July 4th City Tour and Helicopter ride

Cape Grace Hotel


The tip of Africa Cape Point



Table Mountain

And yes, we really are here.

Happy 4th of July to those of you back home.

Very fortunate today, the weather here in winter is typically rainy and overcast, we have been blessed to two beautiful days of clear weather and it looks like Sunday will be another. Today we had a close look at Table Mountain high above Cape Town. Table Mountain rises 1,830 meters above the city and creates a shield around the North of the city. A beautiful cable car carries tourists to the top. The entire Western cost of South Africa is mountainous. I took many HDR and panoramic photos from the top, just need time for processing and editing.

We then did a city tour where we learned about the early Dutch Settlers and how the British took over control in 1806. We visited the fort used to defend the City in the early Dutch and British days. The fort is well maintained and still houses some of South Africa’s Military Administration.

Driving through the City we saw the financial districts and the Parliament buildings.

Our best thrill today was a one hour helicopter ride around the City, Table Mountain and down the Peninsula to The Cape of Good Hope around the Lighthouse at Cape Point along the shore where the penguins are and back to the heliport. It was one of our best site seeing rides in a helicopter yet.

Tomorrow we head out by car and follow the same route down and around the Peninsula to get a different perspective on the ground.

From the air it is amazing how affluent this area is, houses along the Peninsula go for several million dollars. We saw a castle mansion that Michael Jackson once made an offer on. Michael Jackson did several concerts here and was well received by the people; in fact Michael’s last live performance was here.

I have so many good pictures, but have had little time to upload them to the photo site; I am trying to spend most of my time making sure I keep the blog going.