Exploring the City Bowl

I've been so focused on taking advantage of the outdoors as much as possible, I nearly consigned the cityscape into oblivion. Admiring the city from Cape Town's magnificent peaks is a treasure -- watching the hectic life from a silent and serene precipice is the exact reason why so many people gravitate to the great outdoors. It's simply an escape. With the help of my Lonely Planet guide and the advice of some local friends, I finally set out to explore the Mother City.

Following the Youth Day celebration in Philippi Village, a fellow intern and I hitched a ride with a colleague to the inner-city suburb of Gardens. After a simple lunch at a charming cafe, I continued on foot making my way down the famed Kloof and Long Streets. This area is a popular nightlife spot for locals and visitors, alike. While I've enjoyed a rooftop beer at a few of these establishments, this part of town has a character unique from the bustle of the night. I strolled in and out of fashionable stores, wandered past handicraft markets, and caught glimpses of Lion's Head and Signal Hill in between the buildings.

Along this delightful stroll, I discovered Greenmarket Square in the heart of Cape Town's business district. Vibrant stalls fill the square with African keepsakes sold by young entrepreneurs and older artisans. While I'm not confident in my bartering abilities, I haggled the price of a dainty little pendant down by 55%, so I'm going to call that a success!

I continued walking through the central business district towards the famed V&A Waterfront situated on Cape Town's working harbor. The Waterfront boats a network of indoor shopping areas and entertainment venues which seamlessly merge with ocean vistas, mountain views, the fresh sea breeze, and the lingering warmth of the winter sunset. The Two Oceans Aquarium is also situated in this part of town, though as an addict of ocean life, the aquarium will have to wait until another day in the near future. As the sun was starting to set, I escaped from the luxury shopping mall and strolled down the seaside boardwalk. Tempted by the delectable scents of curry and cumin radiating from the food market, I finally took a cab back home.