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Winter officially hit us for the duration of a day in the middle of August when photos of Table Mountain covered in snow went flying round the city via office email. The Weather Office pooh-poohed the possibility but there was no other reason not to believe it since it was damnably cold that day. Just three days later, however, I found myself a little red-faced with heat and effort, wedged under the steering wheel of my car as I battled to remove my thermal vest from under my shirt with some degree of decency. The old hooked-arm-through-the sleeve manoeuvre conquered, I was able to stroll along Camps Bay beach, trousers rolled up and socks and boots abandoned in the car, and bask in the warmth of the unexpected sun. 
The English obsession with the weather finds a happy home in Cape Town culture. Being such an outdoor society – so good for the health! - most plans are made at short notice and generally whilst staring out of the window at the patch of sky directly above the mountain. Weekend newspapers devote a whole page not just to temperatures, wind speeds and predicted rainfall but to where best to hike, dive, surf, run, cycle or play golf according to wind directions, visibility, tides and general planetary motion. Imagine….this is a city where it is almost impossible not to know what phase the moon is in!
barbeque for over a month! Sunday was particularly beautiful, with blue skies and crisp still air and so Neill and I took the opportunity to meander through the wild flower reserves dotted around the charming town of Darling, just under 50 miles north of the Cape Town. In the far distance, the jagged peaks of the Witzenberg mountains gleamed with snow, and yet we were in t-shirts soaking up the sun’s rays, knee-deep in flowers which, with every step we made, filled the air with the sweet smell of spring. Heavenly.
One full day will involve a private 4x4 excursion into the incredible flower reserves of the West Coast, led by experienced and enthusiastic guides. Have lunch by a waterhole humming with bird life, and return via the scenic town of Darling, heading back to Cape Town in time for sundowners on Signal Hill before returning to Hout Bay.
The United State's best-known travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, has voted The Cape Cadogan boutique hotel in Gardens, Cape Town, as one of the world's hottest, most promising new hotels. The rigorously selected ninth annual global guide of notable new hotels included only 116 new hotels, spanning 38 countries on six continents. Cape Cadogan also features on US Condé Nast Traveller's list of only 28 top hotels worldwide offering luxurious accommodation under $200 (about R1 000) a night. Dynamic and visionary Deon de Wet, co-owner of the Cape Cadogan, is slowly transforming the entire area surrounding the hotel. Said de Wet about this latest accolade: "We are delighted with the recognition. It shows that our dedication to authenticity paid off. It is also most satisfying that the charm of Gardens, with its inner city vibe, is now on the stage of global travel."
A national monument, the original 19th century Georgian house with Victorian influences still looks (from the outside) like a beautiful private home, complete with manicured garden and pool terrace. Inside, rich fabrics, plump sofas, vases stuffed with fresh flowers, sepia prints in silver frames, and wrought-iron chandeliers create a luxurious atmosphere. Some of the accommodation is as roomy as a French garret, while others are disproportionately enormous, with spacious open-plan bathrooms, but all are light and airy and have satellite TV, a DVD/surround-sound system, and high-speed Internet access. The boutique hotel is the first phase in the KloofVillage project envisaged and undertaken by De Wet and partners Brian and Anja Clancy. The hotel also has an exceptionally good restaurant with delicious food prepared from the freshest home-grown ingredients. 
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