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In the words of Nelson Mandela, ' friendship and support from friends is something which is a source of tremendous inspiration always and to everyone'. Please enjoy the Cookes Visit.
Geneva
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Camels and Snakes
Sitting pretty or what?
Katie gets some one to one guidance
The farm also had a snake park which apart from snakes had a collection of creepy crawly things that Oisin seemed to like.
...and one or two things Oisin could not pick up.
Click here to go back to 34 Degrees SouthFish Tank
The aquarium is situated in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the major tourest destination in Cape Town, full of bars, jazz clubs, restuarants, cafes and shops.
A famous photo in the aquarium of the False Bay Flying Great Whites, see 34 Degrees South main page for more information about the flying sharks.
African Penguins
About 30 mins from the house is a small beach called Boulders which is home to a colony of African Penguins. Boulders Beach is about 5 mins outside the naval port of Simons Town, the deepest natural harbour in the world, the second being Cobh outside Cork.
Boulders Beach
Penguins, thousands of em
Nobody look while I change out of this wet swimsuit.
After leaving Boulders Beach, the Cookes drove home via the coast road to Cape Point, stopping on the way at Scarborough Beach which has a remote beauty about it, no matter what the weather it always looks dramatic. It is also a good place for surfing on the Cape.
Scarborough Beach in the late afternoon, as dramatic as it comes.
Not everyones idea of a summer beach holiday, but hey this is Africa.
There's a storm brewing.
Has anyone seen my sun hat, I need it now.........
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Springbok's v All Blacks
The Bok Girls
A Bok Boy
A Baby Bok and her supporters
A Bok Mom and her gang
Somebody is in a bit of a temper
Oz du Randt (No. 1) shows what he thinks an up and under is.
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Robben Island
The island is more than just a prison however, and its long histroy is explained by guides on your arrival. It has been a leper colony, a sea defence site with massive guns set to protect Cape Town's approaches, its being a criminal prison and the famous political prison. It is a home th many African penquins, and the final resting place for many ships, it has also provided the stone from its quarries to build Cape Towns castle, as well as its own prisons. It also has a lighthouse which unusually is placed just about in the centre of the island and the furtherst place from the sea, the reason being that that is the highest point on this almost pancake flat island.
Nelson Mandela's cell
The showers in Nelson Mandela's block
Nelson was prisoner 466/64 and today he use's that number, 46664, to spearhead his most important charity, the fight against HIV / AIDs. Nelson once said of Robben Island, 'the long, lonely wasted years'
Not much to look at, but this is Nelson Manelda's garden in his exercise yard. It was in this gaden that he hid the manuscripts of 'The Long Walk To Freedom'
The exercise yard used by Nelson Mandela and the othetr high risk political prisoners. Nelson's cell was to the right and his garden to the left foreground, just out of shot.
The lime stone quarry a short walk from the prison. It was here that Nelson Mandela and his comrades worked and due to the bright sun and the white of the lime stone many of them suffered from eye injuries due to strain. Nelson was one who suffered and for many years after his release would have to wear sunglasses.
The tempting view of Cape Town and freedom from Robben Island.
Robben Island light house, almost the furthest point from the sea as possible.
Clare, Kate and Oisin aboard the boat taking them back to Cape Town. This is a modern fast boat, they also use an old boat to ferry visitors out to the island during peak times. That boat is considerably slower and older, it was the boat that took the prisoners to and from Robben Island, and no doubt took Nelson Mandela there and bought him back 17 years later.
A poster in Robben Island harbour showing the old boat, the Blouberg, and its passengers made up of released prisoners taking their long walk to freedom.
The Cooke's spectacular view of Table Mountain as they return to Cape Town harbour from Robben Island.
Cape Town's Water Front area, the Victoria and Aflred Docks are now a major tourist attraction with clubs, bars, restaurants and shops. It also has its own musicians that work the dockside walk ways.
One of the popular singing groups that can be found in the Water Front area. The dancing of this group thrilled Katie so much she felt compelled to join in, the singing captivated the Cooke's that much they bought the CD.
Oisin gets to grips with some art work on the Water Front, this particular item is about putting an end to gun crime, not something you would want to remind tourists about as they stroll around this mecca to spending money and having fun.
It's all been a bit of a long day for Katie.
The final words of this thought provoking visit, should go to Nelson Mandela.
'There is no easy walk to freedom'
(in a speech when he was 37 years old)
'Only free men can negotiate'
There is no such thing as part freedom'
'A man who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred'
(Spoken as Nelson Mandela stepped foot out of Victor Verster Prison at 4.16pm on the 11th February 1990 and started his own walk to freedom, he was 71 years old and had spent a total of 27 years in prison.
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Cape Point
On their visit they did see baboons and an added bonus, whales, which were floating around below the cafe at Cape Point.
Danny waits in line to use the toliet at Cape Point
Katie and Clare in the cafe at Cape Point
A misty view back from Cape Point along the coast that boarders False Bay, home to the largest group of Great White Sharks in the world.
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Table Mountain, Signal Hill and a nasty fall
After waiting several days for the right weather conditions the Cookes ventured up Table Mountain, or as Katie called it Table Top Mountain, which seemed to stick with the rest of the Cooke's who spent the rest of the holiday calling it Table Top mountain, still we all knew what they meant.
View of Robben Island from the top of Table Mountain
View of Green Point & Robben Island from Signal Hill
The Twelve Apostles viewed from the coast road outside Camps Bay. This cliff formation is the seaward side of Table Mountain.
After a day on or around Table Mountain the Cooke's search for Sandy Bay, they did not quiet find it, which is a shame as its perhaps the best beach in the area. Katie sits under the Little Lions Head which overlooks Sandy Bay. So close yet so far away.
In the failing light Oisin runs around frantically looking for Sandy Bay, that was until he fell over.
Oisin receives emergency medical treatment from nurse Carol on his return home.
And finally, the Cooke's entry into the arty photo of the year competition, the moon peeping over rocks close to Sandy Bay
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