So Saturday started with my ill stomach in full flow after the beers and mexican. Also felt slightly hungover having drunk for the first time since the weekend, so decided to have a quiet day until heading to Newlands rugby stadium in the evening to watch the Super 14 rugby union final between the Cape Town Stormers and Joburg Bulls on a big screen in the bowels of the stand with Denise from the school and all her family, the Dutch girls and Derek. Couldn't resist playing football with some guys from the hostel but it soon turned out to be a bad idea as I had no energy after the food poisoning and so was exhausted after 15 mins. (Could also have something to do with my lack of fitness after a year of decadence).
Then we headed to Newlands for the rugby. Our mode of transport would be a minibus-taxi which I had read could be quite interesting. They just cruise up and down the main road between Observatory district and the city centre with a driver and one guy hanging out of the side window shouting at people on the street who are walking to drum up business. Well we got in and it was a squeeze to say the least, this thing seated 15 but there were 18 in at one point! People were complaining and an old lady said she had 'rights' but the crazy guy hanging out of the window said "screw your rights!" As ever all these guys are interested in is money.
Anyway we got to the ground and watched the game which was never in doubt really, the Bulls were just too aggressive from the start and ran out champions. Denise and all her family and friends were there, some supported the Bulls and some the Stormers, and they were not afraid to show it either way! Her friend who was supporting the Bulls was screeching and dancing throughout the whole game, including getting up on the table! The screeching that African women make is like no other I have ever heard, my ears were ringing by the end (and I'm sure they will be for the World Cup). Also my dodgy tummy was back with avengence and I was in pain for the whole game so I decided that I wouldn't be going out that night and would just chill out at the hostel.
In the lounge I got talking to Ashley from Florida who was travelling for the first time and had just come back to the hostel from a week long trip to Port Elizabeth. We got on royally and it was one of those enjoyable random evenings that you only get when travelling. Particularly when she started talking about her boyfriend back home who seemed like a great guy but too much of a pushover, especially for a 21 year old. After travelling she was having doubts about being attached, particularly as she had met an English guy travelling (American girls and their weakness for the charming English accent eh Rachel!? haha) who she was due to meet in London on the way back to the States. The best part came when he rang her on skype whilst we were talking and wanted to play her a song he had learnt on his guitar. I convinced her to put it on loudspeaker so I could hear and she did, which meant we were both going to hell (or deeper into hell for me than I'm going anyway). Well he sung her Elvis's 'Can't Help Falling in Love' which sounded not great to say the least lol. I couldn't keep a staight face and she was really struggling. What made it even more cringeworthy was that apparently he had played it to her with his top off! Brilliant. It was a shame she was leaving the next day as we had had a good laugh but she vowed to keep me up to date with the situation, specifically her dalliance with her English guy in London.
Sunday came round and was gorgeous weather, golden skies, yet again and so me and Derek decided to go climb Table Mountain. We were told that the most rewarding route was to go up Skeleton Gorge to get to the top but it would take around 4-6 hours to do. We were full of bravado and set off seriously ill equipped, far from looking like hikers (Derek with his plastic Spar shopping bag haha), ready for the challenge ahead (despite the fact I was still far from full fitness after the food poisoning.) Well the first hour up the Gorge was a ridiculously steep incline over rocks and climbing up waterfalls via wooden ladders. I seriously thought I wouldn't last the day. But we got out of the canopy and onto a more flat section and the views were stunning already. It took us around 4-and-a-half hours in the baking sun over more rocky sections and long tracks around the outside of the mountain, with regular stops, and we were both physically shattered by the end, especially as we hadn't taken anywhere near enough water and had ran out with over an hour to go to get to the cable car at the end. Boy was it worth it though. The view from the top looking down over Green Point, where the new World Cup stadium is on the bay which stands out and looks incredible, and Robben Island was truly breathtaking. We were probably most excited when we saw the cafe at the end where they sold ice cold drinks, yes! We sat down and didn't speak to each other as we were so tired. But it was truly a day, an achievement and an experience to never forget and one which rivalled anything on my year of travels so far.