Cape Town - The Last Week

Freiden, 24.08.2012

Opgestane gouf haut besse mi spéit, nämlech sou géint 09.00 well mir um 10.30 sollten vum Dave de Beer ofgeholl gin fir op Milnerton (ee Quartier vu Kapstadt) ze foeren an sou endgültig Bonnievale ze verloossen.

Den Dieter war segoer extra net an Schoul gaange fir eis Äddi ze soen. Et gouf na de Kuch opgeschnidden dee gaaaanz faarwig bannena warJ

Wie sou dachs hei an Afrika hat och den Dave Verspéidung mee um 11.15  goung et du lass mat der Rees. Mir am Combi an Elisabeth an den Mathias an hirem Auto hannendrun.

Jean-Mari hu mir och na zu Bonnievale bei der Schoul matgeholl well hat de Weekend beim Karl zu Kapstadt verbrengt.

Ukomm zu Milnerton heescht nach laang net ukomm op der richtiger Plaatz;-) 40 min si mir rondereemgefoer fir di richtig Residence ze fannen. No poer Telefonater hate mir di richtig Wunneng fonnt. Mee dunn: wéi ee Schlessel passt bei wéi eng Dier a virun allem wéi fonktionnéiert de Schlessel???

Wéi mir du schlussendlich an der Wunneng ukoumen, hu mir na vum Dave eis Fotoen kritt an hu se bezoelt.

Dono hu mir ganz séier dem Elisabeth an dem Mathias hiir Accomodation gesicht fir nach zur Zait op den Table Mountain ze kommen. Di lescht Opfahrt mat der Kabelbunn war nämlich um 17.00 Auer.

Um Bierg war et herrlich, eng super Vue iwwert den Ozean, Stadt, Bierger, de Stadium, de Robben Island, an an an an.

No Fotoshooting an engem Rondgang op der Kopp ass et um 18.00 Auer mat der leschter Bunn erem rof gaang.

Well mir nach dee ganzen Dag naischt gees haten, goung et dunn op Sich no engem lekkeren Restaurant J

Nodeems mir am Bo Kaap (ee Quartier mat ganz faarwigen Heiser) naischt fonnt haten, si mir an dee nächst Beschten gaangen a mir hate GleckJ

Am NEIGHBOURHOOD krute mir gudd zeessen. MMMMMMHHH.

Lo si mir rem an eiser neier Wunneng a gi lo schlofen well mar um 09.00 geet et mam Cheryl op den Tour.

Samsten,25.08.2012

Mir haaten keen Iessen am Appartement, dofir huet d’Cheryl, eise Guide fir dei ganz Woch, eis an engem Supermarché erausgeloos fir eppes klenges aunzekaafen, wàhrend d’Elisabeth an den Mathias hieren geleinten Auto ofgeliwert hun. D’Cheryl ass eng mei eeler, leif Fra mat laangen blonden Hoer an fillen Faalen am Gesiicht. Zu 8 ass dunn Eisen Tour ugang. D’Cheryl soutz mat engem Micro um Kapp um Steier an huet eis a Richtung Cape of Good Hope kutscheiert. Den 1. Stop haaten mir an engem Hafen fir op en klengem Maart ze goen, Mat eiser Chance huet et grad dunn mat reenen an stiermen ugefang. Dono si mir op enger Straußefarm stoen bliwen eiert mir an « Southern Cape Reserve » erangefuer sin. Natierlech huet et erem ugefang mat reenen wei mir d’ Auto’s Dier opgema hun. Dofir sin mir an den 2 Oceans-Restaurant iesse gang. Mmmmh !

Mir hun dono den Lift bis erop bei den aalen Leuchtturm geholl. Mir haaten eng Vue iwer d’Mier, dei en bessen fun den Wolleken verrengert gouf, ir mir zu fous erem bei den Auto getreppelt sin. D’Cheryl hue tons dunn  bis op Simons Town bei d’Pinguine gefeiert an dono nach bei farwech Plagencabinen.

Am Pick’n Pay hun mir dono akaaf fir d’ganz Woch. (Brout, Mellech, Jogurt, Cornflakes, Keis, Gebees, Spagetti & Zoos, Toilettepabeier an Wäschmettel)

Owes hun mir doheem zu 5 Spagetti giess, iwer Boopen an Henn geschwaan, an via Play-station ob der Couche « Acress the Universe » gekukt (mat den Hoer erbeigezunnent Musical)

Friday, 24.08.2012

This morning we got up at around 09.30 for our departure to Milnerton (a quarter of Cape town) with our driver Dave de Beer.

Even, Dieter missed school because he wanted to say goodbye.

Jean-Mari joined us in Bonnievale. She also wanted spend her weekend in Cape Town together with Karl.

In Milnerton, we couldn’t directly find the right flat, so we spend nearly 1 hour on searching it. :-)

After having solved this problem, another one appeared: how to open the doors???

Finally, we managed to enter. In the flat we paid our photos that we got from Dave.

Next, we quickly drove to Elisabeth and Matthias’s guesthouse to be on time at the station to catch the last cable car to climb the table mountain at 5.00 p.m.

On the mountain, it was so beautiful and the view was amazing. We could see Robben Island, the stadium of the world cup 2010, the sea, the mountains, and so on….

After a short photo shooting and a round walk on the top we took the last descend at 6.00 p.m.

On the Ground, we realized that we were hungry so we decided to look for a nice restaurant for dinner.

In Bo Kaap (a Malay quarter with very coloured houses), we didn’t find a good one, so we went to the next best and we were lucky. At Neighbourhood’s it was very lekkerJ

Now, we are back in our new flat and are ready to sleep.  

Tomorrow, Cheryl will pick us up at 9.00 a.m. for another exciting tour. Good night.

