Today was a chill day. I met up with a fellow Couch Surfer, Erica, who is Italian but studying in Ireland. She is in Stellenbosch for 10 weeks for a sports therapy practical.
We walked around town, visiting the student commons of the university, the church and the Village Museum. Since I was intrigued at how a student center at an SA university was like, we lunched at the food court there. Almost every vendor sold the same items-- sandwiches, pizzas and burgers. There was one vendor that sold some Asian fare--mainly Chinese and Japanese.
Being the sociologist at heart that I am, I observed that there were limited cases of racial mixing visible at the food court. I guess the situation is similar in the U.S., with our form of "cafeteria self-segregation" present at all university campuses.
After lunch, Richard took us to the winery that his girlfriend Liezl works at. She took us on a cellar tour. One notable fact that I learned is that an oak barrel costs R9,000 (U.S.$900) and is only used a few times. Geez, it does cost a fortune to establish a winery! We also tasted this sweet viral-infected wine.
One observation that I have to comment on is that South Africans like to walk barefoot in public. It is the "African way". I cannot comprehend why they would want to put their feet at risk from getting blisters, tape worms, cuts and gashes. I guess one's feet can adjust to hot concrete after a few exposures.
After bidding farewell to Richard and Liezl, I went off camping with another CSer, Kobus and his friends. The campsite was at a beach called Koelbaai, on the opposite side of Cape Town on False Bay. The drive there was stunning, as the road hugs along the coast. We were able to witness the spectacular sunset with the Cape Peninsula in the background. As usual, the sky turned pinkish after sunset. The beach was picturesque and unspoilt, surrounded by mountains and littered with rocks.
Dinner was a delicious pasta with tomatoes, olives and feta, cooked over a camp fire. I also got a taste of boerwoors, the South African spiral-shaped sausage cooked on braais.
We all slept without tents and directly under the numerous stars on the beach. This was my first time doing this and it felt great! Not only did I admire the stars, but also enjoyed hearing the waves crashing.
Showing posts with label University of Stellenbosch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Stellenbosch. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Day 5 - Stellenbosch
Today was a sweltering 35 degrees C! I wanted to laze around Richard's place but decided to get out and explore Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa and is renowed for its wine and university.
I strolled around town with the intention of observing the quaint Cape Dutch architecture that is supposedly ubiquitous in Stellenbosch. However, Cape Dutch architecture wasn't as prevelent as I believed it to be and the buildings that exhibited this style were rather bland and stoic (e.g., black & white). I was also disappointed at the lack of trees (and shade) as I felt that I was being braaied (South African word for barbeque).
Since today is a Sunday, most museums and stores were closed. In fact, South African store hours are similar to those in Europe. Most places close by 6pm on weekdays and early (or not open at all) on the weekends. This extends to supermarkets, wineries, museums and even the tourist offices! I guess the people who work at these establishments want a life too!
While wandering around town, the first place I arrived was De Braak, or the town green. This square had a few Dutch-style churches on its periphery. Another notable landmark was the Village Museum, which has several Cape Dutch structures. I also wandered around the University of Stellenbosch, which had some colorful Cape Dutch buildings, such as the Theology Building. My highlight was strolling down Victoria St., as it has oak trees lining the sidewalks, thus providing ample shade. The last place of my tour was the Jan Marais Nature Reserve, which has some stunning mountain views.
I strolled around town with the intention of observing the quaint Cape Dutch architecture that is supposedly ubiquitous in Stellenbosch. However, Cape Dutch architecture wasn't as prevelent as I believed it to be and the buildings that exhibited this style were rather bland and stoic (e.g., black & white). I was also disappointed at the lack of trees (and shade) as I felt that I was being braaied (South African word for barbeque).
Since today is a Sunday, most museums and stores were closed. In fact, South African store hours are similar to those in Europe. Most places close by 6pm on weekdays and early (or not open at all) on the weekends. This extends to supermarkets, wineries, museums and even the tourist offices! I guess the people who work at these establishments want a life too!
While wandering around town, the first place I arrived was De Braak, or the town green. This square had a few Dutch-style churches on its periphery. Another notable landmark was the Village Museum, which has several Cape Dutch structures. I also wandered around the University of Stellenbosch, which had some colorful Cape Dutch buildings, such as the Theology Building. My highlight was strolling down Victoria St., as it has oak trees lining the sidewalks, thus providing ample shade. The last place of my tour was the Jan Marais Nature Reserve, which has some stunning mountain views.
I was lucky that the German-brand Spar supermarket closes at 7pm on Sunday, because I got in around 6-ish. I bought two chicken and mushroom pies (which, similar in Australia and New Zealand, were imported from the British) for dinner (or supper as they say in SA).
Overall, comparing Savannah, Georgia (another quaint town) to Stellenbosch, I would actually favor the former town for its variety of historic architecture and for more trees.
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