So this morning Tina and I had a quick breakfast because our ride that was taking us to Table Mountain was early. Tina thought it would be nice to take our coffee to go. She very carefully made our coffee, handed me mine and said, “I can’t remember (there goes her memory again!) which one I put sugar in so we will have to look at them.” I must have looked perplexed for a moment because I was trying to figure out how I would tell if there was sugar in it by looking…so I asked Tina, with a very sly look on my face, if she had “sugar vision.” Hence, “sweet” became our word of the day……
We FINALLY took the cable-car up the face of Table Mountain to the top. We had planned on doing it on Tuesday but it was closed because of the wind, so instead we went to the windiest point in South Africa…Cape Point…duh!!! We also had planned on climbing to the top instead of taking the cable-car, but we didn’t take enough Essentiale the night before! At 4,000 feet, we could see all of Cape Town and Tina and I made a bee-line to get to the furthest point out so we could have some “quiet” meditation time before the crowds came in and also to record the video we could not end up posting here. We spent about 3 hours at the top, came down on the cable car as we watched poor souls climbing to the top looking up at the car with a face that said, “Damn, why didn’t I take the car!”
From the cable car
Tina between a rock and a hard place…
Chris thinking she could fly…
Our view from the top
We got back to the hotel and decided to take a quick nap before heading out to shop at the Waterfront. I immediately began searching for my “man blanket” to sleep with. What is that you ask? Well, a couple days ago when I took a nap (I swear we do more than sleep and drink here!) Tina handed me a blanket from the closet and it smells just like men’s cologne. Of course, I have slept with it EVERY night since!
The closest Chris has gotten to a man in a long time…
We had lunch at a great German restaurant, had some..wait for it…beers and then headed to an awesome Wellness Craft Center right in the middle of the Waterfront. We went nuts! We each bought several very rare crystals (yes, we bought more!), an African music CD, and all of your Christmas presents…all for $3.00!!!
Tina fit right in!
The required drinking photo
We headed back to the hotel after about 4 hours, sun-burnt shoulders and all (it was about 90 degrees here today) and then we….wait for it…took a nap…again! Shopping makes one tired.
Helen, one of the ladies from the WP Blood Services where I am doing a workshop tomorrow (OMG I have to actually work!) picked us up and took us to this great restaurant right on the ocean called Petenaro’s. We had such a blast! We ate great food, fancy drinks and had wonderful conversations from Peru to politics. Tina and I agree that we learned so much from the conversation and are so looking forward working with their group (about 85 people) tomorrow. We also learned that when we are standing “in line” for something we are standing “in queue”. We also found out in South Africa there are 8 days of the week…we can prove it! (see below) And we found out that when African women imitate Texas men, it is frickin’ hilarious!!! Marika gave us a great account of an experience she had last time she was in Texas and Tina and I were rolling in the car on the way home.
Read the sign carefully!
Chris and crazy Helen
Madame Marika and Tina
We got back to our rooms to find that we had experienced “turn down service.” We had our beds turned down, chocolates on our pillow, a weather card telling us the weather for tomorrow and step mats (or as Tina calls them “get up mats”) by the sides of our beds. Tina decided that she would ask April to do this for her every night from now on…(hahahaha…my idea April!)
Our lovely turn down service
Off to work tomorrow…(I love my job!)
When Tina found out she had to listen to Chris AGAIN tomorrow…no Tina- Don’t Jump!!!
“Maynard” and “Homer” (don’t ask….)
Flippin’ Fun(Tina Here!)
Well we slept through breakfast because we were so exhausted from the last two days. We met up with Zali for the Opening Day of the Congress before Chris had to give her Keynote. The Keynote was extremely well received by all 300 participants – Chris had a mile long line of people wanting to thank her, ask her opinion on various matters, and one gentleman even invited her to possibly speak in the UK next September. (You know where I’ll be next September! “The Chris-Tina Road Show”)
Chris’ keynote-yes, she actually worked!
We were invited to attend the evening “Mixer” which was an Irish Pub Evening. They served “Pub Food” (Chris was relieved there was no Ox-Tail!) and, you guessed it… wait for it… BEER! We each started the evening off with a Guiness Stout and ended with a gallon of water!
“I swear, this is the last one!”
We sat at the “Celebrity Table” with two South African celebrities: Helen DeBois a Singer who has written a theme song for SANBS that will be released next year, and Marisa Bosman who stars in a “Soapy” (“Sopa” Opera) called ISIDINGO.
“The Celebrities”-Tina, Marisa, Helen, Chris
We were treated to a Singing Competition by each of the Blood Center Regional Groups. They had to come up with a blood donation related theme song and sing in the competition. We had “The Blood Clots”, The Twilights who dressed like vampires, and there was even a group that did an Abba medley and they named themselves the ABBO’s (get it – blood types!)
“The Blood Clots” singing their song – THEY WON!
After dinner we danced our Arses off to the Blarney Bros. Band. They played Irish tunes, American tunes, and we even did the African Hokey Pokey (sorry Genevieve, no Polka’s!). We were amazed at how many people got up and sang and danced the entire night. There is an incredible love of life that is palpable here – no one can resist the urge to celebrate and dance. Talk about living in the present time!
The Blarney Brothers Band
How white girls dance…
Ohhhh, the humility…..
Dr. Sam (a general surgeon) A.K.A. “Bob Marley”, Tina & Chris boogying down!
So tomorrow we are off to Cape Town and everyone has said such great things about it soooooo we are soooooo excited!
Until Tomorrow, Chris-Tina 🙂