Saturday, 25.08.12

As we had no food in our flat, Cheryl, our nice and motivated guide for the last few days in Cape Town, took us to a supermarket while Elisabeth and Mathias gave back their rented car. In Cheryl’s Mini-Bus, we were driving in direction of the reserve of the Southern Cape, to the well-known Cape of Good Hope. On that way, we first stopped at a market of a harbour. Yet, as usual, it had just started to rain. The next stop was at an Ostrich Farm, everything really expensive, before getting to our final destination: the Cape of Good Hope. Unfortunately, it started to rain only in that moment we opened the doors of our car. So we decided to have lunch at the 2 Oceans Restaurant! Mmh =)

Then we took a ride with the tramway up to the beacon of the Cape of Good Hope. We had an amazing view and we decided to walk all the way back down. Together with Cheryl, we got to Simons Town to watch the Southern penguins. Furthermore, she took us to a beach with old, little, coloured wooden houses which are very popular in South Africa. Then, a last stop at a supermarket to buy essential goodies and aliments before, we, the five girls of the flat, were enjoying the evening while eating self-made spaghetti and sauce, watching the film “Across the Universe”.

Sunday, 26.08.12

This morning, Cheryl, accompanied by her husband Karl, came to pick us up at 9 o’clock. We took a ride to a San-culture-project where we learned about their languages and their old way of life. For lunch, we drove the West Coast further up to get to a small self-service restaurant situated on a rock-sand-beach. You only had one choice: a six-course-menu mainly consisting of different sorts of fish, mussels and so on. Everything was eaten with the fingers and all in all it took us 4 hours. After this enormous lunch, Cheryl and her husband fetched us and drove with us back to Milnerton. At the Maestro-Restaurant on Milnerton beach, we met Peter, his wife and her mother for a drink. Around 7 o’clock, we drove to the Water Front with the My City Bus where we met Lisa and Marloes for a last drink before Lisa’s and our departure and flight back to Europe. These two offered each of us a present: African flower seeds! It has been a nice evening until we had to catch the last bus back to Milnerton. It was a lovely goodbye at the bus station and we had a safe ride home. The last surprise for this day were the beetles that were waiting for us in our kitchen ;) Well, good night then! 

Monday, 27.08.12

At 10 o’clock in the morning, Angelo, the principle of the Warmth Project in South Africa, was supposed to pick us up at our flat. Only at 11.30, Zanele, an employee of Angelo, arrived with Elisabeth and Mathias at our flat and drove us in a small car to a crèche and 3 kitchen of Warmth. His delay was due to riots of two different political parties in Cape Town City. In that meantime, we had unpacked Dave de Beers photographs and were disappointed as we noticed that the zebra-photos were printed on the wrong photo-paper. Yet, we weren’t able to reach him by phone.

Getting back to our discovery-tour in the crèche and the kitchen of Warmth, we must say that something appeared weird: different, but important statements about the same subject, workers just standing around. As we got to the last and third kitchen, we all had the impression and feeling that they were displaying us something. And actually, they all first asked for money. We made different observations and most of them were negative. After the visits, Zanele drove us to the main office, to Angelo. As a result to our enquiry, Angelo took us, after long phone calls, to another kitchen in a very dangerous and criminal area of Khayelitsha where 4 days ago 4 teenagers had been shot to death. As we drove off from the office, he informed us that he had no driving licence anymore.^ ^

Arriving at the kitchen, we got to know that it was in a private house, where the cook and her husband were living, that the food was sold. Angelo had been talking for fifteen minutes to the kitchen maid before we were allowed to enter the kitchen and see that there was only one pot of 4 used and filled with food. We notice that one of the employees was driving BMW? Having a bad feeling, we just wanted to get back to our flat and get out of the intimidating car. Angeloa dropped us out at the Spar in Milnerton where we bought some food and went to the beach to write down our impressions of the day.

In the evening, we took long to find a restaurant, but finally we settled in a steakhouse. Not knowing how to get home, we accepted the offer of the waiter, who was from Kongo and spoke French, to drive us home. 

Emotions...

D Joelle huet eis haut erem op de Projet gefeiert well d Marloes net do wa. Haut wa de läschten Daach mat de Kanner, dofir hu mir fill dobaussen mat hinnen gespillt. Allerdings wa et och zimlech traurech well mir d Kanner haut fir d Lescht gesin hun. Vill Treien sin gefloss. =( Mettes hun mir op der Farm giess an sin dono deene Groussen och Eddi soen gang. Mir hun mat hinnen Soccer an Jembee gespillt. Och hei wa et erem ganz emotional suguer d Kanner hun gekrasch. Den Owend huet d Marieta erem lekker fir eis gekacht an elo gett een Abschiedskuch gebaack. Muer kennt den Dave de Beer eis um halwer 11 sichen fir eis op Kapstadt ze feieren. Et ass nach keng Valise gepaack well keen sou richtech well fort fun der leiwer Famill. Eng wonnerschein an onvergiesslech Zeit geet op en Enn. 

Baie Dankie

Marloes was off to Cape Town so Joelle took us to the project today. It was our last day , that´s why we played a lot outside with the kids. We were very sad to see the kids for the last time. Tears were present. In the afternoon we ate a snack at the farm and returned to the project to say goodbye to the older kids. We played soccer and Jembee for the last time. The farewell was even more emotional because some kids were crying too... In the evening Marieta was cooking a lekker meal for our family and now we are baking a desert for them. Tomorrow Dave de Beer will pick us up at 10.30 a.m. but actually nobody started packing because we are not in the mood to leave our new family. A wonderful time comes to an end but we keep lots of good memories in our mind forever.
Baie Dankie

Shake your body

Dese Moien ass verlaaf wi all aanere firdrun. No engem Schluet ass och d Sonn eraus komm.

De Mettes ass en Braai fir eis organiseiert ginn als Abschiedsparty. Et gouf gesongen an gedanzt, mir hunn hinnen Kadoen gin an mir kruten all eng Fotosrumm an en Diplom =) Et wa en onvergiesslechen Owend mat fill Gelaachs an tonne Fotoen a Filmer.

Et keint een eng Sait laang schreiwen wei flott et wa.. !

Gudd nuecht 

The countown runs...

Wie emmer op engem Densten missten mer frei starten, well mer nach d Kanner missten sichen  goen. Et war super Wieder doweinst gouf vill dobaussen geschafft an gespillt an d Kanner an d Teacheren waren super motiveiert. Zumols d Kächin die aus der Vakanz rem komm ass, huet eis iwwerrascht well se super leif an herzeg war. All Mensch huet sech bei hir super Wuel gefillt. Nodems d Kanner an d Teacheren heemgefouert goufen, sin mir op d Farm geflitzt, hun schnell giess an sin rem zereck bei den Projet gefuer. Do hun eis sou vill Kanner wie nach nie erwaart, mir waaren richteg iwwerrascht, an all Mensch krut en Laachen an d Gesicht gezaubert. Fir d eicht kruten d Kanner eng Schmier an Mellech an dono as d Party lass gaangen, et gouf gedanzt, geturnt an gemodelt ;) Am Resumé, haut war een super Dag fir d Kanner me awer och fir eis, besser keint et net sin.

