Hello from Cape Town!
Today started with what was probably the best breakfast ever – at the Oranjezicht Market. Between colourful stalls and smiling faces, there was everything you could wish for: juicy fruit, fresh street food, matcha, sandwiches, and even coconut water straight from the coconut. Honestly, we would’ve loved to try everything – but there’s only so much you can eat (and only so much time in a day). And we had a lot planned!
Even during the drive, we were reminded once again how close wealth and poverty are here. On one side, we saw modern, well-kept neighbourhoods – and even the film set of Pirates of the Caribbean! On the other, there stretched an endless sea of tin roofs from the townships – a sight that made us all go quiet and think. Fluch der Karibik bestaunten, erstreckte sich auf der anderen Seite ein endloses Meer aus Wellblechdächern der Townships – ein Anblick, der uns still machte und zum Nachdenken brachte.
One of the most touching moments of the day came when we met Mr and Mrs McPherson, an elderly couple who used to teach at our partner school, Phoenix Secondary High. Their genuine joy about our visit was so warm and heartfelt that it really moved us. As a sign of their gratitude, they gave Ms Wolff traditional African jewellery and Mr Dohmen a bottle of South African wine – a moment full of kindness and connection that we’ll never forget.
The only thing that made us a bit sad: they were slightly disappointed we hadn’t come earlier – because, just a few hours before, a group of baboons had been sitting in their garden! But believe it or not, right after we said goodbye, a small troop of baboons actually crossed the road in front of us – of course, we all went wild taking pictures.
In the afternoon, we stopped in Betty’s Bay – a place that looked like it came straight out of a picture book. Between rocks and ocean waves, we spotted penguins, cormorants and dassies. For many of us, it was a really special moment – we’d never seen these animals so close before.
But even here, we realised how fragile even the most beautiful places on earth can be: due to overfishing, the penguins in this region are now highly endangered – a sad thought that stayed with us.
After one last look at the little waddling locals, we continued our journey – next stop: Hermanus. We stared eagerly out at the ocean, waiting… until finally, the first water sprays appeared: whales! The whispers grew louder as more fins showed up – well, except for Liv and Charlotte, who were still squinting into the distance asking, “Where?!”
A few minutes later, the big sea creatures came closer and closer. They moved slowly through the water until they were just a few metres away. We could clearly see that they were two mother whales with their calves – a breathtaking sight that left us speechless.
The moment was so magical that Ms Wolff even allowed us to climb over the wall for a better view. Lisan bravely went first, and soon a few others followed her onto the rocks to get postcard-worthy shots.
After about an hour and a half, the wind picked up, and we decided to warm up in the cars again – full of impressions, smiles, and salty hair.
A small fun fact about our car groups:
While in Mr Dohmen’s car you’ll mostly hear soft Mark Forster songs or local radio and everyone quietly dozes off with an apple core in hand, our car (the girls and Ms Wolff) is its own entertainment zone. Bruno Mars is surprisingly singable as a group – and yes, don’t worry, we only throw out biodegradable waste!
We ended the day with a spectacular sunset and a stop at Sir Lowry’s Pass, a windy lookout point where we were almost blown away. Now we’re looking forward to the long-awaited curry cooked by Liv and Greta – and to a relaxed, cosy evening together.
