Poly's first day in Cape Town- June 8 2019

Greetings from gorgeous Cape Town on this late Saturday night!  The Poly group arose to a glorious skyline just outside our hotel: glistening clouds moving in and out of the students’ views of Table Mountain.  Before getting a closer view of the legendary mountain range, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of fresh fruits, eggs, cereals, smoothies and muffins. Fueled for a big day of walking, we hiked up the narrow, and in some cases steep (there are ladders in some trail locations), trails and ascended Lion’s Head to what was simply a majestic and phenomenal panoramic view of Cape Town.  While atop the peak, some of the students enjoyed conversing with local residents from Cape Town. After soaking up the spectacular view, we walked back to the hotel and then made our way to lunch at the globally famous Nando’s (a favorite of Mr. Martin- and our group will concur with him).  The students gobbled up a very tasty lunch and then it was off to see/experience The Slave Lodge Museum, which examines the history of slavery in the Cape region. The students stayed at the museum right up to the closing seconds as they tried to process the origins of slavery and its escalation after the Dutch arrived in 1652.  After an appropriate (and brief) rest, we wrapped up the full day with a dinner at a local Portuguese restaurant.  We called it a night at 9pm as the students were wiped out. Tomorrow we head to Table Mountain National Park to visit the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach (to see the penguins).

Shannon leading the way (from atop Lion's Head)

Oge ascending Lion's Head- final steps

Bordeaux and Siviwe (leader of iThuba)

high atop Lion's Head

At the trailhead for Lion's Head

A beautiful view of Table Mtn from the top of Lion's Head

One of the steeper sections (ladder required)

Group on top of Lion's Head (notice Robben Island in the background)

Lunch

Siviwe and Megan (go cross country team)

panoramic view of Cape Town

The Slave Lodge- now The Slave Lodge Museum