Wie mer den Owent mam Iessen amgaang waren sin och d Elizabeth an den Matthias an eis Grippchen derbei komm. Sie hun nach mat eis dem Marieta sein lecker Dessert genoss an dono gouf nach bessen mam Hugo gebraddelt an d d Jungle Speed gespillt an dono as et an Dada gaangen. Gudd Nuecht!

As usual on Tuesdays, we started early to the project. After fetching the kids, we were playing and working with the kids outside thanks to the good weather.  Today we got to know the cook, who was in holidays, named Olega. She’s very friendly and everybody likes her. Quick lunch at the farm until we got back to the project. We organized a Catwalk with dancing music and took a lot of photos. Everybody enjoyed this day, full of sun, music and happiness.

Tonight, Elisabeth and Mathias have arrived at Merwensteins, joining us for the next couple of days. We went to bed after playing Jungle Speed.

Birds-Wannabe-Paradise

Haut ass et ebessen mei speid lass gaangen, well mir 5 Meedecher net direkt mat an d Schoul fueren konnten well bei eisem Bucki d Baterie platt war. Den Juri as eis schlussendlech geint 9 Auer op d Farm sichen komm. Mir sin schnell an d Creche kutscheiert gin an do stung den Bus schon prett fir an d Birdsparadise zestarten. D Kanner waaren all top motiveiert an et huet een gesin dess och d Elteren sech fir hir Kanner gefreet hun, well se waaren praktesch all schein gekleet an haaten rem super schein Tretzen.

Dohannen ass alles mei kaotesch oofgelaaf, well mer zu vill waaren an well net richteg agedeelt gouf ween sech em wat bekemmert. D Villecher waaren awer die dommst bei der Saach well dei gouffen net an deenen beschten Emstenn gehaalen. D Kaefecher waren fuechtbar kleng, se goufen ouni Leift gemaach an d Villecher ouni Leift gehaalen. D Kanner huet daat natierlech net gesteiert an dofir kruten sie awer nach een spannenden Moien gemaach wat och d Haaptsaach war =).  

No der Busfahrt sin mer op d Farm iessen komm an rem um halwer 4 gestart fir eis mat denen mei aalen zeameseieren. Firdrun hun mer nach een klengen Stop gemaach fir dess d Francoise ,den Meedecher die him Tretzen gemeet hun, Schokola kaafen konnt. Um Projet hun d Kanner mat eisen gesponserten Wegwerfkameraen Photostorien gemeet, sie waaren begeeschtert fir Photograph zespillen.

Wie emmer sin mer um 5 rem gestart fir op d Farm, verschiddener sin nach en Tieschen treppelen gaangen an dun goufen mer rem mam Marieta sengem Iessen verwinnt.

Mat engem vollen Beichi maan mer eis lo nach een flotten Owent dofir bis muer =)

 

We arrived a bit later at the project, because Jurie fetched us only at 9 a.m. We spent our morning in the Birds Paradise in Robertson. Everyone had dressed up and even the kids were excited. Yet, our stay became more chaotic than planned: too much children on even less space. In addition, the birds were kept in bad conditions. We picnicked on a playground with a big attraction: a trampoline. As usual, we got home for lunch and left again for the older kids. They tried to create a photo story with one-way-cameras from Luxembourg. They were all excited to pose for photos. Same procedure as almost every day: walk, lekker dinner, sleep =)

Inverdoorn

Freiden, 17.08.2012

Haud konnten mer mi laang schlofen. D’Elisabeth an sein Frend, den Mathias, sin geint halwer 1, mad e bessen Verspeidung, ob der Farm ukomm. Den Guide aus Kapstadt, de Peter, wuar suguer schon virun der Zeit hei. Heen huet en frendlechen Androck gemaat, an mi speit huet sech erausgestallt, datt hien wirklech vill wosst an och schon baal iwwerall ob der Welt gewiercht ass! An enger Aart Minibus sin mer Richtung Inwerdoorn gestart. D’Game Reserve lung isoleiert an enger Valley, ronderem just Natur! Eis Zemmer’en di mer kruten wuaren schein, afrikanesch dekoreiert, an haaten e modernen Touch. Kuerz nodeem mer ukomm wuaren, sin mer och schon ob eisen eischten Safari-Tour gaangen. Mad engem Guide aus dem Zimbabwe hun mer Cheethas, Büffelen, Sprangbeck an weider mi kleng Deieren gesin. Während der Safari hun mer eng kleng Kaffispaus ageluet: matten am Reservat, an enger Art Stelzenheisschen, kruten mer e Snack: kleng wuarm a kaal Delikatessen, dozou Tei an Kaffi. 

Wi ed weidergaangen ass, ass d’Sonn ennergaangen an ed ass emmer mi kaal gin. Ronderem e Lagerfeier waad am Camp gemaat guff sutzen mer mad enger Grupp aus Kapstadt, di en Team-Building Trip gemaat hun. An dunn guff ed ziessen: Aperitif, Entree, Haaptplat, Dessert =) Yumii! Noom Iessen hun mer eis d’Stäeren, d’Mellechstross an d’Sternschnuppen ugekuckt, waad ob daer Plaatz alles vill besser ze gesin wuar, vu que datt d’Light pollution ned esou stark wuar. Bis 12 Auer an der Nuecht sutzen mer deelweis nach beim Feier bis datt mer endlech an d’Bett gaangen sin. 

Samsten 18.08.2012

De Moien sin mir schon um 7 Auer opgestaan firum feirel op Tei oder Kaffi zedrenken ir et dann um halwer 8 lass gang ass. Mir haaten gott sei dank erem den selwechten Guide mee leiden en platte Pneu.. No 5 Minuten haate ma dunn en neien Jeep an dunn konnt et richtech lass goen. Als eischt hun mir eng eenzel Griaffe font an hun därfen aus dem Jeef erausklammen firm ei no ze goen. Hei sin puer cool Fotoen entstaan. Mi speit hun mir Zebraen, Nielperd, Rinocerossen, Kuduen, Impalaen, an d Leiwen. Dese Park haate mir eis aanecht firgestallt. D Deiern sinn et all an engem grousen Gehege mee ennerdeelt. Dofir mussen se eben och gefidder gin an sinn et gewinnt ze joen… Et gett och keng Elefanten do..

