Getting a dose of Vintage in Cape Town...

Vintage Day in Observatory, Cape Town. I heard about it from a friend of mind from Istanbul would you believe? On holiday here, she texted me Sunday morning asking if Lateral Paul & I wanted to join her there. A quick Google about the event and voila, we were on our way.
 
At first I wasn't terribly impressed... other than a few Mini Minors, an old Citroen, a Beetle and a Chevy Biscayne, it looked like a typical car show, just with way fewer wheels on display. And then we spotted Maria and Zigi from the Rockabilly fest, and the guys from Donford and the smallest of food trucks with a teensy pizza oven making those 'you want me' thin-based pizzas, and things starting looking up. And then, sadly for my bank balance, I came across Lolo from France, and her superb collection of vintage shoes, boots, coats and shirts. Yes, knowing I didn't actually need any of it, I browsed, shopped and departed with acquisitions. Well at least they're French acquisitions. Je suis ridiculous.

A section of the Obs Lower Main Road was closed off, and what a vibe! The most gorgeous classic and vintage cars lined the street, people were cupping hands against eyes and peering into car windows, ooh'ing and aah'ing at beautifully restored interiors and finishes...those sedans are such a great tribute to a great era that oozed style, class and a way slower pace. If only...

People-watching over a cider at a sidewalk cafe was very entertaining... Blue Haired Betty flounced by looking like an exotic bird and even a Penny Farthing wheeled by...it was amazing. I had a totally fab time...look out for the next event for your throwback to a time gone by. 


Interiors to envy...

Zigi Strydom from the Rockabilly Fest...

Ralph, Paul & a very cool guy in a onesie...

Penny Farthing...

Blue Haired Betty...

Fab thin base pizza from the smallest of food trucks...

Fantastic vintage show collection from Lolo from France...I dropped rather a few ZAR there...

That's me & Lateral Paul, the petrol head...

A weekend away at Kromrivier, in the beautiful Cederberg...

Kromrivier, in the Cederberg. A place where I'm soothed every time I visit. Last weekend Lateral Paul & I took our boys up to Kromrivier for two nights. It's not often that all four of us manage to successfully sync our schedules these days so it was completely amazing to spend time together in a place that sits deep in all of our souls.

We started taking our kids to Kromrivier in 1998 for our annual holiday. Luke was around 4 years old. We'd go for 10 days every February until school got in the way and we had to shift to going over the much busier Christmas time.

The 50km drive on the dirt road might be a drag for some but it's one of the highlights for us. It's about the journey, not just the destination, as they say. We drove through the high and winding Nieuwoudt Pass, past Algeria, the Wolfberg Cracks in the vast expanse of the Cederberg Wilderness area, past Dwarsrivier,  and spectacular landscapes with weird and wonderful sculpted rocks in dramatic hues of burnt orange and brown. And then there was that moment when we rounded the final corner on the mountain top and looked way down onto the farm in the middle of the fertile valley below. "We're all going on a summer holiday, no more working for a week or two..." sometimes we still sing it as we arrive at this haven, in one of the most remarkable parts of the Western Cape. 

So what is it that's so alluring about Kromrivier in the Cederberg Tourist Park? For me, it's the aromatic, sweet smell of fynbos, the impossibly blue sky, rugged terrain, waterfalls, crystal clear rock pools, weaver birds, dragonflies bopping and weaving over the surface of the rivers, and that amazing dry heat- up to 35 degrees- the kind that hovers around your body in an inexplicably amazing way.

As soon as we arrived, we stopped as usual at the  farmhouse to say hello to the wonderful Rinda Nieuwoudt, collected our key, hugged Boeta, the huge white Anatolian shepherd dog, and headed off to Tafelberg cottage, one of our two favourite places to stay, with Winterbach being the other.

Once unpacked, my watch got relegated to the depths of my handbag, and all cellphones were turned off. Happiness is... no wifi, except at the farm, if you're truly desperate for an Instagram fix (who, me?). 

And slowly, calmness descends. It's just you and Nature, sitting with a cup of coffee and a rusk on the stoep, watching the wind move across the water, rustling the leaves of the trees from one side of the dam to the other, like a Mexican wave.

And then there's all that napping. Relaxation replaces stress. The only schedule is eat, read, sleep, swim and repeat. Come late afternoon, we pop the cork on a bottle of cab sav, flick the caps off a few bottles of locally brewed craft beer (Ceder Brew) and sit around the fire waiting for the coals to settle down for the braai.

Night time brings its own theatre - the black sky shows off bright galaxies and shooting stars make you feel like heaven is sending you a message.

I can't explain how much I love this tiny part of the Cederberg. It's a place where my heart expands and I regain perspective. We all feel that way- it's a tonic for us.

I miss it already.

www.cederbergpark.com / 027-4822807 / Facebook: http://bit.ly/1EflptO / approximately 4 hours from Cape Town (250km)


A road much travelled winds along through gorgeous scenery for 50kms from the national road...

That's us four, as dusk starts to settle over the valley...

Luke...

Ceder Brew, made by the Nieuwoudt family...it's an amazing craft beer!

See, napping...lots of it...

Weeping willow...

The leaves are starting to turn...

Tafelberg cottage on the far side of the dam..

Clear night skies...

The breathtaking colours of sunset...like a painting...

Crystal clear rivers...

We were there on Valentine's weekend

We heart the Cederberg....can't wait to return..

All photos by Allison Foat, copyright Cape Town Diva (no filters used)
@allisonfoat on Twitter || @CapeTown_Diva on Instagram

An organic market in my hood...

I live in a great neighbourhood in this gorgeous city of Cape Town, called Oranjezicht (orange view in Dutch).

Situated beneath Table Mountain, it's an old suburb that was built on the site of the old Oranjezicht farm, which used to stretch at least as far as the Mount Nelson Hotel and supplied the Castle of Good Hope with fresh produce. 

My hood is great for walkabouts, for getting in touch with Nature like at De Waal Park, or when taking an amble around the Molteno Road reservoir. Noisy hadidas and geese are all over the place, even owls - it's fabulous. 

One of my best things to do on the weekend is visit the Oranjezicht City Farm. Initially this was in Upper Orange Street until some or other drama closed it down which was bleak until our Premier, Helen Zille stepped up and offered the gardens of her Official Residence as an alternative: Leeuwenhof. I mean really, she did that and it is magnificent! At first I was reluctant to go, thinking nothing could beat ye olde Cape Dutch charm of the previous location but this is vastly different and no comparison. Massive rolling lawns to lie on, picnic, play... a pool for the kids, tennis courts... and of course all the delish food and fresh organic produce I've come to love so much. 

And as always, kudos to Sheryl Ozinsky, who got this all going in the first place. She and her team are amazing.

Be sure to stop by any Saturday between 09:00 and 14:30. Needing directions? Just ask anyone where Zille Villa is and voila!

www.ozcf.co.za  

Can't beat this entrance...

Table Mountain...

Ice cream...

Upcycled bags and plant holders made from old billboard ads...

Expansive lawns...

The pool...

One of my best products, Tanqua from

the Karoo...

Fresh & organic...

Dogs are welcome...

Leeuwenhof 

See you at the OZCF!