It was during the South African winter season that I booked myself into one of Cape Town’s hotels. I was warned that the winter season, especially in Cape Town, is not one of the most joyous times to be planning a mini-break, but I was determined, enough not to be stopped by the fear of getting a little bit wet in the Mother City.

Just what I needed…

I booked into the Sugar Hotel. My plan was to do as little as possible, except for some shopping and sitting at a local café enjoying the latest addition to my bookshelf.

The Sugar Hotel was everything I expected, luxurious with really friendly service. This time of year, there are almost second to none tourists. Overseas tourists are mostly enjoying the summer season in Europe and locals tend to stay in, so except for the businessmen, it felt like I was pretty much the only guest.

My room faced Table Mountain, which was a stunning sight. It looked like a soft cloud blanket slowly draped over the mountain top. So after a long bath, in what was easily one of the most beautiful bathrooms I’ve seen, I stood by my window with a warm cup of coffee, simply gazing at the view.

When it rains…

On my second day in Cape Town, the rain was really coming down, which made it a perfect day to do some shopping. The hotel called a taxi for me, which looked like a typical London taxi. The driver was a friendly chap called Eddie, he seemed like a real character, and one who would easily spend the trip filling you in on the happenings of the town. But the trip to the V&A Waterfront was short, so he could only get as far as which seafood restaurants would be the best choice.

At the V&A Waterfront it was busier than what I expected, but considering it was almost lunchtime, it all added up. It’s amazing how quickly the time flies when you are busy shopping. I probably spent about five hours, including eating a light lunch at one of the restaurants, during the outing. I felt very content with all that I had purchased, especially a stunning pair of designer shoes.

When my taxi collected me again, I was almost disappointed that the driver wasn’t Eddie. But disappointment aside, I was looking forward to getting back to the hotel for a rest before heading out again that night for dinner.

Chocolate for the soul…

It was yet again another rainy day in Cape Town. So I settled at one of the many little cafés on Cape Town’s famous Long Street. And to go with the weather, it only felt right to order a cup of hot chocolate.

I took my book with me, but spent most of my time just looking at the people passing by. It was easy to see why Cape Town is classified as a cosmopolitan city. There was a wide variety of cultures and styles, the most interesting being a small group of students. While most of the people seemed rushed to get to their destinations, nothing seemed to hasten them. It was like nothing bothered them, they were simply just walking along the road, chatting a long the way.

So after awhile, I ordered a cup of cappuccino, and continued with my book. Only after almost finishing it, did I pay my bill and started wandering in the direction of my hotel.

When I got back to the hotel I came to realise that even though most people would dislike rain during their trip, I think it added some serenity. Everything seemed softer, less rushed and overall it was as far from unpleasant as one can expect.

Author: Lulie Swanepoel