No der Safari kruten mir een lekkeren moienkaffi mat Buffet.. MEGA =) Geint halwer 11 hun mir eis op de Wee gema fir treppelen ze goen an den Peter (Guide) huet eis lauter interessant Saacher erzielt. Hei hun mir och decideiert d Safari fun mettes faalen ze loosen an no Buschmen-Moolten sichen ze goen. Den Peter haat da firun 15 Joer do gesin mee an der Reception haaten se na ni eppes dofun heiren. Doropshinn hun mir eis op eegen Fauscht op de Wee gema an 20 Minuten entfernte Birgergeigend. Mir sin an een Privatgebitt erangefuer an et huet zimlech verloos ausgesinn. Bei deenen eischten klengen Haiser hun mir emol nogefroot an mir goufen wieder gescheckt bis bei een mi grousst Haus wou den Urm Jan gewunnt huet. Obwuel een Motorad an en Auto do stougen, d Dier op wa an net zougespaart wa, wa keen doheem. Mir wollten schon erem zreckfueren wie den Farmer gefuer komm ass. Mir goufen frendlech an herzelch emfangen an hden huet eis erklärt wou mir di Moolte geifen fannen. No engem Sandeg-Stengegen Wee hun mir den Auto stoen geloos an sin zu Fous iwer een grousst Feld gang mat Büffelen dran, dun hun ma eng Baach iwerquert an zum Schluss sin ma ennert engem Zonk erduechgeklommen. Mir sin giisech Fielsen an Steng eropgeklommen an d Elisabeth haat Angscht et geif ons eppes gescheien, mee et ass alles gutt gang. Tatsächlech hun mir no enger halwer Stonn klooteren och eppes font. D Anne an d Elisabeth haaten d Plaatz als eischt font ir mir all dohinner geklommen sin. D Klooteren huet Spass gema an et haat een eng supper Vue iwer wonnerschein Felder an Naturgebiet. Wie et dunn deischter gouf hun mir eis zreck an d Game Reserve gema an et gouf herrlech zeiessen. Noom iessen sin ma eis rem d Stären ukuken gang an dunn seier an d Betti.

Sonden, 19.08.2012

Moies um halwer 8 stungen mer prett an der Kelt fir op d Safari zestarten, me am Park haat keen mei un eis geduecht. Schlussendlech kruten mer een Ersatzguide an mir sin bessen mei speit ob eis spannend Safari gefuer. Eisen Guide war leider net sou motiveiert me Deieren awer genau sou impressionant wei den Dag fiedrun. Dono as et lekker Moiesiessen gin, mir missten zwar em eist Iessen kämpfen weinst enger Grupp Amerikaner me et as all Mensch saat gin.

Dono huet den Peter, eisen Chauffeur vum Weekend, eis vun sengen Reesen an Geschichten erzielt an domat huet en eis zum dreemen bruecht. Schlussendlech huet en eis nach voller Begechterung erzielt wei mer am beschten an am bellegsten duech Afrika reesen kennen. Ech geng soen seng Virschlei sin an eisen Kaepp henken bliwwen an verschiddener vun eis werten demnächst die Rees starten. Dann kennen mir dem Peter an puer Joer och vun eiser Rees duech Afrika erzielen an hien zum dremen kreien ;)

Nom lekker lekker iet, hun mer eisen Heemwee ugetrueden. All Mensch war zimlech midd an dofir gouf eng Mettesrascht am Auto gehaalen, ausser natierlech den Peter eisen perfekten Tourist Guide/Chauffeur. No engem mei laangen Heemwee, hun d Lena an d Anne nach een klengen tour um Motorad mam Dieter sengem Cousin gemaach.

Eisen Plang fir Owes war fir mam Marloes an Lisa an d Hotsprings (Baussenschwemm mat guddem waarmen Waasser) schwammen zegoen. Gestart sin mer dann wie emmer mat bessen Verspeidung an enger leckerer Nuddelszalot dei mer virum schwammen, nach an der Keelt, genoss hun. Am Wirlpool haaten mer lauter witzeg Gespreicher an hun vill gelaacht me mir waaren awer och schnell rem midd dofir sin mer geint halwer 10 och rem Heem gereest.

Owes as neicht spannendes mei geschidd ausser dess all Mensch doutmidd an d Betti gefall as. Bis dann =)

Friday, 17.08.2012

 Today, we could sleep longer. Elisabeth and her boyfriend Mathias arrived around 12.30 at the farm in Merwenstein. Peter, our friendly guide had already arrived. J

After a short time, we realized that he knew a lot about history, geography… and that he had already visited many places in the whole world.

In a Minibus we made our way to Inverdoorn. The Game reserve was situated, totally isolated, in a valley, all around just nature!!

After visiting our rooms, nicely decorated in an African style with a modern touch, the first safari started. A Zimbabwean guide explained a lot about cheetahs, rhinos, buffalos, springboks and many other small animals like birds…

In the middle of our safari, we made a small coffee break and got some snacks served with tea and coffee.

After our adventure, we sat together with a South African group around a fire as it was already getting cold.

After a “lekker” and huge dinner, Peter explained us the constellation.

We were watching the Milky Way and could see some falling stars, because the light pollution was a lot lower as in Europe.

Some of us sat around the camp fire until midnight. =)

Saturday, 18.08.2012

On Saturday Morning, we drank coffee and tea already at 7.15 a.m. Our Safari-Tour should have started at 7.30 a.m., but was delayed because of a flat of the jeep. With a new jeep, we made our way through the reserve. First, we saw a lonely giraffe and the guide proposed to approach it by feed. Furthermore, we caught sight of Zebras, Rhinos, Kudus, Impalas, lions and hippopotamus. Yet, we had imagined us the reserve differently: the animals weren’t all together in a large area, limited by one fence, but were kept in different, smaller divisions of the reserve.

