Drakensberg

I took this photograph at an arts and crafts centre up in the Drakensberg mountains.  I was born in Pietermaritzburg, not far from this place.  It was my first time back to Natal in about eight years.  The last time I was up in the Drakensberg I was in highschool.  It was beautiful, nostaligic and more mesmerising than I remembered it.  The long hikes along the various trails, populated with brightly coloured birds and secret grottos was just delightful.  This tree is full of weaver birds.  Their fussy nests and relentless chatter formed the background to every afternoon meal.

Dutch Cottage & Roses, Vergelegen

Vergelegen

Well it's about time I blog these holiday pics, before I forget altogether.  This is Vergelegen, in Somerset West.  I love the wines on this vineyard - in fact it's difficult to find a crap wine in the Cape.  As I'm writing this Cape Town is experiencing some of the hottest, driest days in years.  Some silly twit set Table Mountain ablaze by flicking his stupid cigarette near the cable car.  My mother said she could see the smoke from Blouberg and that the fires raged for nearly three days!  These photographs will remind me how lush and green the Cape looked just after Christmas, before the summer drought set in.