After just over three weeks in Africa, we are now at Cape Town airport, waiting to board our flight back to the UK.
Our final two days were, as always, spent in Franschhoek, only a one hour drive from the centre of Cape Town.
Franschhoek is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, 176 French Huguenot refugees having settled in the valley in 1688, and lending their names to the many superb wine farms in the area. At the end of the main street stands an impressive memorial to their heritage, with an associated museum.
This small Huguenot town is notable for having some of the top restaurants in South Africa but it is also ideally situated for driving to Cape Town International Airport against the horrendous flow of traffic out of the city in the early evening - perfect if you have an evening flight out of the country.
We have sampled many of the fine restaurants over the years. Many of these are on the wine farms, such as the wonderfully situated La Petite Ferme, but last night we met up with Elsevier's Dean Eastbury, and ate at one of our favourites, Kalfi's, a small family run restaurant on the main street, favoured by the local residents. Simple local food, such as chicken pie, bobotie and karoo lamb chops, accompanied by excellent local wines.
Today our last meal in South Africa was lunch at Le Quartier Francais, recognised as one of Africa's best restaurants, after which a leisurely drive to the airport for our long flight back home. We will be back in South Africa again in 4 months time, for Comminution '12
Our final two days were, as always, spent in Franschhoek, only a one hour drive from the centre of Cape Town.
Franschhoek is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, 176 French Huguenot refugees having settled in the valley in 1688, and lending their names to the many superb wine farms in the area. At the end of the main street stands an impressive memorial to their heritage, with an associated museum.
This small Huguenot town is notable for having some of the top restaurants in South Africa but it is also ideally situated for driving to Cape Town International Airport against the horrendous flow of traffic out of the city in the early evening - perfect if you have an evening flight out of the country.
We have sampled many of the fine restaurants over the years. Many of these are on the wine farms, such as the wonderfully situated La Petite Ferme, but last night we met up with Elsevier's Dean Eastbury, and ate at one of our favourites, Kalfi's, a small family run restaurant on the main street, favoured by the local residents. Simple local food, such as chicken pie, bobotie and karoo lamb chops, accompanied by excellent local wines.
Today our last meal in South Africa was lunch at Le Quartier Francais, recognised as one of Africa's best restaurants, after which a leisurely drive to the airport for our long flight back home. We will be back in South Africa again in 4 months time, for Comminution '12