After the safari, a marvellous breakfast had been prepared. Together with our guide, we were going for a walk around the reserve. He talked about some Bushmen’s paintings. We decided to skip the safari in the afternoon and go for seeking for these ominous paintings. We entered private land and finally got to the farmer who described us the way to find the paintings. We found them, painted onto stone, in a small, higher cave of a mountain range. We all had much fun climbing the rocks and enjoying the view. As dusk was falling, we got back to the reserve where we had dinner. The evening ended outside by watching the night sky: stars, shooting stars and the Milky Way.


Sunday, 19.08.2012

We were ready for our morning safari at 7.30 in the morning. Yet, those responsible of the reserve thought we had already left so that a substitute guide had to accompany us. Although it was extremely cold, we managed to see the baby-zebra, born only the day before. At breakfast, we had to fight against an American group of people to get our food ;)

Peter, our guide, told us of his experiences and journeys all over the world, especially of his African adventures. He enlarged on the journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town. After lunch, we drove back to the Merwenstein farm.

We had planned to spend the evening with Marloes and her friend Lisa in the Hotsprings in Montagu. We drove off to the Hotsprings at 7 p.m. We made a salad to picnic at the springs and relaxed in the hot water sources. Tired because of the week-end, we arrived back at home at 10 p.m. and fell into our beds.

Marloes Gone

Haut wa d´Marloes net do, well et ma Lisa op Kapstadt gefuer ass. De Jurie ass eis um halwer 10 siche komm, an mir konnten mei laang schloofen =). YAY. D´Lena an d´Frutzi hunn sec hem dem Marloes seng Klass bekemmert an die aaner hunn an der Kiche gehollef welld´Teachers alt erem Kaffi gedronk hun. Mir hun zum Schluss och erem mat den Kanner gedanzt an die Lidder die se geschter geleiert hunn widerholl.

No der Schoul huet de Jurie d Kanner Heem bruecht an ass ons dono erem siche komm fir eis och Heem ze feieren. Mir haaten eng Mini-Mettesdpaus an sin direkt erem op de Pojet gefuer bei die grouss. D´Joelle ass mam Combi gefuer an et ass supper gang. Op der Tankstell wa et mei witzech well d Joelle soot: „For hundred Rand“ mee den Männi huet verstaan : „ Four hundred Rand”. =))

Nomettes gouf Fussball, UNO gespillt, gemoolt an d´Frutzi krut seng Trezen färdech gema. D´Marlieta huet fir den Owend rem gekacht : Porridge mat rouder Zoos an Wirchtercher. Noom iessen huet d Joelle gespullt an d Anne an d Lena hun Muffins gebaack. D´Cassandre an d Frutzi hu nun den neien Texter an den Iwersetzungen geschafft.

Gudd Nuecht Luxemburg =)

Today Marloes left Bonnievale with Lisa for Cape Town. That´s why Jurie picked us up at 9:30 a.m. and we could sleep a bit longer =) Lena and Frutzi took care of Marloes´ class and the others helped in the kitcher because the teachers were drinking coffee again…

At the end we refreshed the songs and the dance we taught them yesterday before Jurie brought them home. Then he drove ass back to the farm too an we had a tiny break for lunch.

Joelle drove us to the project with the combi and she did well. At the petrol station Joelle asked “For hundred Rand” but cunningly the worker understood “four hundred Rand “=)

In the afternoon we played soccer, UNO, drew and the girls finished Frutzi’s hair.

Marieta prepared porridge with red sauce and sausages for dinner.

Joelle did the washing-up and Anne and Lena backed muffins. Cassandre and Frutzi wrote the new texts and the English translations.

Good Night Everybody=)

Chaos

Geschter ass de Wecker um 6:30 Auer gang. All Mensch wa zur Zeit am Combi an mir hun den Dieter an d´Jean-Mari an d´Schoul gefeiert. Nodeems mer d Teachers an 2 Kanner fun Happy-Valley am Auto haaten, soot d´Marloes ob emol : „It feels so strange, i think something is wrong with the car…“ an ob der nexter Kreizung ass de Motor ausgang an mir sin lues ob d Seit fun der Stroos gerullt. Mad de Kanner an der Mall hun mir probeiert den Auto duech Drecken erem unzekreien, leider vergeblech. Gott sei Dank ass en Xhosa-Typ, deen d Marloes kennt, stoen bliwen an huet firgeschloen, Petrole sichen ze fueren. Als Merci krut en en Hug fum Marloes an mir konnte wieder fueren fi d Stasie-Kanner an dun Plakkerskamp-Kanner anzesammelen.

Den Moien wa bessi caotesch verlaaf well den Johannwen,en kleng Jong fun 3 Joer, nodemms en fun der Rutch gefall ass, en Lach am Kenn haat. Obwuel seng Wonn ultra-deif wa, huet en keng Minn verzunn. D´Marloes an d´Frutzi sin mat him Heem gefuer, fir seng Krankekeeskärtchen ze sichen. Et wa eng ganz Erfähr se ze fannen well mir hun missen an engem friemen Haus sichen an mir sin eis bessi komech firkomm all Schaf opzemaan.. Nodeems dun d Boma fum Jong eis helefen komm ass sin mir d Mam ob d Arbescht siche gang an sin op Happy Valley an Klink gefuer. Do krute mir gesoot si geifen hei Bitzen, mir sollen ob Robertson fueren, well d Ambulanz grad fort wär an di next reich an 5 Stonnen keim. Mir hun dun decideiert bei en privaten Dokter ze goen well et zu Robertson och ze laang dauert. D´Creche huet d Käschten iwerholl. Di aaner sin an där Zeit an den Creche bliwen an hunn probeiert sech em all di Kanner ze kemmeren, well d Teachers net an hieren Klasse waren an sech futteiert hunn (si hun Kaffi gedronk an d Volentaire schaffe geloos). Erreicht wie d´Marloes rem do wa sin se mei serieux ginn an  d Joelle ass fun Klass zu Klass gereest an huet flott Lidder mat hinne geübt an gedanzt.(Si hun all gut matgema, an kennen och elo soen : Ech sin ech, ech sin ech, an wien bass du. ) Mir haaten dunn 45 Minuten Mettespaus an hun dono mat deenen grouse Kanner UNO gespillt wärend d Frutzi fun de Meedercher afrikanesch Tretze gema krut. Fir Heem hun mir den Johweel mat an d Duerf geholl, heen huet missen Elektriziteit kaafe goen. (Daat fonktionneiert hei esou wie eng Pre-paid-Kaart)

