The mother of all cities still a stunner

More laid-back but no less beautiful

Travelling has had to take a back seat due to regulations to curb the tentacles of the omnipresent pandemic, yet slowly but surely, we are claiming back our wings.

Travelling in general, but a journey to the Mother City in particular, is a treat never to be taken for granted again. Ever.

For close to two years, the contemporary global monster has been hard at work, trying to clip our wings and confine us to home ground, but we are fighting back – one jab at a time.

Inasmuch as a vaccine passport and booster shots are on the cards, one already cannot board any plane without being subjected to a mandatory swab – oral or nasal. So, whilst packing with excitement, there remains a nagging awareness that only a negative result can secure your seat on the aircraft in pursuit of experiencing Cape Town in the flesh once again. Breath is held. Fingers remain crossed…

As soon as that text message comes through, it becomes all systems go and the journey is finally becoming a confirmed reality. Woohoo!

At the crack of dawn on a Monday morning, I make my way to Hosea Kutako International Airport. My excitement knows no limits – think of a boy from the farm on the back of a pickup, heading for his maiden visit to the city. I smile at all and sundry – as masked up as we all are. Yes, I too believe one can see the smile in someone’s eyes.

Boarded and with my seatbelt firmly fastened, I feel a rush of excitement as the aircraft propels into the air space, leaving behind the Land of the Brave and heading in the direction of neighbouring South Africa.

The marvel that is the Mother City is something that words still struggle to do justice to. Despite the evident impact of Covid-19 clearly visible from the moment you land at Cape Town International, the warm embrace, the spectacular welcome and the unmistakable allure uncover what is without an iota of doubt the Cape Town we have grown to adore and cherish. Some would argue it is something in the air. Another school of thought would reckon that it has everything to do with the way Capetonians carry themselves – the way they walk, or is it the manner in which they talk?

The taxi guards with their colourful slang are part of the buffet of sights and sounds that make this city unique, that add to its depth, that make it such an unforgettable experience. A real contributing factor isthe majestic Mountain. Seeing it always feels like the first time. I never cease to get caught off guard by its magic, its unwavering beauty.

A quaint coffee shop in the southern suburbs was the first stop. On the menu, apart from a hearty brunch, was unfiltered cosmopolitan and eclectic Cape Town. A blend of “anything goes” and “no one cares much”. No sweating the small stuff.

It was a gift of a Monday – hot with clear, open skies. So, yes, the beach and I (physically distanced and cautiously unmasked) made our long-awaited reacquaintance.

The rest of the week has become a blurry memory of much cherished catch-up sessions with loved ones, visiting familiar and new hangout spots, running on the Sea Point promenade, imagining a life post-pandemic…

With a heavy but grateful heart – and another negative result – I boarded the flight back home with a pinky promise to myself that I’ll be back as soon as I can.

Slowly but surely, we are claiming back our wings.

Denver Kisting