Julia's adventurous but more relaxing weekend

Jillian, Julian, Caitlin, Ashlyn, & Becca atop Table Mountain

This past week has been more relaxed than most weeks here in Cape Town, but it was still a good one. On Saturday I finally hiked Table Mountain with Jill, Caitlin, Ashlyn, and Becca. We did Skeleton’s Gorge through Kirstenbosch and it was an amazing hike. It was up hill from the very start of our 5-hour hike to the top. At one point during the hike, Caitlin and I got to this view of part of the city with a cloud hanging right above it and the water in the distance. It was so serene to just look out and take it all in. No one was around; no voices could be heard- the only noise around was the chirping of a bird. We stood there for ten minutes just thinking our own thoughts, and appreciating the view. Later on we met an older man that writes books on flowers and plants- a botanist, I assume- and he told us that this was his 1200^th time hiking Table Mountain! I hope one day I can say this is my 1200^th run or something like that. At the end of our hike we saw his book in the Shop at the Top.

It was a cloudy hike, but not because it was an overcast day, but rather because we were hiking in a cloud. The gray sky almost blended in with the white coloured rocks. Luckily, when we got to the very top near the cable car the clouds moved a little so we could get a view of the city. Personally, I think Lion’s Head has a better view, but Table Mountain is definitely the better hike. 

On Sunday, a few of us met up with the people we met from Human Rights Weekend and went to Mzoli’s.   Mzoli’s is a huge braai in Gugulethu. It’s really one big party and it was so much fun. When I told some of the volunteers at the GEU that I went to Mzoli’s they seemed surprised and taken back, though. I thought it was sort of strange that citizens of Cape Town, who are coloured and black, would think negatively of going to a place like Mzoli’s. I had no problem with going into a township- so I just don’t understand why some people I talked to mentioned they never even went to Mzoli’s and wouldn’t want to. Perhaps that scene just isn’t for them, but it seems more like they didn’t want to go into a township. I just found the whole reaction odd.

Lastly, at my internship this week we went over concerns and initiatives. I finally had the chance to tell them that I need more direction with the history project and what to do each day. Some days I go in and there just isn’t much to do- especially now with two other interns joining me. We agreed to get all the history project people together and go over a clearer plan of what we are doing, so I’m looking forward to that. I really hate feeling like I’m not useful and that I’m not doing anything. I want to get as much out of my internship as possible and that requires being busy for me. As for initiatives, I told them about my documentary project and they seemed like they would be willing to show it at the GEU. I hope that actually works out- it’d be exciting to have my own viewing.