The Return to Cape Town

Arrived in Cape Town late Sunday night, exhausted. Woke up Monday morning and was still exhausted! It was a beautiful day. Decided I needed a bit of the city life that I have been missing being away from NYC and in the bush and a little beach town. Got a taxi ( there is NO public transport in this city!) down to the waterfront V& A. A beautiful outdoor shopping area and harbor. There's an indoor mall, outdoor restaraunts, lots of street entertainers, etc. Got a very cheap falafel and sat outside in the sunshine and watched the tourists (and occassional seal) swim by. I was pretty happy. Walked around a bit more and decided to take the ferry to Robben Island, the infamous prison where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held captive during apartheid. This was probably the MOST BORING thing I have done on this entire trip! I was so pissed I waisted my day doing this. The ferry ride was the best part! After that, they took us on a bus around the island. Then, we had a short tour by one of the former prisoners. It was just weired. NO ONE in the group was paying attention, it was kind of sad, but it was SO BORING! I couldn't wait to get off that island! Then I went to the grocery store to buy some food to eat this week instead of eating out every meal. Had a casual night in at this luxurious duplex. Lauren is gone, after all.
Today, Tuesday, I took a sightseeing tour bus as I realized it was a better and cheaper way to get around the city. IT's one of those hop-on, hop-off red buses like in NYC. I first stopped off at the South African Mueseum, which is actually the National History Museum. It was pretty cool, saw some old African rock carvings and the giant hall of whales and dolphins. Had a picnic with myself and about one million children afterwards then got back on the bus. Was planning on taking it to Table Mountain to do the cable cars, but it wasn't a clear day, so there's no point. Ended up going to Greenmarket Square instead, bought some gifts and walked all around the city center for the next couple of hours. Now, I'm back at the duplex, folding laundry and waiting to go to dinner with some of Lauren's friends. Hard life, I know.
The countdown has now begun for my return back to NYC; I have mixed feelings, but doing things alone these past two days has defintely gotten me leaning more towards being ready to come back.. I'm missing people.