Christmas Holiday Part 2- Franschhoek & Oudtshoorn

After 4 lovely days in Knysna, we said goodbye to the Garden Route and welcomed the Winelands in the Cape. Lunch in the Robertson Wine Valley at Bon Cap could not have been better timed with a very niggly Harrison desperate for a feed & stretch. An antipasto platter and bottle of wine was brought to us as we sat under a vine covered veranda loving the caress of the gentle breeze and warmth of the midday sun. Ahhh... in case we didn't already, we now definitely felt as though we were on holidays!

The drive from Robertson to Franschhoek takes you along route 45 over the spectacular Franschhoek Pass. The view of Franschhoek from the top of the pass is picturesque- such a cute secluded valley filled with a patchwork of vines and cape Dutch buildings. We lodged at Cabriere Cottage for 4 nights which is located in the heart of Franschhoek- ideal for exploring the endless shops on foot and travelling to the surrounding wineries (or wine farms as the South African's would say!). As our cottage had a lovely outdoor entertainment area Nelson devised a plan of enjoying long lunches at the top wineries eat day and returning for a small dinner at home each night, prepared by him. Anyone who knows Nelson's cooking would agree that it was an excellent idea!

Thus, our days were spent exercising each morning, visiting a couple of wineries for tastings, having a delicious lunch at a different winery each day and then returning for a restful afternoon of swimming in our plunge pool, shopping & eating at home. We also visited the intriguing Taal Monument, a giant needle-like monument that commemorates the Afrikaans language which overlooks the surrounding valleys and the neighbouring giant granite domes in Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve.

The most notable wine tastings were at Graham Beck, for the sheer quantity of wine given, and Fairview. The sparkling wines at Haute Cabriere failed to excite, yet that may have been tainted by the Veuve Cliquot champagne drunk for Christmas lunch! Unfortunately Jen is still breastfeeding so her tastings were somewhat limited.

At Rickety Bridge our picnic hamper lunch was eaten amongst the vines with the valley walls providing a picturesque backdrop. Lunch OK, but it was the location which impressed. The most memorable lunch was definitely at Grande Provence (http://www.grandeprovence.co.za/). So good in fact that Pete and Nelson both ordered a second main course after devouring the first! We easily filled the afternoon enjoying our three course lunch (four for some!) plus amuse-bouche and palate cleanser. Delicious lunch enjoyed in a beautifully manicured garden surrounding the old Cape Dutch Manor house and 300 y/o+ oak trees.

For a change of scenery on the return drive to PE we decided to stop at Oudtshoorn, undoubtedly the ostrich capital of the world. Pete studied the road map and decided to travel north on the N1 via Prince Albert to get to Oudtshoorn. The Swartberg Pass, from Prince Albert to Oudtshoorn was nothing short of spectacular. The narrow untarred road winds to the summit (1583m) in steep zig-zags and sudden switchbacks with breathtaking views at every turn.

The prosperity of Oudtshoorn boomed at the turn of the 20th century when fortunes were made from the sale of ostrich feathers. The city is surrounded by what seems like hundreds of ostrich farms which dominate the tourism industry. Just outside of Oudtshoorn is the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge the caves are complete with stalactites, stalagmites, vast halls and towering formations. Quite impressive- Harrison even agreed and in one of the halls decided he wanted to test the echoing ability! Considering we were in rural South Africa, we ate a surprisingly good dinner at Jemima's (ostrich steaks of course!), prior to retiring for the evening at the wonderfully hosted Avonblijh guest house. With the temperature reaching 40c on Saturday in Oudtshoorn we were glad to be returning to the coastal Port Elizabeth.

We drove home to PE via a portion of the Route 62- a tourist route inland that meanders between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It was interesting seeing the change in scenery from majestic mountains and passes near Oudtshoorn in the little Karoo to the vineyards and orchards lining the valley in the Langkloof region. Lunch was the mandatory stop at a busy Walskipper's in Jeffrey's Bay for a seafood fix prior to returning to PE.

Such a fabulous holiday and best of all, we all felt so relaxed afterwards. Great company accompanied with diverse scenery and experiences.