Noodems ma eis Owensiessen bei d Marlieta sichen waren, Zopp doheem opgekacht an daat selwergemaachte Brou geschnidden haaten gouf et ze iessen. D´Famille huet net matgiess an mir waren just enner Meedercher. ( Marloes, Lisa, Joelle, Cassandre, Lena, Anne an ech ) D´Marloes huet eis dono Videoen, die hat am Laaf fun senger Zeit hei an Afrika gema huet, gewisen an um 11 Auer sin mir all mitt an d Bett gefall – dofir schreiwen mir mat engem Daach Verspeidung…

Yesterday we had to wake up at 6:30 a.m. to be ready at 7:15 a.m. This time nobody was late. After picking up the teachers and two of the kids from Happy Valley, Marloes suddenly said: „It feels so strange, I think something is wrong with the car…“, and a few seconds later the car stopped in the middle of the road! NO FUEL LEFT! A Xhosa speaking guy stopped and offered to drive to the next petrol station to get some fuel.

After this unexpected stop we carried on with our daily pick-up service.

Eventually, we arrived late at school at a.m.

A little boy fell down the slide and injured himself on the chin. Marloes and Frutzi had to drive him to the doctor. At the same time the other volunteers had some trouble looking after the kids because the teachers were not really active. Only when Marloes came back, they started to work properly. Joelle prepared nice Luxembourgish songs and a dance, which she taught every class. The kids participated and are now able to say: “I am I, and who are you” in Luxembourgish.

We had a 45-minutes-break before going back to the project to play games with the older kids. Some girls plaited Frutzi’s hair in the African style.

In the evening we ate homemade soup and self-made bread from Marieta. Afterwards Marloes showed us some videos from Bonnie People project and we went to bed at 11 p.m. We were too tired to write the blog, that’s why we did it today.

Colourful Day

Haut wa en Daag mat fillen Ereignisser. D´Kanner hun fir d eischt d Deschmaneieren geleiert an eng „Tea Party“ gefeiert. Dono hun mir mat hinnen die T-shirten gemoolt die mir d lescht Woch kaaf hun. All Kand krut sein eegenen T-shirt an huet seng Hänn-oofdreck drop vereiwecht. D Kanner hun all propper geschafft an hun sech selbstänech d Hänn no all Farf gewäsch... Ech mengen zu Letzebuerg wär daat esou, neicht ginn. Et sin wonnerschein Resultater erauskomm an mir sin zefridden mat eiser Aktiviteit. No der Schoul si mir Heem gefuer fir ze iessen an wie emmer bei scheinem Wieder bei de Floss getreppelt. Haut haaten mir souguer eng ganz Stonn Zeit beim Floss an hun et genoss… ( mee et war fill Want..)

Am Nometten sin mir erem op de Projet gefuer fir die mi grouss Kanner ze beschäftegen an hun mat hinnen een weist Leinduch farwech gemoolt. Mir hun festgestallt dat si net sou gut molen kennen fir hieren Alter mee et ass awer schein a farwech ginn.

Den Owend hun mir fir 11 Leit Kniddelen mat Keiszoos, Speck, selwergemaatem Äppelkompott an Zalot gekacht. Et huet laang gedauert mee d Iessen wa exellent =) All d Telleren goufen eidel giess an et huet hinnen gudd geschmaacht. Elo gett grad mam Dieter Jungle Speed gespillt. Et ass witzech hinnen nozekuken, et get mat fill Asaatz gespillt an gelaacht. =)

Bis muer…

 

This day was filled by a lot of events. The children learned the table manners by imitating a tea party. Afterwards we painted the t-shirts we bought last week. Every kid got his own t-shirt and they could put their handprints in different colours on it. It worked very well which led to a beautiful result.

Back at the farm, we had a good lunch and more time, so we went to the river and enjoyed the good weather (but unfortunately windy).

In the afternoon, we drove back to the project and the bigger kids painted on a white sheet. We noticed that they were not as good in drawing as expected.

In the evening, we cooked Kniddelen (a Luxembourgish dish) with bacon, cheese sauce, apple mousse and a salad. The meal was excellent and all the plates were empty.

Finally, we didn’t have to do the washing up =). At 9.30 p.m. we played Jungle Speed with Dieter, which was very funny.      

Misunderstanding...

Eisen Daag huet mat engem klengen Messverständnis ugefaang. D Francoise, d Joelle an d Anne haaten dei falsch Auerzeit verstaan fir opzestoen, doweinst sin die aaner mol ouni eis an d Creche gestart an den Juri ass eis 3 Schloofmutzen dann nach sichen komm geint 10. Die 3 haaten en schlecht Gewessen me natierlech war hinnen keen beis well hei all Mensch sou leif ass =)

Fir d eicht hun mir mam Lee den Programm vun deenen nächsten 2 Wochen bessen beschwaat an dun gouf mat den Kennecher geleiert an gespillt.

D Sonn huet eis den ganzen Daag verseisst an mir sin am Short an am Top hin an hir gelaaf fir daat afrikanescht Wieder ze geneissen. Mettes hun mer schnell bei Floss picknickt an dono ass et rem zreck bei d Creche gaangen fir mat den Groussen Fussball ze spillen. Mir haaten zwar keen riesen Fussball-Profie mee all Mensch war heischmotiveiert an huet seng eegen Erwaardungen iwwertraff.

No engem klengen shopping sin mer zereck op d Farm gaangen an rem wei all Daach treppelen gaangen, fir dei Landschaft zegeneissen, an hun mol geraumt.

Haut den Owent gouf et rem lekkert lekkert Iessen vum Marieta an hat huet sech selwer rem iwwertraf. Den Highlight war den Dessert mat Quidden an vill Zocker =) 

Schlussendlech mussen mir iech nach d Lisa virstellen. Hat as eng ganz gudd Frendin vum Marloes an wei daat eben bei gudden Frenn ass missten sie sech mol rem gesin an doweinst an d Lisa d Marloes mol besichen komm. Mir an d Kanner vun der Creche hun hat schon an d Herz geschloss, well et as emmer motiveiert an um laachen =)

Lo wenschen mer eisen leiwen Lieser eng ganz gudd Nuecht, bis muer!

