Loving Cape Town's in-between seasons

I live in the seams. In between things. In between day and night lies the most beautiful light. In live in the spring and I live in the fall. In between hot and old. In between young and cold. In between daydreams and dance. I might be in Cape Town but I'm packing for France. In between seasons and in between time. In between sips of wine is where I find the divine.

The first cold front of the Cape Town winter was thoroughly celebrated on the weekend with a visit to the Cape Winelands. Suzanne Vega and Zaz in my CD player and fresh drops of rain on my windscreen while the vineyard landscape slowly unveiled its misty grey.

I started at JC le Roux for an MCC (Cape bubbly made according to the French champagne tradition) and meringue pairing with my German family and made a short little roadtrip over to Delheim Estate for a lunch of cheese, bratwurst and Cape Malay curry next to the fireplace at one of the most intimate winter lunch spots in the area. I often wonder whether the age old trees or the wishing well knows more secrets.

For dessert, we moved on to a chocolate and port tasting at the neighbouring Muratie Wine Estate, where giant spider webs and sepia photographs above a dusty piano created an eerie but magical feeling. The artisan chocolate truffles and sweet wine soon had us glowing inside this cosy tasting room.

I feel inspired, like the first rain of the season has enchanted me. I love the crisp air, the hot chocolate and wrapping up in a big fluffy blanket with my laptop and my writing glasses. And it's just about the most perfect excuse for a nice and social wine tasting.

Here's to the Cape's hot and cold Autumn!

Late summer partying in Bantry Bay

Cape Town's Bantry Bay is by far the best place to enjoy the end of summer. Since it is a protected and secluded bay it is a wind free spot in a city known for its windy climate, especially in late summer. Bantry Bay is famous for its luxury properties sitting high up on cliffs overlooking the ocean.

The Peroni parties held on the pool deck of the Ambassador Hotel in Bantry Bay every weekend over the last few weeks has been the epitome of Cape Town cool. Luscious, lazy summer afternoons, sipping sparkling wine (or Peroni, of course) with friends while the sunset throws candyfloss colours accross the sea and the sky.

As usual Cape Town's beautiful people did not disappoint. Models, entrepeneurs, travellers and great looking wannabees all made their appearance at these parties while bikini girls provided some splash pool entertainment. This city has more than its fair amount of picture perfect people, most probably due to the fact that it's a hot spot for photographic and film shoots.

Once the sun disappeared behind the ocean Ibiza style tunes set the soundtrack for an chilled out evening under the stars, with the ocean lulling below.

And for those who like to insist on keeping the good times going late at night (like me, at times) the fun was continued with some dancing at the Salt Vodka bar accross the road from the hotel; a lovely intimate venue for getting 'elegantly wasted' as INXS would say.

Spoilt rotten we are in Cape Town! This really is as good as it gets. Best thing is that these kinds of perfect moments come around often in this small town.