
was one of the best I’ve ever had.
A group of 35 Project Trust volunteers hit Long Street, it was insane!
The next morning I woke up a little worse for wear and totally forgot it
was CHRISTMAS DAY. Apparently the
Santa hat on my head wasn’t a clear enough clue either. A tradition of Long Street Backpackers
was that every Christmas day, they climb up Table Mountain to a cave where they
eat lots, play loud music and of course, drink. Everyone was allocated a platter of food to carry up the mountain,
I was given the marshmallow rice crisy desert… SCORE! On the way up we got terribly lost and I was hungry, so I
did what anyone would do, ate half of the desert. I wasn’t the most popular person when we finally
arrived! The views were stunning
from the cave, it overlooked the whole of Cape Town and we could see for miles
to the surrounding mountains.
Although it didn’t feel like a traditional Christmas I was certainly in
the festive sprits. Singing
Christmas songs, eating turkey and stuffing and having one too many champagnes. Later that day I had a lovely Skype
session with my beautiful family; whom I think had also had one too many
champagnes! It was so good to see
them so happy and slightly merry too!
I can’t lie, a tear was shed.
I missed them a lot on Christmas Day, but I couldn’t have asked for a better
group of people to celebrate it with.
Plus, how many people can say they spent Christmas day in 35-degree heat
in a cave, up Table Mountain? Once in a lifetime.
Cape Town was eventful to say the least. For example, Daisy cutting her foot open on a broken
Black Label bottle. But it was ok,
Nurse Sally was there to save the day.
In the middle of a packed club I bandaged her foot up and blagged two
sympathy shots for us. If someone
offers you ‘Stroh Rum’ shot… NEVER do it!
Two words: 80% Alcohol…
One morning I was woke up with a slightly sore head – well actually this
happened every morning, even when I hadn’t been drinking the night before? – and
Lucy says ‘fancy hiking Table Mountain today?’ I figure why not, won’t get the opportunity to do it any
time soon. I regretted that
decision as soon as I took the first step. Also I don’t know what possessed me to do it with two
Outward Bound girls who were incredibly fit, I mean I like to think I’m quite
fit, but compared to them I may aswell have been morbidly obese and smoked 40 a
day!! This is no exaggeration, I
nearly died!!! Two hours and many water breaks later we reached the top. It was the best feeling in the world. I
did it. I conquered Table Mountain!
There’s only one-way to describe New Years Eve on Long Street:
CRAZY. They close off the road and
it turns into one big street party (Videos on Youtube, check them out). All the
volunteers decided to take Long Street by force. But not before we played ‘Never Have I Ever In South
Africa’… some interesting stories came out of that game!! Anyway we headed out to our favourite
spot ‘Bobs Bar’ which was so good.
It was such a great feeling to enter the new year surrounded some of the
best people!! Best New Year’s to date.
At about 3am I did what any other drunk person does, head to McDonalds
of course. ‘Start as you mean to
go on’ ay?!
Overall the week in Cape Town was unforgettable – well the bits I can
remember anyway ;) – and I couldn’t have spent it with a better group of
people. Also meeting the
volunteers from Botswana and Swaziland and getting to know them too was so lovely.
P.s. if you ever go to Long Street… make sure you check out Bob’s Bar!
Free shots for everyone who dances on the pole. Us girls didn’t need to buy many drinks!!
