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My Cape Town |
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But darn it, the second attempt was also foiled... by none other than Dr Viacheslav Koloskov and his international henchmen. Bah. I was not to be thwarted. I had bided my time while army and police conducted security drills, and while the FIFA committee made their inspections. Now I would see for myself the new Cape Town stadium for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
It’s a simple place, but it achieves its purpose. The lobby is carpeted in Astroturf (of course!) and lined with memorabilia of South African soccer heroes and Cape Town teams through the ages.
And then, the moment we’d been waiting for... we got to see the stadium itself. Somehow I had pictured being escorted on to a pitch of lush, svelte grass complete with markings and goal posts. In my imagination the empty stands would echo with the occasional ‘ting, ting’ of a hammer and, with the exception of a few men with measuring tapes and pencils behind their ears, the only other people would be a group of tracksuit-clad young men doing star jumps in a corner.
Afterwards, I had the chance to view some of the comments written by many of the schoolchildren who had visited. One had written that being on the site was like being on Mars. Another that he can’t wait for 2010. Whenl the players come trotting on he will be sitting in the stands, singing “I was there first!”. I’d like to be sitting beside him. Daisy
The Greenpoint Stadium Visitors Centre conducts tours for the general public at 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday, and at 10am and 12 noon on Saturdays. Tickets are R 40. To book, call 021 430 0410 or email . The website, www.greenpointstadiumvc.co.za is, rather appropriately, still under construction.
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Guest House of the Month |
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With Cape Dutch architecture framed against Table Mountain, the house is tucked away on a quiet tree-lined street just a short distance from the throbbing life of the city. One of the older residences in Cape Town, it has recently been skillfully renovated under the watchful eye of manager Jean Jo Dorval who has succeeded in preserving the original colonial character while bringing a light and airy contemporary feel to its 6 rooms.
The charming Jean Jo (along with Sam and Ugo the dogs) has proven an excellent host, making guests feel instantly at home and helping to arrange all
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Upcoming Events |
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Highlights for April, selected from WhatsoninCapeTown.com - the indispensable guide to all that's happening in Cape Town. For a full list of what's on in the next few months, check out the website. Upcoming events include festivals, shows and fairs; music, theatre and dance; cricket and other sporting events; comedy and concerts and exhibitions; celebrations of wine and whiskey, flowers and freedom... bring it on, Cape Town!
WILLIE BESTER EXHIBITION
TALK: THE MAKING OF A STADIUM
TASTE OF CAPE TOWN
UCT RAG/OLD MUTUAL SUMMER CONCERT
FAMILY SLEEPOVER @ THE AQUARIUM
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
CRICKET: NASHUA CAPE COBRAS v. DIAMOND EAGLES
MARC LOTTERING ON BROADWAY
URBAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
RUGBY: VODACOM SUPER 14
ALBENIZ' 12-PIECE CYCLE 'IBERIA'
WEINTAUFE HARVEST CELEBRATION
ORATORIO FESTIVAL: CONCERT 3
GREAT DOMAINES BURGUNDY ENCOUNTER: JEAN-MARIE FOURRIER
RUGBY: VODACOM SUPER 14
THE OFFICIAL COSMO JEANS FASHION SHOW
SA CHEESE FESTIVAL
RUGBY: VODACOM SUPER 14
PUBLIC HOLIDAY - FREEDOM DAY
TABLE OF PEACE AND UNITY
CAPE TOWN OPERA MONTH: GALA PERFORMANCE
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It took helicopters and stuntmen to deflect me from my purpose, but I merely arched a cynical eyebrow and strengthened my resolve.
It wasn’t that easy to find the place, given that the site has a footprint of over 18 hectares. And a dozen cranes over 250 ft high. And a team of 2 500 people swarming over it with gleaming hard hats. But after a couple of abortive attempts to sidle down dusty construction roads with NO ENTRY – DANGER clearly written in three languages, I finally located the Greenpoint Stadium Visitors Centre.
From there we were ushered through to an auditorium for a performance of ‘The Greensman’, a lithe and fabulously energetic portrayal of the history of Greenpoint Common, performed by the all-singing, all-dancing Apollo Ntshoko.
But of course not. The place is a building site, albeit on a breathtaking scale. The viewing platform overlooks the old 18 000 seat stadium which is being dismantled (and much of it recycled) and used mainly as a holding area for many of the construction materials. Towering over it is the skeleton of the new 68 000 seat stadium – 72 pylons soaring skywards, dwarfing the many heavy construction vehicles trundling around. Awesome.
The name sounds like something Jilly Cooper would dream up. And the house is just what one of her Rutshire crowd would surely lust after – the perfect Cape Town pad for anyone from a highly strung maestro needing peace and serenity, to a crowd of wanton polo players wanting to sample the Cape Town high life.
Each of the spacious bedrooms either opens out on to a private terrace or onto a balcony with sweeping views over the city and the Atlantic Seaboard. One of the upstairs suites also offers the bonus of a private sitting room, while two of the downstairs rooms have open fireplaces for cosy winter evenings. And of course all the rooms come with luxuries from bathrobes through to wireless internet connection and a choice of twin or king beds.
sorts of excursions. Indeed the house is a very welcoming one, with guests often spending happy evenings chatting over a glass or two of wine on the roof deck looking up at Table Mountain, or lingering over a sumptuous breakfast, or taking tea out by the pool under the palm trees. I’m sure Jilly Cooper would thoroughly approve.
