Cape of Good Hope

10 a.m. and our tour group is heading to the Cape of Good Hope, but since Karo has already been there, we drop her off at an ostrich farm where she will wait for us with tea, water and a good book.

On the way to the cape we meet a lot of baboons, I certainly find them interesting, but I'm also absolutely afraid, you can't trust these monkeys with the sharp teeth, there are signs everywhere that say exactly that, namely that you should keep your distance , they are dangerous and wild animals.

The nature reserve of the Cape of Good Hope is infinitely large and we drive to the southernmost point - the Cape of Good Hope - enjoy the wind and the sun. I affectionately call it Kapp of German Hope, because you see and hear Germans everywhere. We don't hike up the path to the lighthouse, but take a small train up it; the view from up there is really breathtaking. I could stay here for hours, but we have one heart and don't want Karo to have to stay at the ostrich farm for hours.

We drive back to our number three and have something to eat first. At this point I will leave unnoticed the fact that you eat ostrich meat while watching the animals outside.

We decide to take a private tour of the site. We learn a lot about this special bird species, but since the ostrich farm is also a rescue center for reptiles from the illegal pet trade; we also expand our knowledge regarding turtles, snakes, alligators.

What do we learn?

• About 20 chicken eggs fit into one ostrich egg
• Ostriches cannot kick backwards
• Nany ostriches are spotted brown
• Ostriches have no teeth and only a 3 second memory
• A male always has 2 females (poor thing)
• …

The young guide Leon asks Karo and me if we want to feed them too and of course we enthusiastically say YES. But it turns out to be a difficult task because even though they don't have teeth, it's not exactly pleasant to feed them. The animals are so hectic and hack so quickly that it really scares you. I'm pulling through, karo in theory too, that is, she keeps getting brave, only to then pull back. She doesn't feel comfortable until the end.

I'm laughing my ass off.

Karo has something in her ear and wants to go to the clinic. Said and done!

In Fish Hoek we go to the public hospital and just have to quickly go through the metal detector and hand Karo (“Hello, I am German.”) into safe hands.

Mom M and I go to the sea, almost blow away (I'm not lying), and enjoy a vegan meal. We stay in contact with Karo and then follow her request to spend the remaining time with her in the hospital and waiting room.

This time I even have to fill out a form for the security guard when I drive in and he says goodbye to me with the words “Mom”.

I look at him and ask why he gets the idea to call me mom, if I look that old!?

FYI: The mommy debate is a big topic here - for us women. Mama M noticed at the beginning of our trip that she didn't like being called Mama all the time. I told her it was a compliment. A few days later, Karo comes around the corner and is happy that they called her Sissi. Sissi probably represents a young woman. Shortly afterwards, her joy was dampened because someone called her mom. Here too I reassure her.

It's also easy for me to talk because up to now I've only been called Sissi. I guess I look very young after all. Well, until the man at the hospital called me mom. So I ask him if I look that old and he said, well, he would say Sissi suits women between 18 and 32. So I ask him if he thinks I'm older than 32. He gets pretty into it Sweat. And says well, he would say mom because I drive so responsibly here 🙃. Ok, thanks, I can live. We spend the rest of the evening in the hospital, we won't see the rugby game, and on the way out the husband and I have the same debate - mom, lady, ma'am, sissy. He's talking out of his head again🙃