My Cape Town

I hadn’t gone topless before.  How alive it makes you feel to have the breeze caress your skin!  How the senses are re-energised by the thrill of the tingling nerves!

Of course if you are going bare yourself to the world you should do it in style. And if you literally want to blow your hair back the Cape Cobra has to be one of the most thrilling topless cars around. The leather seats, the flawless shiny paintwork, the two distinctive racing stripes down the middle... Make it in pink and add an auto-lipstick fandangle in the dashboard and you’d have Penelope Pitstop whimpering with longing.  And it’s not just easy on the eye.  It also handles like a kitten with an unfeasibly throaty roar and a tad more oomph in its 5.7l engine than the standard hire car.  It’s no surprise that the Cobra is rumoured to be the reason that the UK introduced speed limits back in the 1960s.

So it was with a squeal of glee that I headed out with Dean, owner of Cape Cobra Hire, for an afternoon’s jaunt around the vineyards of Constantia. A classic car, it seems, is like a good wine – fun, indulgent and immeasurably pleasurable.  So how very sensible of me to familiarise myself with both at the same time.

The speed bumps on the driveways of some of the estates had Dean cursing mildly, but the leafy lanes and the beauty and history of our surroundings were idyllic.  Less so my attempts to get in and out of the car with anything like the elegance it demanded (not helped, perhaps, by my reacquaintance with the joys of the Muscadel grape for which Constantia is particularly renowned).  But what the hey - I felt like a film star when ensconced in the Cobra, and we certainly turned heads wherever we went.  What a blast.

We also happened to pick a peach of a day, with the trees in their fullest greenest glory and the agapanthus coming into bloom all along the sides of the roads... but there are many more fabulous driving days ahead.  Almost any direction will do, winding over the mountain passes or along the coast spotting whales, cruising down to Cape Point, heading inland to the winelands – take your pick.  In a Cobra on a good Cape Town day you are bound to have a ball.  But watch out... once bitten by a Cobra you may never fully recover.

Daisy

www.capeconcierge.co.za

Cape Cobras can be hired at a rate of R 1300 pd.  Contact me for more info.

Upcoming Events

Highlights for November, selected from WhatsoninCapeTown.com   - the indispensable guide to all that's happening in Cape Town.   For full details and more events, check out the website.  Upcoming events include festivals, shows and fairs; music, theatre and dance; football and other sporting events; comedy and concerts and exhibitions; celebrations of wine and whiskey, flowers and freedom... bring it on, Cape Town!   

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THEATRE: DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
to 15 November
Rob Becker's hugely popular comedy about the differences between the sexes continues its phenomenal run. Alan Committie defends the primitive behaviour of the modern-day Caveman.  

QUEEN TRIBUTE: IT`S A KINDA MAGIC
to 9 November
A theatrical tribute show to the legendary rock band which has received rave reviews throughout the world. Stadium-type lighting, rock concert sound, authentic costumes plus four talented and dedicated musicians recreate the ultimate rock show. 

CAPE TOWN FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
30 October - 2 November
World-class show gardens, a marketplace inspired by nature, lectures and demos from world-renowned authors and gardening celebrities, and an opportunity to savour fine wine, cheeses, olives and a variety of Cape cuisine while enjoying classical music and entertainment.

OPERA: MATS LARSSON GOTHE'S POET & PROPHETESS
30 October - 8 November
A story based on two real-life tales of Europe v. Africa in a time when the future of both continents was shaped.  Sung in English, Xhosa and Swedish with English surtitles.  

ABDULLAH IBRAHIM CONCERT
1 November
The internationally renowned Capetonian pianist composes music which reflects the musical influences of his childhood from traditional African songs to gospel music as well as the jazz of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. Here he performs with the partners in his Trio and the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra.

FRANSCHHOEK OPEN GARDENS
1 & 2 November
Ten of Franschhoek's most attractive gardens on show.

GOSPEL GALA
2 November
A Gospel extravaganza showcasing various artists from the Western Cape.

GUIDED WALKS AT KIRSTENBOSCH
4 - 14 November
In celebration of 25 years of volunteer guided walks at Kirstenbosch, the Botanical Society has put together a programme of special guided walks for nature lovers. A night walk will also take place on a day to be decided.

FNB WHISKY LIVE FESTIVAL
5 - 7 November
The largest consumer whisky show in the world aims to demystify the appreciation of whisky. Over 180 brands from all over the world will be represented.

SONGS UNDER THE SUMMER STARS
6 November
An international benefit gala concert with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and Cape Town Opera's "Voice of the Nation" conducted by Richard Cock with soloists Pretty Yende, Anna Shibinsky, Given Nkosi, Bonaventura Bottone and Colin Schachat. 

JONATHAN MILES TALKS WHISKY
6 November
A one hour whisky workshop with the founder of the Whisky Academy. 

SA LIPIZZANERS
6 - 9 November
The equestrian equivalent of the Russian Ballet are the extraordinary Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. In 1944 a handful were rescued from war-torn Austria and brought to SA. Their descendants are the only performing Lipizzaners outside Vienna recognised by and affiliated to the Spanish Riding School.

CHEF MIKE NORMAN
7 & 8 November
Bringing together the tastes of the East and West, Mike Norman showcases his Turkish inspired classic-contemporary table d'hôte dinner.  

DEVILDRIVER
8 & 11 November
The death metal band from the USA perform material from their latest album The Last Kind Words.

THE WONDERFUL WINES OF DARLING
8 November
A wine tasting hosted by the wine maker of DC wine estate followed by a 3 course dinner with food and wine pairing. 

HANDS UP SUMMER FESTIVAL
8 November
A mix of martial art fights, music and comedy with international and local Muay Thai fighters, music from The Dirty Skirts and Zebra & Giraffe, and stand-up from local funnyman Cokey Falkow. 

HERE`S A HOW DE DO!
8 November
A celebration of Gilbert & Sullivan by the UCT Opera School in collaboration with the Cape Town Opera Studio and Artscape. 

WOOLWORTHS WINE FESTIVAL 2008
8 & 9 November
Wine tasting, a champagne and oyster bar, food and wine pairing, selected wines at discounted prices, local entertainment and live music by Coda, as well as the art of blending with Alan Mullins. 

DISCOVERY CAPE TIMES BIG WALK
9 November
Started in 1903, this is one of the oldest annual charity walks in the world, with as many as 25 000 people walking routes of 5km to 80km across the peninsula. 

GOURMET BBQ
9 November
An informal wine tasting, followed by a three-course meal. Snacks and children's food also included.

K-DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL
15 November
Sponsored by Kfm and Santam, this is a day aimed at gathering Capetonians together to picnic and enjoy live music.  Featuring popular artists including  Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, Freshlyground, Johnny Clegg, Loyiso, Watershed, Flat Stanley, Karen Zoid and The Parlotones.

COMEDY: THREE WISE MEN
18 November - 10 January
Take a Muslim doctor, a Jewish linguist and the son of a Pentecostal preacher... three of Cape Town's favourite comedians, Riaad Moosa, Nik Rabinowitz and Marc Lottering are directed by another South African favourite, David Kramer. 

TABLE MOUNTAIN BLUES SUMMIT
22 November
Seven of South Africa's hottest blues and rock artists perform at this third annual event. Acts include Boulevard Blues, Dan Patlansky and Black Cat Bone.

LIONEL RICHIE IN CONCERT
22 November
One of the world's most prolific hitmakers, the legendary singer will have fans dancing on the ceiling. 

KIRSTENBOSCH SUMMER CONCERT: ZEBRA & GIRAFFE
23 November
The alternative electronic rock band perform material from their debut album.

FOOTBALL: AJAX CAPE TOWN V BIDVEST WITS
26 November

THEATRE: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
28 November - 3 December
Brought from the big screen to centre stage, this is the story of schoolmates Troy and Gabrielle as they surf the waves of peer pressure and canteen cliques to score the leads in the big school show and a place in each other's hearts.

KIRSTENBOSCH SUMMER CONCERT: SIMPHIWE DANA
30 November
Winner of the 2005 Best Newcomer award at the South African Music Awards, The Xhosa pop singer who has been hailed as the new Miriam Makeba performs her unique jazz, pop, and traditional songs including Ndiredi. 

OBZ FESTIVAL
30 November & 1 December
This annual festival with live music, beer tents and partying till dawn is one of the greatest street festivals of its kind in Southern Africa.