Jillian finds the friendliness of the people makes Cape Town that much more beautiful

Jillian's arrival at CPT Airport

After 19 long hours of travelling, I finally arrived in Cape Town. When I stepped out of the airport, the fresh air woke me up instantly. I looked out and was amazed out how close Table Mountain was. Cape Town was more beautiful than I imagined. As we drove to the house, I was mesmerized by the mountains and the air. I never imagined the town and our street to be as lush as it is. There are so many beautiful trees and flowers that cause me to see green everywhere I look.  The town also has a lot of nice cafés and restaurants and I’ve loved exploring the area.

At the District 6 Museum Jill learns about
forced removals from Joe Schaffers,
 a former resident of the area. 

The city is different from what I expected as well. I loved seeing the architecture and the smaller side streets for venders and markets. We also went to the District Six Museum in the city which was one of my favorite parts. I was able to learn a lot more about Apartheid and how the people actually felt at the time. I liked how I was able to read the memories of people who experienced the forced removal. It helped me understand the history of Cape Town much more and I was able to process how people felt and how I would’ve felt if I was in their position. It made me appreciate walking around the city much more because I understood how it got to where it is today.

Another part of the trip so far that I’ve really enjoyed is going to different restaurants and trying different types of food. Two Oceans Restaurant is my favorite place so far because the seafood was amazing and the view was beautiful. I was able to see the ocean as well as the mountains at an incredible viewpoint. I also really enjoyed Maneberg's Jazz Cafe because I was able to learn more about the culture and music of Cape Town. The locals I’ve met so far have all been friendly, making Cape Town that much more beautiful. There’s so much more to see and I can’t wait to get the true Cape Town experience.

Taylor P, Jillian, & Julia get a drumming lesson at Guga S'Thebe Centre in Langa