Fun in the wine lands!!!!!

The phots were of: At the first vinyard of the day, the next is with Johanna, and the last is with the friends we meet from Zimbabwe.. Check out the rest of the photos at my webshots.com website

http://community.webshots.com/user/chadgriggs

Hey everyone!!!! As you can tell I have updated my blog much while here in Cape Town, because we have been having such a great time. I will try to keep this one short and do a longer one once we get back onto the ship. We have been going 24hrs a day lately getting very little sleep. Let’s see one night we went out to a pub that is right in front of the water front area where the ship is docked there are about 85 restaurants there plus countless shops. Drinks and food generally around Cape Town are about the same price maybe a little less than the states although there are some deals to be found if you look for them. Anyways it was kind of funny because that night we sat there for just a few minutes than who do you know the captain Jeremy and the security officer who we had, had lunch with twice since we had been onboard. So we hung out with them for a good part of the night. Then later we end up meeting these two guys that are from Africa but not from South Africa who are part of the UN I got there business cards one of the guys names is something Honourable Foldgers ….. in town on a political conference. Anyways that night AJ did not go out with us because he had to get up really early the next morning to go bungee jumping.

Another night we went out we went to this club called Pulse (there should be photos online now from here). Anyways it was a two story club and they had some of the best music. A lot of old American rap and rock and roll. We had a lot of fun singing along and dancing the night away to songs like “I love rock and roll but another quarter in the jut box baby”. That night we spent most of the night hanging out with one of our neighbours that is from India as well as a girl that goes to SMU and even more fun with a group of girls from Zimbabwe. That ended up being a pretty late night it was kind of fun going into the club because AJ and I both had two girls on our arms and more girls following us in so they thought that we were something else (at times as you can tell it is fun to play up the “American” thing if you know what I mean).

The next night we went up too a African Restaurant that had all the typical food as well as a fun 6 piece African band that played all kinds of different music some that was like an African spin of la bamba that got everyone up in the restaurant to dance. The food was pretty good but small portions, but don’t worry we aren’t starving for sure.

Now onto the wine lands. We had originally planned on having a group of about 15 go on Thursday, but as usual things changed. All of our Mexico friends ended up changing plans so I think that there were only 8 of us. But that was ok because we had a great driver named Jeffrey that Kera had been using the hole time while in Cape Town although it took him a little while to find all of the different vineyards that we wanted to go to he tried really hard and was very polite. The first day I believe we only made it to three wineries but we spent a lot of time at each one chatting. The wine on average is pretty good we found that the South African varietals that we like is there Syrah (which they said is the same thing as a Shiraz) but there best Shiraz they call there best ones Syrah. Also South Africa has a Pinotage that is only produce in South Africa it is a varietals that is cross planted with a pinot noir and another grape that I have written down but surprising (I know your shocked) I can’t remember. It was very harsh and worth trying while in South Africa but I don’t know if I would order a bottle while paying restaurant prices.

Anyways it was nice that the wineries weren’t trying to push you into buying their wines right then. They know how expensive it is to ship it to the states so they give you the card so that when you are back home you can order it in the states or pick it up at your local wine store.

Anyways we finished the day in Paarl at the http://www.seidelberg.co.za/ wineries that is the web site by the way. Johanna was amazing (she is actually from Switzerland and definitely knows her wine and is really cool I hope your reading this). Anyhow it sits up on top of a hill with a large lawn where you can sit out and look onto the mountains and vineyards in the distance. Later that afternoon we had a late lunch at the restaurant which was amazing a little pricey but as you can see from the photos well worth it. It had the Venison with a raspberry puree and mashed potatoes that were infused with squash (also photoed is the fillet mignot and the bone in chicken breast). This was of course accompanied with an amazing bottle of Chardonnay for around 6 dollars a bottle.

After having such a great time I decided that I wanted to go with Patti and Noel to the wine lands again the next day hopping to hit up more that just 3. We were lucky enough to make it to 5 I believe. Again we hired a driver for the day at a rate of 600 Rands plus lunch and the exchange rate is 6.3 Rands per US dollar FYI. We stopped at one winery before we got into Paarl where we stopped at the castle winery that is photoed. Here we were able to go to there roof that was up on the third floor but it was also sitting on a hill so we had a great view to enjoy some excellent wines. We were then on to my bosses winery from Reata Mike Evans. Charles Lang the contact that we were supposed to meet there the day before was gone to a meeting but once we said that name they took extremely good care of us apparently it is like one of the largest wine exporters in South Africa. Then onto http://www.fairview.co.za/ Fairview is known for there cheese which you can see. For 100 rands you can have a cheese tray for four that was huge with some of the best breads in the world. My favourite cheese was the one that was crusted with pesto and tomatoes that were dried excellent. We wrapped up the extra and it is still in the fridge on the ship. I believe we are going to eat it tomorrow before we sail out of Cape Town. This wineiere besides being known for the cheeses also has the goats that were photo. It reminded me of Papa I hope you are getting to hear some of this!!!!! Then onto the final winier that we stopped at last the day before. Johanna was there again and took us out to the lawn and to sit on the tractor for photos. Instead of trying the usual 5 I believe we got about 15 this time using the spit bucket every time I am sure you knew this already. This time she said that it was her treat she is soo good to us and if you are ever in South Africa I hope you will visit the coolest, best looking wine expert!!!!!! AJ and I are truly hoping that she will come visit us in the states to show her the same hospitality that she showed us. Don’t forget Johanna we will go shot some white tail deer and then you can cook for us (joking of course)!!!!

Oh I forgot to write about the Moyo restaurant that was at the Spier wineire in Paarl the website is www.moyo.co.za it is amazing there were huge trees with tables all in them. Unbelevable little tents with tables just like a luxury swill family robinson restuarant you have to check out the photos. ( This was a late note after this blog was written)

     As we look towards our last night in Cape Town we are excited
and sad at the same time. AJ is in good shape even after
bungee jumping the tallest one in the world and I am feeling
good but a little tired. Healthy is the key word though, and
I am thankful for that. I received an email from Mom today
and they said that they were having an amazing time in 
Bali!!! And looking towards the future I am sad that I
will miss Donnie’s, Aunt Vicki’s and Moms birthday in
the coming crossing to the Mauritius islands. I hope that
everyone is doing well, I love and miss you. God
bless!!!!!!!

Chad