panda panda panda

Ok, I realise many of you were left in suspense by my last post and there has likely been much groaning and grinding of teeth in the seemingly eternal delay. Right.
Well, suffice to say that Chobe, Vic Falls and Zambia were great. Maybe during a quieter time, I'll pen some of my thoughts on the matter. But now, that's old news, and I'm in Cape Town, South Africa thanks to the very good and kind hospitality of Julie Hagen. We drove down on Monday and Tuesday, a mere 1400km and since then I've been officially 'on vacation'. Yes, I'm slowly ticking off as many tourist targets as possible. On Wednesday, it was the V&A waterfront, Thursday Cape Point and Boulders Beach (PENGUINS!), and yesterday the city centre, museums, knife wielding mugger, and Table Mountain. Today we went out to Hermanus in search of whales, but unfortunately they weren't near the coast and it was too windy to go out on a boat. Ah well!
But, I don't think that this list format is doing anyone any favours, particularly the sights themselves. So I'll give a brief rundown of each-
Victoria and Alfred waterfront - good weather helped here, and I even saw a seal. The two oceans aquarium was good as well. There is also a regular ferry out to Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned, but the prison is undergoing refurbishment at the moment (odd, I know...), so I gave that a miss.
Boulders Beach - home to the Cape penguins, formerly known as Jackass penguins beacause of their braying, though I think that was rather mean. They were really nice, if a bit smelly.
Cape Point - apparently the point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, though there is some debate about that. Some great views as you walk down it and see less and less land and more and more and more sea far below you. Slightly less popular but maybe more interesting was the cape of good hope, the most south-westerly point of Africa. I had to wait in line behind a load of Japanese tourists, but I got a cool photo of that (thanks Julie!). Oh, and as if all that wasn't memorable enough, a baboon leapt into the car, ripped open a bag to get at the bananas inside, and proceeded to peel and eat them on the front passenger seat. I had to swipe it with my bag to convince it to leave, after it started going after my sunscreen (yellow bottle - not a baboon-proof idea).
City centre - I didn't have much time here, so I tried to do as much as possible. I went to the castle, where I saw people dressing up and firing dinky cannons. I went to the National Gallery where there were exhibitions on local art relating to Apartheid, and the museum where I got to see whale skeletons, rock art and a planetarium.
Knife wielding mugger - wow, I've enjoyed making you all wait for this story, though I'm grateful it isn't more dramatic. Long story short, two guys stop me in the street, ask for money. I give R10, walk away. Same two guys follow me down busy street, chatting. Then they stop me again, ask for more. I give R10. One guy pulls out knife, and tells me not to *$!" with him, upon which request, I hand over R300 and politely ask to be left alone. I proceed to nearest cafe, and stop shaking gradually and realise what a bargain it was to not risk being stabbed. Also, pretty happy I kept my camera and phone, both of which are greatly more valuable and important to me. Although if asked to choose, my casio or my life, I'm sure some rapid re-evaluation would take place.
Right, I think that's more than enough drama for now kiddies, off to bed!
edit: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2627&l=6bc04&id=505324220