From Cape Town to Montagu

South Africa/ Day 2: 23.8.2016

Today we were wide awake at 6 o'clock. At seven there was breakfast by Georgia and we were automatically infected by her good mood.
The breakfast room looked very elegant and colonial and there was a rich selection of fruits, freshly squeezed juices, spreads, bread and rolls. Coffee, cappuccino, etc. are available from a modern automatic machine, egg dishes of all kinds are prepared fresh.
Then we set off. Across Capetown towards the Garden Route, past numerous townships, huge and as far as the eye can see.
We were told that we can only leave the car completely empty and unattended. We drive with full lock.
Here in South Africa, it seems that only black people are out and about during the day. You see them working, for example at petrol stations, waving orange flags by the roadside when a construction site is coming up, or hitchhiking, sitting or lying at the edge of the field. Often only one person works there and several others stand around advising. We saw white people today at a stopover in McGregor at the café.

There, elegantly dressed retirees in the back rooms had a music rehearsal, probably for the upcoming major event of the sleepy little town - a poetry slam festival next weekend. Streets and white people give the impression here that you are in Northern Europe.

The weather is like in spring/summer. The nights are cold, the days cool, but the sun has enormous power when it comes out. Without a cap or hat, the brain burns.

After almost two hours of driving, we reached Montagu and our Mimosa Lodge. We will stay here for two nights with breakfast and dinner (4 courses) because there is an excellent chef who is the owner.
The staff is very friendly, immediately transports our luggage to the room, which we take possession of shortly afterwards.
Our room is huge, with a terrace and a bathroom that is larger than the house of the black receptionist, as he told us. The furnishings are modern, everything lovingly coordinated.
As in Cape Town, we are greeted with a carafe of dessert wine in our room, which we immediately try. Very delicious!
The town Montagu is located at the foot of the vineyards. Here the famous Route 62 begins. Even the mountains on our tour here and around our lodge are impressively beautiful.
After the dessert wine, we went on a walk through the picturesque-looking town at first glance. Montagu is small, sleepy and well-kept, has 3 churches, a nursing home and a hospital.
When we bought a small lock for the suitcase at the local hardware store, we wanted to leave the packaging there. The woman at the checkout called the boss, who wrote the number of our receipt on the packaging and then threw it away. So to speak as a sale and NOT as a theft.

In the supermarkets, the employees are extremely friendly. We ask something, someone tells us where we can find it, we go and look for it, shortly thereafter another person who was informed about what we are looking for comes to us and helps directly. Completely different from Germany, where all the salespeople hide.
The sun was shining quite warmly, but the locals now wear pom-pom hats, winter jackets, and boots even in sunny weather during the winter season.
The menu we booked was served from 7 pm. Before that, we were invited to a come-together drink in the fireplace room, where the service staff introduced themselves, initiated a little small talk, and then led us to the restaurant.
I dressed up a bit with a blouse and such, but I couldn't take off my down vest - it was quite chilly that evening, despite the flickering fireplace.
And then the food came: A pure delight for the palate, combined with delicious wines from the region. Simply great.
Out of overconfidence, we ordered a whole bottle of the really extremely delicious wine that was recommended to us. After the meal, I was so stuffed that my dead cat was lying tight on the waistband and I was as drunk from the South African wine as I hadn't been in a long time. JC threatened that I wouldn't get any more alcohol starting tomorrow.

See you soon...
Tatjana

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