Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - Cape Town, South Africa

We got up about 7 and had breakfast in the concierge lounge.  They do a good job there and the views of Cape Town are spectacular.

We met Richard Hopkins at 9 am for our “Wine Tour”.   We first headed north to De Grendel Vineyard with spectacular views of Cape Town and Table Mountain.  We had tastings of 9 wines and bought a couple of bottles of the white dessert wine – the Noble Late Harvest.

Views from De Grendel Vineyard outside of Cape Town

One of the many vineyards at De Grendel

The visitor center - Sir David Graaff is the owner of the vineyard

Beautiful views of Table Mountain from the vineyard

Our table in the visitor center during our wine tasting

We then headed further north and stopped at a vineyard north of Franschhoek – Haute Cabriere .  We tried 6 more wines including their sparking wine.  Beautiful views of the mountains and valley.

Beautiful mountain ranges in Franschhoek at Haute Cabriere Winery

At the Haute Cabriere Winery near Stellenbosch, South Africa

The beautiful vistas with vineyards all over the valley

Then we went to the small town of Franzhoek and had a delightful lunch on the patio and relaxed.

Then we went to Boschendal Winery and tasted 5 more wines.  I’m starting to buzz, even with lunch.  The scenery was beautiful with large mountains and vineyards all around.  Beautiful place.

In the garden at Boschendal Winery enjoying our wine tasting

The beautiful vineyards outside Stellenbosch

These vineyards were up on hills rather than in the valley

Interesting "art" at the last vineyard

Enjoying our wine with a view

Our last stop was at a newer vineyard that had grapes and olive trees.  We tried 5 more wines.

Richard drove us back through Stellenbosch which is a larger town with a large university.  Richard gave us a good description of the area, the vineyards, and life in South Africa.  He also explained the difference between the colored and the blacks and the various segments of population and which groups look down on other groups.

We got back to the hotel and I was wiped out.  Tim went to the mall and got me antibiotics from the cute pharmacist.  You don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get meds in South Africa.  Thank goodness.  Tim went to dinner and I rested.  The coughing just has to stop.

We watched TV and went to bed about 10 but I was up most of the night coughing.