WIND, RAIN? WALK!
Apparently the mayor of Cape Town and a special task force are trying desperately to persuade people other than Capetonians to visit Cape Town in winter. Its true. I heard it on the news. It's going to be good for the local economy. But, wait a bit, who cares about the local economy? Who on earth chooses to live in Cape Town because of the economy!? I object to this promotional scheme. Winter is the only time of the year that we get Cape Town to ourselves. Besides, everything's cheaper once you visitors have left. Oh sorry..didn't you know that?
Winter is a strange dichotomy between comfort and fortitude for Capetonians. As the vigorous rains and truculent north-westerly winds of winter approach, Capetonians develop an almost irresistible urge to 'get out in it' - to pull on the galoshes our grandparents used (we're sentimental about things like that) and rain coats and go tramping through the dripping, slippery-floored forests for mushrooms (which we bring home, fry up and pray they don't wipe out the whole family). The more storms lash the Peninsula, the more roads are flooded and trees uprooted, the more gleeful we become and the greater the urge to 'get out in it' becomes.
Of course, we do also love snuggling in front of fires with mulled wine and bowls of tomato bredie. And staying in bed for days on end, nursing a cold. But that's normal, isn't it? The instinct to hibernate is gentle, it doesn't descend with the feverish demands that the 'get out in it' urge does. Tis a strange thing indeed to be born on the southernmost tip of Africa.
In the Cape, we refer to winter as The Green Season. This year I decided to take full advantage of the lower rates of The Green Season and book 3 fantastic mini getaways that would help me feel as thought I was celebrating winter in a meaningful and chic way. And here they are:
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