while on Cape Point watching the sea birds I learned a valuable lesson about shit.
the sea birds lay their eggs in their Guano. Guano was a very important and harvested fertilizer transported by ships. This ‘bird shit’ is nutrient and ammonia rich. When loading a ship with guano the instructions were ”Store High In Transit”. Hence, S.H.I.T became the slang for guano. how did I get to this age and only found this out now?
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I’m sitting in a beautiful sunlit room over looking the Victoria Albert harbor in Cape Town South Africa. I hear my husband listening to South African videos behind me... he’s fact checking all the details we heard today on our tour.
It’s been an amazing 16 days. I’m overflowing with blog posts. And struggling between “what to take time to share” and “ what is just an insanely wonderful memory”. I won’t lie. Listening to Martin linger and speak on the rich South African history made me smile. Hearing my husband interject facts and dates that challenged Martin.... well that was crazy impressive. Me? I am not a historian. I was interested in botany, geography and the beautiful language being spoken on my left.... I got the LOOK. You know the LOOK. The one that says...don’t interrupt us...we are busy. These two beautiful men are bonded beyond the Red Sox Cap Mark toted from the states. A stranger, an Indian woman from San Francisco asked if she could take my photo on Table Mountain....I was stunned... for 10 minutes I was part of a photo shoot...then a release was signed and I may end up in some San Francisco magazine about South Africa and retirees! I’m going out on a limb. I’m at the end of an amazing South African trip. Our friend, Bea, who we met 5 years ago while doing a sunset voyage down the Zambezi river. I fell in love with her young son. Those who know and love me are not surprised that this friendship is secured by a child. Leander (Leo) is a wildly handsome young adult now. I won’t embarrass him by my musings. His mum, Bea, However.... she made efforts to meet us whenever we we were on the continent... sometimes meeting us on a barge on a river in Amsterdam.... Bea and I have been friends for 5 years and she “gets” our craziness. This trip could not be more perfect for OUR 60th year. Both Mark and I are grateful we are still on the planet. Mark has lost siblings. I’ve been lucky. But 60... is a gift. Relationships at 60 years of age is a story. Experiences at 60 years of age is history. Today, a waitress from the bar at our hotel in Cape Town said “ thank you, mum, we appreciate your love for us” It made me think, as I closed my hotel door....isn’t that what makes these 60 years what they’ve been have been all about? APPRECIATING YOUR LOVE FOR US? Please...if you do nothing else....appreciate your love for......... its not wise to leave your windows open! The Baboons are very crafty in this area... they are however open to negotiations. If you carry a banana or an apple with you you stand a pretty good chance of getting your pocketbook, golf clubs, keys or wallet back from this crafty creature.
while walking around Hermanus if you see folks with random pieces of fruit...don’t assume it’s lunch! It could be baboon retardant! no!!! It’s not from Africa!
This is my mother’s silver teaspoon. My friend Christine built this bracelet for me last Christmas. You see I have her my Mother’s 10 silver spoons. On 9 she imprinted “Blessed”. And on one she stamped “fierce”. my nieces received one of mother’s spoons for Christmas last year...and I have not removed “Fierce” since it arrived! Christine is a talented artisan. My mother was a fierce and powerful woman. Her silver lives on with her grands...whether they wear the bracelets or not... we are “fiercely blessed” by being her descendants... but no...to those who asked... my bracelet is not an African Treasure. thanks for noticing! A thirsty country.
We knew the water supply is challenged in South Africa. All our travel documents warned us. As a tourist you are reminded by the tent cards in your room that invite you to be careful. The sinks and tubs won’t plug so there is no option for shaving water or a warm soak. It’s no big deal as a guest but then we spoke to Greta our driver and the shortage becomes very real. She says the reservoir for South Africa. (Including Cape Town) has just risen from 45% full to 62%. This area has been running under 50% for nearly 4 years. They are by law allowed to water their gardens for 1 hour 2 times a week on a rotating basis. Otherwise they will be fined by the government. She explains the water shortage has forced them to become creative Horticulturist as they now are planting more plants that require less water! Her family saves the water from their “daily living”. Dish water, bath water, shower water is all used again to water her gardens or wash her cars. She has a catch basin where she puts the reusable water for just these needs. We shared how shocked we were by the plastic! Everywhere we go we are handed plastic bottles and the bins of recyclable plastic bottles are toppling over. She agreed the plastic is a problem. Mostly just for tourist as tap water is not generally great for drinking. Africans are used to its salt and mineral qualities but Travelors often get sick. She told us of a restaurant in town that has banned straws. But they have become creative and make their own straws out of macaroni! We will try to find that spot! Water is a currency here. Everyone wants and needs it. I asked what the long term effects on the fruit and wheat production will be? She said they will adapt. Flavors will change... She sees prices rising. Watering trucks (like fire engines) move up and down the vineyards. The crisis is real. The Africans are “adapting”. |
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