It’s really something when you see places you’ve only read of in books in real life. The Cape of Good Hope is one such place for me.
There is a common misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern-most tip of Africa. I was one of those with this misconception. In fact, I didn’t even know that Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope were two different places. While the Cape of Good Hope is at the most south-western edge of Africa, Cape Point is the point that is at the very tip of Cape Peninsula, and at the opening to False Bay.
Looking out to the Cape of Good Hope from Cape Point | Photo credit: Juxxtapose
False Bay was so named because it stretches so far inland that it fools sailors into thinking they have arrived at the western coast of the African continent. We drove along the coast of False Bay, past Muizenberg and Simon’s Town, on the way to Cape Peninsula. It was like driving through the perfect coastal vacation.
Rugged shores at the Cape of Good Hope | Photo credit: Juxxtapose
One of my favourite photos of that day out is definitely this one above. This was taken behind the ever so ‘famous’ signboards bearing the latitude, longitude and name – Cape of Good Hope. The number of tourists scrambling for a photo at the signboard was insane to say the least (though not as crazy as the ones at the Wall Street bull). Don’t they know that this photo of unspoilt beauty is that one they should be rushing for?
The winds were pretty strong here so we made sure to balance on these uneven rocks well before even entertaining thoughts of taking pictures. But our balancing act was definitely more than worthwhile. We took our time breathing in the fresh air blowing from (probably) Antarctica, mesmerised by the jagged edges created by the rocks, undisturbed by the crowds, before making our way back to the frantic tourists, still trying to get their individual shots with the man-made signboard.
Is this how we are in our daily lives – too busy with what we think is important, or what everyone else says is important, to notice the truly valuable and beautiful things in our lives?
Juxxtapose 