ever.â
âAli weâve only been here three hours, how could you know you want to live here already?â Robin laughed.
âI know, Robin, with you here I could.â
Robin smiled, kissed her and ordered more drinks.
Being in South Africa was a far cry from any holiday Ali or Robin had been on before. Each summer the couple normally headed for a package holiday in Spainor Portugal. Relaxing on a beach and staying in an apartment had always been nice, nothing exciting or wild, but nice. But last year after two weeks in an Irish holiday resort in Greece, Robin had said he had had enough. He hated the all-day-long sunbathing, and found going for dinner every night in the same strip of restaurants boring; he wanted to try something else, go somewhere exciting. And so they had decided to do exactly that â save money and go to a different place. And as Ali looked around Cape Town, and they discussed the different activities and sights this country held, she knew they could both agree this was certainly a different kind of holiday for them, or anyone!
They managed to drink another two cocktails each, before heading to the waterfront for dinner. They stumbled upon a steak restaurant. Ali ordered prawn cocktail to start, Robin had barbecue grilled prawns with a wine and garlic sauce. The food and wine were great, and by the time their fillet steaks and potato gratins were finished they were very full, happy and tipsy. Ali kept grabbing Robinâs hand and squeezing it, just to make sure they were both not dreaming. This has to be a dream, she thought, to be on a different continent with the man I love, away from it all.
The harbour was overrun with boats, both private ones and tourist charters, and then there were the boats that went to Robben Island âwhere Nelson Mandela had been in jail. The waterfront was teeming with conversations â all in different languages â with children, musicians, street performers, locals, tourists, and Ali and Robin. It was perfect.
Ali had wanted to look in the shops after the meal, as they all opened late, but after the flight, cocktails, wine and excitement, she was too tired, and just managed to make it back to their African-themed hotel room, before falling asleep dreaming of lions and tigers and bears. (Oh my!)
The next morning Ali dragged Robin out of bed so they could get to the buffet-style breakfast as soon as possible. As they walked into the restaurant Ali gasped: the view was amazing, overlooking the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. Robin ordered a fry-up, while Ali chose French toast, with bacon and maple syrup, as well as helping herself to muesli, fresh fruit, toast and chocolate muffins. The food was endless! As they ate they planned their next few days. They were driving up to Franschhoek, one of the famous winery towns, in two days, and from there down following the Garden Route to other cape towns, but for now all Ali wanted to do was sit by the pool and sunbathe with a cocktail in her hand!
As the afternoon wore on Robin began getting all anxious, Ali presumed it was the sunbathing, as even though he could tan easily it bored him, so when he suggested that they go to Table Mountain that evening rather than tomorrow as planned she decided to go along with the change in plan. He seemed strangely attached to his backpack as they bought their tickets for the trip to the top of the mountain, and didnât let it go all afternoon; but when they were on top of the mountain he seemed to relax and for once let Ali takeplenty of photos of him to show all their friends at home.
As the sun began to set on the mountain, the clouds suddenly started rolling around the tourists.
âThe mountain looks on fire, itâs amazing!â Ali said, totally overwhelmed by the sight. âAnd look, Robin, I canât believe thereâs a cocktail bar here, too! So we can have some sundowners!â
âI knew they had this bar,â said Robin gently.
âAli weâve only been here three hours, how could you know you want to live here already?â Robin laughed.
âI know, Robin, with you here I could.â
Robin smiled, kissed her and ordered more drinks.
Being in South Africa was a far cry from any holiday Ali or Robin had been on before. Each summer the couple normally headed for a package holiday in Spainor Portugal. Relaxing on a beach and staying in an apartment had always been nice, nothing exciting or wild, but nice. But last year after two weeks in an Irish holiday resort in Greece, Robin had said he had had enough. He hated the all-day-long sunbathing, and found going for dinner every night in the same strip of restaurants boring; he wanted to try something else, go somewhere exciting. And so they had decided to do exactly that â save money and go to a different place. And as Ali looked around Cape Town, and they discussed the different activities and sights this country held, she knew they could both agree this was certainly a different kind of holiday for them, or anyone!
They managed to drink another two cocktails each, before heading to the waterfront for dinner. They stumbled upon a steak restaurant. Ali ordered prawn cocktail to start, Robin had barbecue grilled prawns with a wine and garlic sauce. The food and wine were great, and by the time their fillet steaks and potato gratins were finished they were very full, happy and tipsy. Ali kept grabbing Robinâs hand and squeezing it, just to make sure they were both not dreaming. This has to be a dream, she thought, to be on a different continent with the man I love, away from it all.
The harbour was overrun with boats, both private ones and tourist charters, and then there were the boats that went to Robben Island âwhere Nelson Mandela had been in jail. The waterfront was teeming with conversations â all in different languages â with children, musicians, street performers, locals, tourists, and Ali and Robin. It was perfect.
Ali had wanted to look in the shops after the meal, as they all opened late, but after the flight, cocktails, wine and excitement, she was too tired, and just managed to make it back to their African-themed hotel room, before falling asleep dreaming of lions and tigers and bears. (Oh my!)
The next morning Ali dragged Robin out of bed so they could get to the buffet-style breakfast as soon as possible. As they walked into the restaurant Ali gasped: the view was amazing, overlooking the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. Robin ordered a fry-up, while Ali chose French toast, with bacon and maple syrup, as well as helping herself to muesli, fresh fruit, toast and chocolate muffins. The food was endless! As they ate they planned their next few days. They were driving up to Franschhoek, one of the famous winery towns, in two days, and from there down following the Garden Route to other cape towns, but for now all Ali wanted to do was sit by the pool and sunbathe with a cocktail in her hand!
As the afternoon wore on Robin began getting all anxious, Ali presumed it was the sunbathing, as even though he could tan easily it bored him, so when he suggested that they go to Table Mountain that evening rather than tomorrow as planned she decided to go along with the change in plan. He seemed strangely attached to his backpack as they bought their tickets for the trip to the top of the mountain, and didnât let it go all afternoon; but when they were on top of the mountain he seemed to relax and for once let Ali takeplenty of photos of him to show all their friends at home.
As the sun began to set on the mountain, the clouds suddenly started rolling around the tourists.
âThe mountain looks on fire, itâs amazing!â Ali said, totally overwhelmed by the sight. âAnd look, Robin, I canât believe thereâs a cocktail bar here, too! So we can have some sundowners!â
âI knew they had this bar,â said Robin gently.
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