a Stellenbosch day

Alex and I took some time out yesterday and spent it in Stellenbosch, a university town in the winelands about 25 mins from Cape Town (university…get it?! nudge nudge….)

We stopped for coffee, strolled up and down the streets, window shopped, visited Verbatim, the bookshop that a friend of mine started with her partner a few years ago, bought Howard Jacobson’s latest novel, had a picnic down by the river (grilled haddock and baby tomatoes and salticrax and grapes), got a bit lost, got caught up in school traffic by mistake in the afternoon, enjoyed the views, the art galleries, the library, the people. A very relaxed pace of life out there, for the consumer at least!

We had recently heard that Stellenbosch was going to be South Africa’s first entirely ‘free wifi’ town, so Alex had her ipad permanently clutched in her paws to test this out.  I stopped to look at some crochet crafts in a window, and just then two reporters from the Sunday Times popped up with cameras and notebooks to interview Alex for the story they were doing on the subject.  (Note to self: buy 10 copies on Sunday….daughter = famous!!!)

It was a hot sunny day (29 deg), and by the time we got home mid-afternoon, along the businest N1 I’ve ever known, I was ready for a little nap.

To be continued…

 

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Deli delicious

I met Karen for a late breakfast today, at a new deli in Woodstock called Salisbury’s. Only open two months, it is already busy and feels well-established. The atmosphere is relaxed but not dodgy (this is Woodstock, remember!), decor straightforward and modern with the occasional touch of pretty (see hearts on wall and birdcage in corner), staff friendly and helpful – all in all, a great space.

And there’s Table Mountain in the background :-)

   Karen grinning inanely for the camera.

    

Jeanne and her staff make wonderful meals from simple, fresh ingredients.  I had the breakfast roll (minus the egg), and got a few greens to go with it, and Karen had French toast with bacon and maple syrup. Don’t ask me how she stays thin.  All food was F for good, and generously portioned.

We had cappuccinos (mine with a double shot of espresso, because I can), and the entire bill came to R95.  Serious value for money.

There’s also – free wifi, loads of parking, a small stock of essential groceries (milk, eggs, olives, anchovies, spices, pesto, etc), and they stay open til 20h00. And on Sundays.

Salisbury’s is on the corner of Roodebloem and Salisbury Roads. You’ll find me there same time next week.

To be continued…