It’s time to get back to my writing…
Not sure how to catch up. So much has happened since I finished the Camino. It’s taken me months to process the whole experience. And while I’m processing old experiences I’m having new experiences, so there’s no real starting point!
The life-changer for me was meeting Sass and Gary on the Camino. At the time it seemed like a chance connection, like so many you have on the Camino. We walked together for a few days and enjoyed each other’s company. They showed me gorgeous pics of their home in Cape Town, South Africa. Then I suddenly realized that Cape Town might be a good place to spend the winter. In a pivotal moment, I decided that my next destination after Spain would be South Africa. Then I signed myself up for a 2-week Safari to kick off the trip.
So that’s what happened. I’ve been here in South Africa since November. The safari was pretty amazing. I’ve never seen so many hippos in one place or so many rhinos. It was all amazing. It was the perfect intro to South Africa. Everyone on the safari tour was from around Cape Town, so we’ve stayed in touch here, which has led to some new friendships and of course I’ve seen Sass and Gary quite a bit. I am quickly falling in love with Cape Town. I don’t want to leave. Ever. I am seriously considering moving here.
Cape Town actually is a lot like home. It’s like San Francisco but 3X bigger and surrounded by gorgeous mountains and beaches. I spent the first 2 months in the city. Now I’ve moved to the seaside right on the water. I’m as surprised as anyone that I am even thinking of relocating, but it is starting to feel like home here. Cape Town ticks all the boxes for me.
✔️Beautiful
✔️Friendly
✔️Warm
✔️Mountains
✔️Ocean
✔️Great food
✔️English spoken
✔️Affordable
✔️Good health care
I never really planned to be an expat. I planned to travel for 2 years and then return to California. And I may still do that. But right now I am loving where I am. As I’m writing this I’m looking out at the bay and the mountains. There are all kinds of bird sounds. I am all kinds of happy. I’d say I’m enjoying my life right now. When I miss my friends and family I can stay in touch with a call or text. It’s not that different from missing people when I was in California. But I am very far away. I’m practically in Antarctica! I mean, seriously, there are penguins here!
Simons Town
There were dozens of these big guys at the game reserve. There were whole families of rhinos. They are so incredibly endangered by poachers.
