All Of You

The music playing through my iPod struggled to drown out the Saturday city sounds, even for a relatively calm one at that. As I wandered down to the start of the Company Gardens weekend living was happening around me — but for me, for me the hustle and bustle came to a stand still. Today it was just me and my camera. After a hearty breakfast, doing a quick load of washing and forgetting to make my bead, I headed into the heart of the city. As I listened to some of my favourite tunes playing in my ears, I took in the visuals of what is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s true — Cape Town is truly one of a kind, and more than anything it is the people that shape and form it. It is funny how I live and breathe it everyday, I drive through its streets and it becomes second nature to see certain buildings and structures, but it blurs into just that — everyday. I wanted to take it on by foot and really look, see, not just know that it is there.

It was a hot summers day outside, but not a scorcher. From the beautiful green gardens to the metropolis jungle, up Long, over to BoKaap — my journey was well under way. I enjoyed the interesting characters, whom I’m pretty sure would become regulars were I to stroll through Company Gardens daily. My mum always tells me how she would go for walks through there on her lunch break back in the day when she was about the age I am now and just started working in the city. Then there’s everyone trying to get done what they needed to do — the things that can only be done on a Saturday, because tomorrow is Sunday and then it’s Monday again! The rest of it is pretty much tourists, which I must say I felt like a little bit, what with walking around with my camera and really taking pictures of the most random things. In the Gardens they went on and on about an all-white squirrel — a selfiestick (a word I am pretty sure is going to be added to the Oxford Dictionary this year) was involved. BoKaap is their mecca. They get dropped off by the tour guide at a point where there are enough little colourful houses for their heart’s content. I’m pretty sure the poor Schmuck brings all of them to that very same spot, time and time again. As I passed them I truly did feel like some lone tourist. It’s great though, them taking in this beautiful and diverse city.

So I finally arrived back home, after what was a very good outing. Even though I had some blisters on my toes, it was so worth it. I think it is something we have to do more often, explore the cities and town we live in and that are around us. We tend to always year towards going all over the world to other cities and small towns, but we forget that we ourselves are also living in such an amazing city and that we are surrounded by some of the most beautiful and quaint towns around. Capetonians, make an effort to get out there!

#capetown #photography #walking #instagrammission #cbd #mothercity #companygardens #bokaap #explore #discover #capetonians