V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain
I returned to Cape Town with an old school day friend of mine, Reini. He was in dire need of some vacation and decided to visit me and Sandra in South Africa. We went straight to Cape Town and explored that thoroughly. This included the Wine Route, the Waterfront, Signal Hill, Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Point and a scenic flight in a helicopter. We then flew up to Johannesburg where we spent a day at Gold Reef City. Then Sandra had her graduation ceremony from Pretoria University for which she had to dress up in an academic robe. Aferwards we put Sandra on a plane to Cape Town to earn some money whilst we headed out east to see wildlife in Krüger and Tshukudu. I was very impressed with Olifants camp in Krüger but Tshukudu - that I have such nice memories of - was a disappointment. They haven't got a Lion at the right age to take on walks in the morning. The cheetah Savanna was in hiding and the Leopard cage wasn't for entering this time either. We did see the two wild male elephants they added to the park for lonely Becky. This was the first time in two weeks that they had been spotted so everyone was rather excited.
Whilst looking at an elephant just outside Satara camp in Krüger Park my cell phone rang. On the other end of the line was a manager from my former employer. He enquired about my interest in returning to the working and offered me a six month assignment doing what I had been doing before, namely managing projects, resolving issues but also helping out where the need might arise. I accepted the offer.
My last two weeks in South Africa were spent improving my JPO application. Sandra was invited to give a speech at the Project Managers of South Africa conference in the Gallagher Estate, just outside Johannesburg. We flew up early and were able to attend a few presentations before she gave hers.
I've been back in Switzerland now for two weeks and am gradually adjusting back to spending a nice summer working in an office!
Reini considering taking home a small bottle of wine, Stellenbosh
Sandra at Cape Point
Helicopter flight around the cape
Reini, Sandra and Richard drenched after a ride in Gold Reef City, Johannesburg
Sandra graduating from Pretoria University
Young zebra in Kruger Park
Sandra presenting at the Project Managers of South Africa conference