Excape to South Africa

We flew out here on Sunday and the boys surprised their travel weary parents. They were really good. We had to catch a train from Rotterdam to Amsterdam airport and they seemed to enjoy that first train experience. By the time we boarded at Schipol airport and departed it was 10.30pm, well after their bedtime. We gave them a good run around at the airport and then got them into pj’s ready for their bed/sleep. They were pretty tired so no need for the back up supply of Phenergen. They then slept until 7am, only two hours before landing in CT. We however, got next to no sleep as the SAA seats are like concrete with no foot rests or head wings. My bum was so sore but the up was that the boys slept and gave us some peace.

On the first leg to Amsterdam we had to make a train change at Leiden, there was a three minute time delay for the connecting train. The other had pulled up behind. We had two suitcases, a carry on with the boys in the double buggy. We couldn’t easily find the wheelchair access doors to the carriage but the conductor didn’t seem too bothered – in a typically dutch approach, didn’t help either. He just blew his whistle and closed the doors with us on the platform. The train pulled away and we were speechless with no idea when the next train would arrive, luckily it was only 10 mins. I was so desperate to get out of Holland at this stage because of the general avoidance of generosity that this didn’t help the dutch cause in my mind.

So, when a woman at Schipol airport tried to cut across me pulling her suitcase behind (the dutch are always in such a hurry), without any pardon me’s, I didn’t break my stride and just rammed and tangled her suitcase with the buggy. She wasn’t impressed but I just ignored her. It is amazing what six weeks has done to me. When in Holland, do as the dutch do.

It is such a refreshing change to be in SA, just what we need. Apart from the boys being unsettled at their new accom, it is so relaxed here, people walk at a normal pace, don’t cut in front of you and move out of the way when needed.

The weather also has been great over the last few days, generally in the late 20’s, sunny with a light breeze. As we are in Camps Bay, we have been able to walk down to the beach and let the boys have a play in the sand. We have also put the spa pool to good use, when the boys slept, we also relaxed on the pool side loungers.

So far my cautious little Oliver has managed quite a few scrapes and incidents. He has connected with a nasty thorn on a rose bush, it made a nasty scratch on his neck. He has managed to slip into the spa pool going completely under to the bottom, I managed to haul him out by his shirt. He was walking so carefully around, making sure not to go to close to the edge but managed to step onto a wet tile and in he went. Very frightening for the little fellow.

Bernie dropped us off in the city for a look around on our own and we had arranged to catch a cab home. We had a great day wandering around starting at the top of St Georges Mall and ending up at the Waterfront. It was a good walk and the boys slept in the buggy for quite a long portion of it. On our way back we were looking for a cab back to Camps Bay, we decided to stop in at the Cullinan Hotel to ask where the nearest cab rank was. Bernie told us that it would be around R7, his expectation anyway based on what we were unsure. But a very sober fellow, the concierge, called Bernard offered to drive us for R100. Stuart was waiting outside, I just wanted to get home and a lift from Bernard seemed like a lovely option. He reckoned that it would cost the same in a metered taxi anyway. So, we went with the serious Bernard.

A very smooth ride and worth the R100, and we still don’t know how much it would have cost if we had used a meter taxi. Never mind!

We had a great time shopping for all sorts of stuff the locals were very glad was leaving the country I’m sure. Lots of kitsch black artworks, a painting, and various other stuff. I could have bought so much more.