Hout Bay

Last week, Conor, Ryan and I made a trip out to Hout Bay. The day was dreary and kind of cold (meaning high 60s-Oh, how I miss you Madison) and we didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into (This seems to be a reoccurring theme). We hopped on the Haut Bay mini bus from City Central, expecting to be taken to a beach or something of the like. The drive was much different than any of the other mini bus drives that take us to Camp’s Bay, Sea Point, Clifton, etc. We drove through the township Constantia, where we stopped and let many passengers off. At one of the stops, I noticed a sign posted on a store front that read “White people are the seed of all evil. They raped our women. They stole our country and our lives.” This was a little disturbing seeing as the three of us were the only white people within sight. It just goes to show that racism in South Africa comes from both sides. Although at times unnoticed, there is definitely a sense of division between black or colored (meaning mixed here) South Africans and white South Africans. There is also a clash between black South Africans and colored South Africans. I wouldn’t say I have had any specific experiences here that show this division, but when you observe your surroundings it becomes much more apparent. I am almost always one of the only white people on the train and on the mini bus. The derby I went to during my first weekend here was a prime example of this division of wealth. Certain restaurants and stores also show the divide. That aside, Hout Bay ended up being very cool. We ate fish and chips and calamari at a recommended restaurant called Fish on the Rock. The restaurant was a no frills, order at the counter, sit on benches outside type place that sat right on the ocean, and the food was fresh and delicious. We then walked from that restaurant towards town through the marina. We saw seals in the water and the scenery was beautiful. In a way, the chilly, windy, cloudy day added to the whole fisherman’s wharf experience. We stopped and got drinks at a café, and made our way to the Mariner’s Wharf, a large fishery, winery, and store. Ryan and I ate fresh oysters for 80 cents each. We bought mussel meat, fish, and crackers, and made our way back to Cape Town. What started as a potentially sketchy day ended up being a nice adventure!