Today in South Africa...

Free Day in Stellenbosch

Today in South Africa we had a free day! After a long trip traveling from prince albert to Stellenbosch, we decided a relaxed day of wine touring would be perfect. This was actually my first wine tour to ever go to, so I don't really have a lot to compare. BUT  this place was pretty awesome. I have to admit, Stellenbosch was worrying me for a minute after the first night when one of our friends had her card stolen at the ATM. A group of men literally played us and stole her card right out from underneath our noses. It was insane. They are quick and they can get anybody! I felt so bad for my friend but quickly realized how much worse things truly could have been. It was a gentle reminder that the real world is still out there and we must always be alert and aware. Thankfully everything was fine and we were able to move on! Waterford Winery created the perfect escape in this city!

Waterford Winery was a little ways out. It wasn't too bad but we had to drive out to the countryside. Once again I was in awe!  Even for their winter, it still had the most gorgeous grass and plants. My mind could only try to fathom what this place would look like in summer. Simply stunning!

Our little guard dog! that's what I call him. You could tell he wasn't really use to people petting him and when Nolan, our bus driver, started walking up they chased him! Nobody was harmed, but it sure made for a comical morning!

Kristin and her orange!

trying to get him to warm up to me. It took a minute, but I got a little reaction after some time!;)

Where they story their wine. The tour guide told us they only use the barrel four times. After that, the flavor is at risk of being lost.

Wine distillery! it was so cool being inside and seeing how something such as wine is mass produced. I have to brag about this place and its clean and sanitary environment. Something that can always be appreciated now a days.

My lovely roommates while in Stellenbosch! love these girls

Today in South Africa...

African Relish

Today in South Africa we traveled to Prince Albert to attend a cooking class at African Relish. It was a long 5 hour drive to prince albert, but man it was worth it! This was our 3rd tour, and although I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the other food tours, this one was probably my favorite for many reasons. To start off, Prince Albert is probably one of the most adorable little towns I have ever seen. After spending four days in a city that never sleeps, I had a special appreciation for Prince Albert and its quaint little town. The first night there I slept like a rock. My poor room mate even feared for my life as she called my name the next morning to make sure I was still breathing! haha It was some good/ much needed sleep.

The second thing I enjoyed about this cooking tour was the comfortable and relaxed environment it provided while getting hands on experience in the kitchen.  As much as I loved Prince Albert and all its countryside glory, I was little intimidated at first. Everything was so nice. I know were not suppose to judge a book by its cover, but that's kind of what I did. However our cooking instructor, gavin, walked in and immediately broke the tension and created an atmosphere of fun learning with a laid back environment. He gave us some cool inside tips also which im pretty excited to put to use back at home!:)

After we cooked our first meal we then sat down to eat. Once again, another thing about this place is the dining atmosphere. There's pictures down below, but they don't even do it justice. I use to always think I was a city girl, but South Africa's countryside has me seriously swooning! It was so peaceful and serene. It was so nice after lunch being able to walk around and just absorb in all its beauty! Some of the group went on a run, while me and a few others strolled the town. We came upon many cool things, but my favorite was the local dairy farm, named Gay's Geurnsey. We were given a short tour inside to see how the different dairy operations worked and then even did a little cheese tasting. My favorite part was seeing the cows on beautiful pastures. The way its suppose to be! After that we headed back to room to get ready for dinner that we had prepped earlier that day. It was a delicious menu consisting of lamb, lentils, creamy potatoes, and apple tarts. If I gained weight at all this trip, I know what is to blame!;) Everything was seriously delicious. I really cant wait to bring what I learned from this cooking lesson home!

Some more pics

Our cooking instructor showing us how to prepare fresh hummus

Today in South Africa...

Robben Island

Today in South Africa we visited Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for almost 20 years. For those that may not know, Mandela was a political leader in South Africa who stood up for equal rights. The government felt his protests and strikes were politically offensive  therefore incarcerating him for 27 years. Once inside, we were able to see his living conditions and were  even given a tour by a man who actually was a prisoner during those times. It was a haunting, but beautiful reminder of how ones life and their sacrifices can make such a difference in the world. It was hard to understand a lot of things the tour guide was saying, but being inside those walls gave me a pretty good idea of what took place. One of the many things that stuck out to me was walking past the cell walls and seeing the tiny cells completely empty. I was informed halfway through that most prisoners had no beds. They literally had nothing. It was freezing that day so all my mind could think about was the men who had to sleep on the floor, shivering, possibly sick with maybe one blanket. Once that image was in my mind, my heart was instantly struck with guilt. Here I am complaining about being cold in the mornings while walking to the bathroom, while these men were sleeping on floors in the freezing cold. Oh, how minimal my problems suddenly became. Sometimes it takes a place like this to shift your perspective of things and appreciate the freedoms and rights my generation was born knowing.

Nelson Mandela didn't gain freedom until 1990, which absolutely blows my mind! But Mandela persevered and became a beacon of hope for most living in South Africa, especially those affected by apartheid.  His legacy lives on!