Eggbert's Travels

Tuesday 20th March

SHE SAID:

Geoff and l headed off to the winery region today. We stopped at Meerlust & Spiers Wineries so that I could get some  photos of the Cape Dutch architecture. There were many lovely old buildings in this region; I could have stopped at heaps more. 

In Stellenbosch we went into Oom Samies se Winkel, (Uncle Sam's Shop); it hasn't changed much in 30 years. At the Boschendal Winery we tasted several different wines,  and again I had a rush of memories, as the "embassy crowd" loved this winery. 

I had booked lunch at yet another place I loved in Franschhoek. La Petite Ferme restaurant was nestled up in the hills overlooking Franschhoek, and it has changed a lot, but the lovely view was still the same.

Heading back to Cape Town via Paarl, we stopped at the Nelson Mandela statue outside the prison he was finally released from after 27 years, on the 11th February 1990. I remember it well as we were all glued to the TV as it happened. Also we made a brief stop at the Taal Monument,  the Afrikaans language spire...the only language to have its own monument! 

Meerlust Winery - Stellenbosch 

Lake at Spiers Estate 

Spiers wine tasting 

This shop hasn't changed in 30 years 

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch University 

Heading up the Helshoogte Pass to Franschhoek 

Boschendal Estate 

Wine tasting

Dovecote

Cat art

Lunch at this scenic restaurant

This lovely restaurant has changed a lot since my last visit

Huguenot Monument 

Outside the Drankstein Prison (Victor Verster) where Nelson Mandela was released
from in 1990

A disguised mobile phone tower

Paarl - the Taal Monument (the only language to have it's monument) 

HE SAID:

It was a nice day of scenery, food and wine, and Varena's memories. The winery area was picturesque and had Varena gushing with enthusiastic reminiscences.