"Toto, I've Got a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore"

-Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), The Wizard of Oz (1939

              Before it seemed like the semester had even begun, it was February 23rd and a month had flown by. Coincidentally, February 23rd was also the day my Grandmother Sally and Sister Sarah arrived in Cape Town to spend 10 days. Brother Pete was busy at work but will be taking next week off to come down here and spend some time with us all. Though I wouldn't really be moving anywhere, this marked the beginning of a vacation or stay cation time for me, which was ridiculous considering that I feel as though I've been on vacation for the whole month I've been here. Having Sally, Peter and Sarah here would allow me to do things, see things, eat things and try things I wouldn't have the opportunity to otherwise.

              After my Word Power Lab on Thursday, I jumped in a cab and headed off to the Mount Nelson Hotel to meet Sarah and Sally who were weary from their full day of travel from New York to Cape Town. In high, but exhausted spirits, we decided that the best way to acclimate them to local time would be to have a relaxing afternoon by the pool. I encouraged them to stay awake until 9 or 10 at night in order to help keep the jet lag from taking over their trip. So we lay out by this gorgeous pool at the Mount Nelson and enjoyed some cold drinks, a hot sun and peaceful conversation. 

Beautiful pool and surroundings at the hotel

Before long the afternoon had passed by and we went back to the room to change and have an early dinner so that Sally and Sarah could get to bed and shed the misery of their travel. So we all got changed and decided it would be best to stay at the hotel to make it quick and easy to grab a bite to eat. As it turned out, the restaurant wasn't a quick and easy affair, it was a slow and elegant feast. I, of course, had no problem with this as I had become accustomed to grilled cheese sandwiches as a routine dinner in the previous weeks. We had a phenomenal waiter by the name of Emmanuel who was one of the most helpful, friendliest and informed waiters I've ever had. He recommended a a wine that was just incredible and we documented it the vineyard so that we could visit the vineyard later in the week. 

One of the most enjoyable wines I've ever had, made just 30 minutes from Cape Town

        After a meal of Ostrich, Springbok and Fig Ice Cream, which happens to be my Grandma's favorite, Sarah and Sally were exhausted, full and ready to go to bed. I brought them back to the room, and discovered that our room had been decorated with flower petals and burning candles. Clearly they had mistaken a Grandchildren-Grandmother vacation for a honey moon or romantic getaway, but we laughed about the absurdity of the decorations made as they prepared to go off to sleep. I could not call it a night at 9:30 so I headed out back to UCT campus and met up with some friends for the night. But, it had been quite a day. My day had started with two written assignments in class, and ended seeing my Grandma and Sister and being pampered for the afternoon. 

Some sort of misunderstanding regarding the nature of our stay

        I'm so happy to have them here and excited my Grandmother has come all this way to see me and discover a new place. For those of you who don't know my Grandmother, she is one of the most generous, fun, adventurous and remarkable women I have ever met. Despite the fact that she is approaching 90, she stays young by interacting with young people, staying active, and traveling all over the world with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Surprisingly, she had never been to Africa before, so this would be her first visit. She loves animals and especially animal prints so we were excited that we could have her encounter some of these animals here in a setting more natural than a zoo. The thing I admire about her the most is the genuine joy she has from seeing others enjoy themselves, and always is eager to meet my friends, bring them out to dinner and make the night they spend with her one to remember. No doubt this would be a once in a lifetime trip for all of us and many fond memories will soon be enjoyed. For now, they need their sleep to rest up for a week and a half of adventure and activity.  

"Toto, I've Got a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore"