After a very smooth flight, over 11 hours when you do your best to sleep and end up having a series of naps, the air crew made it special with a Birthday Bottle of Champagne. Very kind.   As we left the plane, expecting the hot African sunshine we were greeted with grey heavy skies and biblical rain!!

Traffic to the hotel certainly rivalled the M1 on a very bad day but eventually we reached and checked into our hotel.

Power naps were in order before we toured the town on our favourite Hop On Hop Off bus. A quick look out the window and things were looking up.

Cape Town stretches from the beaches to and upwards along Table Mountain. (1086 m). Its history stems from the Dutch East India company in 1652 and through a colourful history of indigenous inhabitants, slaves, the French and the British occupation in the 19thC.

It was the gateway to the African interior whilst also trading with continental Europe. In its stunning setting with a Mediterranean climate it has a cosmopolitan population. Now us teachers, albeit retired, cannot resist a history lesson but we’ve just eaten a huge delicious dinner and it’s an 8am start in the morning so more CT facts tomorrow.