Great start of the day ;)

Today started with a little misunderstanding. Frutzi, Joelle and Anne woke up at the wrong time so that the others had left the farm already. At 10 o’clock, Juri came to pick them up and brought them to the project.

In the late morning, we had a meeting with Lee to fix the programme of the following weeks and played with the kids on the playground. The weather was sunny and we went to the river, eating self-made sandwiches.

In the afternoon, we played soccer with the older kids =)

In the evening then, Marieta had cooked a meal consisting of chicken in a sweet sauce, rice, vegetables and for desert we got a delicious quinces pie, with much sugar in it.

In the end, we have to introduce you Lisa, Marloes’ friend, who has come from the Netherlands to visit Marloes in South Africa. She’s a happy person, motivated and open =)

Good night to our readers!

Weekend in Hermanus

10.08.12: Freiden

Um 9 Auer guffen mier vum Dave de Beer ofgeholl. D’Wierder wuar schein an a sengem neien rouden, VW Combi ass ed an Richtung Bredasdorp gaang. Do sin mier als eischt an enger afrikanescher Kerzenfabrik/boutique stoen bliwwen. T’ass e wonnerscheint Geschäft, voller Faarwen an Idee’en. Leider konnten mer ned alles mathuelen, well een daad dann nemei heem transporteiert kritt hett… No eiser eischter Gruppenfoto sin mer weider an Richtung Natur Reservat De Hoop gefuert. Rieseg greng Landschaften hun eis do ob enger 15 km laanger Sandstrooss emginn. Wim er aus dem Auto erausgeklommen sin, hun mier no e puer Schrett entdeckt, datt sech hannert den Dünen di scheinsten Landschaftsbiller gebueden hun: eng rieseg Plage mat Muschelen di bei en scheint hell bloot a kloert Mier feieren. Hei sin mer och deenen eischten Waalen begeint. Mam Dave sengen Spektiven konnten mier se och vun mei no ukucken, an hun während enger Stonn d’Natur, d’Sonn an d’Loft genoss, WOW!

Ed ass weider ob den „Most Southern Point of Africa“ gang, deen sech zu Cape Agulhas befennt. Hei treffen den Indik an den Atlantik obeneen. Als nächst haaten mer um 4 Auer Lunch: Fish & Chips, yumii. Di lescht Statioun wuar Hermanus, Richtung Walker Bay. Ed wuar schon deischter wu mer an der Jugendherberg „Backpackers“ ukomm sin. Zu Hermanus fillt een sech an enger aaner Welt: europäeschen Stil an ed giff een ned mengen datt an desem Land d’Aarmut esou weit a stark verbreed ass. Beim Anchecken kruten mier eis Kummer zu 5 : 1 Duebelbett, en Heichbett an eng Schlofcouch mad Kichen an Buedzemmer. Natierlech haaten se keen Heater waad mer eis ned erwaart, mee gewenscht hetten ;) Den Dave ass eis geint halwer 9 sichen kommen fir d’Duerf bei Nuecht ze erliewen. Mir sin bei den Italiener (Paradiso) eppes klenges iessen gaang an hun eng Flesch afrikaneschen Wein gedronk. Dono sin mer an en Cafe (Tapas) eppes drenken gaang. Doud midd an hallef erfruer ass den Dave ass um halwer 12 rem sichen komm an huet eis zreck an de Backpackers bruecht. Mir wuaren frou ennert eng wuarm Bettdecken ze kommen an sin och direkt ageschlof.

11.08.12: Samsten

Fir zwee vun eis wuar des Nuecht ned esou agreabel. Ed haat gestirmt a gereent wi aus Eemer. D’Joelle an d’Anne haaten gemengt eis Kummer wier iwwerschwemmt an haten gefaart hinnen giff den Daach gleich iwwert dem Kapp ewech fleihen. Kaffi gedronk guff, am Stoen, mad all den Leit di am Backpackers geschlof haten. Den ganzen Daag iwwer wuar schlecht Wierder: ed huet permanent gereent an ed wuar kaal. Als eischt huet den Dave eis mad bei en Aussichtspunkt ob engem Bierg geholl mad enger Vue iwwert ganz Hermanus. Dono kruten mer di reich Quartier’en, wu nierwendrun den Plakkerscamp ass, gewisen. Desen Plakkerscamp wuar aussergeweinlech propper an ennerhaalen. Mir guffen ob immens vill verschidden Aussichtspunkter beim Mier gefouert fier Waalen ze gesin, mee mad weineg Succes… Als nächst huet en eis bei engem Maart erausgeloss, mee just kuerz drop huet et ugefaang hefteg ze reenen. Pletschnaass huet den Dave eis mat an sein Fotosatelier geholl. Seng Foto’en hun eis all begeeschtert. Nodeems en eis abenteuerlech Geschichten zu sengen Foto’en erzielt huet, ass ed dunn ob en Drink an e Snack an de Kitsch Cafe niewendrun gaangen. Den Cafe wuar am Stil vun den 70er Joer’en ageriecht an fir ziessen kruten mer Blueberry Muffins oder en typeschen afrikaneschen Vetkoek. (<<Fat Cook>>) No engem ureegenden Gespreich iwwert d’Apartheid sin mir duerch de Reen a Richtung Gecko, e Cafe am „Harbour“. No zwou Stonnen Chilling am Backpackers huet den Dave eis no 7 ofgeholl fir  an den Annis se Kombuis Restaurant iessen ze goen: typesch afrikaneschen Kascht. D’Iessen wuar richteg lecker =) Beim Bezuelen huet d’Frutzi den Garçon gefroot, wei een ze Fouss zreck bei den Backpackers kommen giff ? Seng Entwert wuar d’Propose eis ze feieren. Kuerzerhand sin mer dunn zu 6 an e klengen, rouden an aalen VW (deifgelued) geklomm, an hun gehofft datt heen de Backpackers och giff fannen ;) An tatsechlech sin mer firun der Dier vum Backpackers erausgeloss gin an hun him als klengen Merci eis Visitekärtchen vum Blogg geloss. (Jo Mama, ech sin bei e friemen Mann an den Auto geklomm, haha) Ed wuar nach ned esou speit, sou datt mer am Obenthaltsraum, deen vun engem Kameinfeier gehetzt gin ass, Bicher geliess an Tagebuch geschriwwen hun. Mier hun och kuerz mat deitschen Volontären aus Stellenbosch geschwaat.

