Stellenbosch, South Africa - Travel Journal November 6-8, 2005

Cape Town, South Africa...where the lights and noises penetrate the walls. The negativity of a repressed culture still exists, where there is still fear in the local caucasian population while a country tries to recreate itself in peace.

With the cold waters of the Atlantic at the foothills of large cliffs the only transquility in both nature and humans is 35 kilometers inland to the hillside of Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch, where the wine valley is more impressive than Tuscany or Bordeaux, where Stellenbosch mountain turns blue or green dependent on the sunlight, where the sky is almost purple and where wine is the pallet to any meal.

To take myself back to a sense of normality, nature and the traquility of silence before hitting the noise, smells and masses of population in India....I went to Stellenbosch.

I booked two nights at 7 Heilderberg Street, a Bed and Breakfast in the heart of the Stellenbosch. It may have been Imagination, Common Sense, Staying Power, The Genes or Luck that brought me TO Gerrit and Christa Kruger but whatever it was, they became my Wine Angels in Stellenbosch.

Gerrit a Cambridge studied Greek Mythology Professor at Stellenbosch University enlightened me that all things in life are made possible by (in order):

1. Imagination
2. Common Sense
3. Staying Power
4. The Genes
5. Luck (but not the Lotto Luck!)

After some discussion he allowed me to add my own attribute to the list:

6. Optimism, for all things are possible

Christa his lovely wife, allowed me to view her stitching collections of a lifetime while Gerrit gave me an ear full of music, both reminding me of Mom and Dad. Both giving me a warm welcome, love and a retreat from the traveling madness.

After a day visiting wine estates, I learned Stellenbosch was founded on November 6, 326 years ago. That Gerrit has exquisite taste for country estates, he is the property owner of 5 but the people living their, paying the mortgage, working the land, just don't know it! (kidding) I did promise him that if he ever bought one of them that I promise to go there for my wedding...considering he would have to sell the thousands of books in his home first to move and afford the mortgage, that is far off for both of us, nobody panic, I'm safe...for awhile.

After a day visiting wine estates, I learned Stellenbosch was founded on November 6, 326 years ago. That Gerrit has exquisite taste for country estates, he is the property owner of 5 but the people living their, paying the mortgage, working the land, just don't know it! (kidding) I did promise him that if he ever bought one of the grand estates he showed me that I promise to go there for my wedding.

Considering he would have to sell the thousands of books in his home first and have his luck attribute be lotto friendly, have no fears, I'm safe! Above all, I continued to recognize, people are kind, everywhere.

I leave my Stellenbosch home with new family, a stitched hankerchief to keep my continued travels safe and the warmth of my two Wine Angels.

Gerrit 1st Estate of Choice..No imagination needed...it is beautiful!

Gerrit 5th Estate of Choice..with a little Luck, it's a beautiful setting for a wedding...yikes!

Life is good!!