During our last two days in Cape Town, we visited the Titanic Artifact Exhibit, the Springbok Rugby Musuem, the Cape Town McLaren dealership, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Cape Town Diamond Museum.
Trip highlights from December 21st and 22nd follow follow. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at http://mvdirona.com/maps
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Titanic
Position: 18 25.09, -33 54.42
The travelling Titanic Artifact Exhibit opened at the V&A Waterfront shortly after we arrived in Cape Town and we finally went to see it. The exhibit focuses on the personal stories of those aboard and included over 300 artifacts recovered from the sea floor along with a description of the recovery process.
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Springbok Museum
Position: 18 25.12, -33 54.33
The Springboks are the national team of rugby-obsessed South Africa. The Springbok Museum does an excellent job of detailing the country’s tumultuous rugby history, particularly during the international outcry and protests against apartheid. Soon after becoming president, Nelson Mandela used rubgy as a way of uniting a country close to civil war. This statue shows the famous exchange between Nelson Mandela and Springbok captain François Pienaar after underdog South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup. As Mandela handed the cup over, he said to Pienaar “François, thank you for what you have done for our country.” Pienaar replied: “No, Mr President. Thank you for what you have done.”
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McLaren
Position: 18 25.07, -33 54.22
The Cape Town McLaren dealership has some amazing machines on display, including several McLaren 650Ss and a 675LT.
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Inside McLaren
Position: 18 25.07, -33 54.22
A McLaren with the bodywork removed is more interesting, and almost as beautiful, as a McLaren with the bodywork on.
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Grand Cafe and Beach
Position: 18 24.97, -33 54.09
We stopped in at the Grand Cafe and Beach for a pre-dinner drink overlooking Table Bay.
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Jellyfish
Position: 18 25.07, -33 54.47
The beautiful jellyfish exhibit at the Two Oceans Aquarium above the V&A Waterfront marina.
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Penguins
Position: 18 25.04, -33 54.49
The African penguins at the Two Oceans Aquarium seem to enjoy being the center of attention.
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Kelp Forest
Position: 18 25.05, -33 54.49
The Two Oceans Aquarium has one of only three live kelp forest exhibits in the world and it’s fabulous. We’ve seen one of the other two at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.
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Predator exhibit
Position: 18 25.07, -33 54.46
The massive predator tank includes ragged-tooth sharks and many large pelagic fish. For a fee, you can dive the tank with a guide.
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Ocean Basket
Position: 18 25.18, -33 54.30
We had a delicious lunch on the patio at The Ocean Basket. The restaurant sponsors the Kelp Forest Exhiibit at the Two Oceans Aquarium and serves only sustainable catches.
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Nobel Square
Position: 18 25.18, -33 54.39
Nobel Square has larger-than-life statues of South Africa’s four Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Nkosi Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former State President F. W. de Klerk and former President Nelson Mandela.
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Diamond museum
Position: 18 25.34, -33 54.41
On a guided tour through the Cape Town Diamond Museum, we learned about the history of South Africa’s diamond industry and how the stones are valued and cut.
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Shimansky
Position: 18 25.34, -33 54.41
The Diamond Museum was created by South African diamond jeweler Shimansky, and the tour includes a view into their factory where diamonds are cut and set into fine jewelry.
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Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.
On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at http://mvdirona.com/maps. |
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Happy New Year James and Jennifer. I hope you have a year of calm seas and continue to enjoy great voyages!
All the best to you as well Stewart.