12.08.12: Sonden

De Moien sin mer erem um 10 Auer ofgeholl gin an sin ob en Aussichtspunkt fir Waalen gefuer. D’Sonn ass lues a lues erauskomm. Ob daer Plaatz hun mer 4 Surfer’en nogekuckt, di ganz no un de Waalen probeiert hun, ob de Wellen ze reiden. Suguer dem Aly sein Haus sin mer kucken gaangen. Shark Diving konnten mer leider ned maachen, well d’Wiederconditiounen ed net zougeloss hun. An daer Shark Diving Bay (Keinbaai) hun mer am Great White House zu metteg giess bis datt mer eis dunn schlussendlech rem ob de Wee fier a Richtung Bonnievale gemaacht hun. Ob der Farm ukomm huet den Dave eis nach verschidden Fotoen vun him gewisen. Spazeieren gaangen sin mer och fir eis bessen ze beweegen no daer laanger Fahrt. All wuaren mer frou eng wuarm a laang Dusch geneissen ze kennen. =) Als Owesiessen hun mer e bessen improviseiert: Rechter an Croque Monsieur ouni Haam, Cornflakes an Schmieren sin ed dunn gin. Mier hun elo zimlech laang gebraucht fir eisen W-E ze resumeieren an waerten elo an d’Bett goen, eis gudd ausschlofen.

10.08.12: Friday

Dave de Beer, our guide, picked us up at 9 a.m. His red VW Combi took us to Bredasdorp where we “visited” a beautiful big candle shop. The weather was quite nice and we took the first group picture before leaving for De Hoop (Nature Reserve). Getting out of the car we discovered a beautiful landscape and behind the dunes the hidden blue sea. With binoculars we could closely watch the whales and enjoyed the pure nature moments during one hour in the sun. AMAZING! Then we drove to “The Most Southern Point of Africa“which is situated in Cape Agulhas. A marker at Cape Agulhas indicates the official dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian oceans. At 4 p.m. we ate Fish & Chips for lunch, yummy. In the late afternoon we arrived in Hermanus (Walker Bay). When we arrived at our youth hostel, Backpackers, it was already getting dark. We got a nice room for 5 with a kitchen and a bathroom.(no heater =( ) Dave brought us to town at 8.30 p.m. to discover the nightlife in Hermanus which is similar to an European city. We ate a little snack at an Italian Restaurant (Paradiso) and drank African Wine. Afterwards we went to a small Café (Tapas) for a drink. Dave came to pick us up at 11.30 p.m. We were very tired and we were glad lying in our warm bed and were fast asleep.

11.08.12: Saturday

Tonight there was a horrible storm outside and we were worried that the rainb could come inside our “house”. We ate breakfast (standing) with all the guests staying at the backpackers as Dave picked us up to start our trip. The weather was very bad and it was cold all day long. We drove through the richer parts of Hermanus all round a plakkerskamp which was surprisingly quite clean. We went to different places to watch whales with only few results. Our next stop was at a market. After a few minutes it started to rain. All wet Dave took us to his own photo gallery to show us his work. After some adventurous stories about his pictures we ate South African meals at the Kitsch Café. (70ies style)

We talked about Apartheid and continued our trip to the Gecko- Bat before returning to the Backpackers. We had two hours of free time and stayed in our room to talk about everything that came to our mind. =) We had dinner at nice little South African restaurant called Annis se Kombuis. The waiter brought us home safe at 9 p.m. and we finished our day in the common room next a fireplace with a book or our diary. We met nice German volunteers from Stellenbosch and slept like little babies that night =)

12.08.12: Sunday

This Morning we got up at 10 a.m. and Dave de Beer took us to a whale-watching-point. The sun came out and 4 men were surfing very close to the whales. We drove  to De Kelders to take a look at Aly´s house. Unfortunately the Shark Diving was cancelled because of the weather so we had lunch at the Great White House in Keinbaai. Inside the restaurant the bones of a whale were hanging on the ceiling. After the lekker chicken or fish we ended our trip with the ride to Bonnievale. Back at the farm, Dave impressed us by showing his beautiful pictures of wild animals, whales and birds.

Everybody, even Marloes and the rest of the family, were exhausted after the long weekend, so everybody prepared his own sandwich for dinner.

Now we are tired and we will go to bed with a big smile on our face.

Womensday.

De Moien hun mir bis halwer 10 geschloof an den Juri ass eis um 10 Auer sichen komm fir op Worcester ze fueren. Do hun mir bis 1 Auer all d Saachen kaaf di mir fir d Kanner gebraucht hun. Giess gouf dunn am SPUR wou et ganz ok wa. Dono si mir op Robertson an den Bird Paradise gefour fir d Entreespreiser ze froen. Mir wellen mat de Kanner een Ausfluch dohinner maachen. Den ganzen Wee op die versidden Plaatzen sin mir mam Bucky gefuer. Dei di hannen dran soutzen haaten kee Setz mee eng Kessen (D Fahrt wa awer ganz gemittlech). Doheem si mir nach bei de Floss getreppelt an hun nieft Sportsübungen d Sonn genoss. Als Nuechtiessen gouf et Spagetti mat rouder Zoos an greng kleng Kürbissen. No der Spull hun mir eise Rucksaack gepaak fir de Weekend mam Dave de Beer. Mir wärten alles genau opschreiwen an dann en Sonden den Owend alles online setzen.

Bis geschwenn =)

Vollgepaackt an der Shopping-Mall

Hannen am Bucky

 This morning we got up at 9.30 a.m. and Juri fetched us at 10 o’clock to go to the Worcester Shopping-mall. We finished our shopping at 1 p.m. and ate lunch at SPUR. Afterwards we drove to Robertson to ask for a special price at the Bird Paradise. We want to take all the kids and all the teachers for an outing. We reached the different destinations with the project’s bucky and the ones sitting at the back had no seats but pillows (but it was comfortable).

Back at the farm we enjoyed the sun next to “our” river. Marieta served spaghetti with red sauce and small green pumpkins for dinner. After the washing up we packed our stuff for the week-end with Dave de Beer. Don´t worry, we will write everything down and put it online on Sunday afternoon.

See you