Flashback Friday

The football worldcup in South Africa brings back soooo many flashbacks - it was almost exactly four years ago that my husband and I moved to Cape Town for six months, following his job.

Flying to the Southern Hemisphere at the begining of July 2006 ment changing from hot and long summer days to South African winter of 12°C and nights that fall before 5 PM. But the beautiful beaches of False Bay south of Cape Town, where we lived, were even more spectacular in winter time and the following september, at the peak of whale watching season, we were able to see majestic right whales from our living room window, swimming only 30 metres off shore.

Boulders Bay near Simon's Town - a penguin sanctuary

I was 6 months pregnant when I came to Africa and our son was born in Cape Town. Attending prenatal classes, held by a group of midwives, going to a state of the art, women-only gym for special prenatal gymnastics and finally giving birth at a modern private clinic, was in sharp contrast with the reality of South Africa, where every third pregnant woman is HIV positive and far from being able to afford a decent medical care.

South Africa is also one of the most crime infested countries in the world where those, who have, lock themselves from those, who have not, by living behind bars and hiring armed response security.

Nevertheless it is the most amazing country I have ever visited, with breath taking landscapes, delicious local food and friendly people whose arts and crafts are a neverending source of inspiration - from fancy pottery, patchwork blankets and carefully carved wood one finds in galleries to sculptures from scrap metal and miniatures, made of beaded wire, sold by the roadside.

The Waterfront - Cape Town

Me by the sea - a tidal pool at St James beach

(I am wearing a prototype Loddelina Sakadó backpack - a faithfull companion throughout my African experience!)

These days French TV is full of stories and documentaries about South Africa, the land and it's people. We enjoy these nostalgic moments and it makes us plan a Cape Town holiday in the near future - South Africa is definitely a country worth visiting!

Check out more flashbacks at Christopher and Tia's blog.