After a lazy morning, I went to my first session. It is a two day pre-conference organized by the committee that I belong to, so it was a gentle start to the conference, since I already knew most of the people there.
As a treat, the library that is hosting us arranged for a bus trip to the nearest nature reserve, Blaauwberg. I know that when people think of nature reserves in Africa they imagine lions and giraffes, but this is a small nature reserve with small animals: white tailed mice (we didn`t see any), porcupines (nocturnal, so we didn`t see any), honey badgers (also nocturnal) and a variety of snakes, which, thank heavens, we also didn`t see. It is also known for its field of a particular yellow flower which wasn`t blooming at this time of year. It is on a beautiful beach of very fine white sand, but since it`s the Atlantic Ocean, and it never warms up, no-one swims here, and besides it was raining and blowing hard. It remains as perhaps the least remarkable tour I have ever been on. In case the animals aren`t enough of a draw, it was also the 1806 site of the Battle of Blaauwberg, in which the British took the area (yet again) back from the Dutch.
Back to the library for some local wine and cold chicken, and then on a bus to return us to the convention centre in central Cape Town. It was dark and raining when we got back so it was a taxi back to the hotel for dinner. Although Cape Towners say that this is the safest city in South Africa, and that you can walk down the street any time of the night and day, they also tell you to make sure that you always walk with someone.
You are likely not aware that this is shark week on tv. I am therefor cautioning you to stay out of the water as I hear the south Atlantic is a pretty big hunting ground, and I don’t want to read any headlines that say “research librarian attacked by shark while netting in the surf” when you should actually be surfing the net. I hope Table Mountain is beautifully shrouded in its fluffy white hat.
Any shark here is likely wearing a parka, and I would be alerted by the sound of his teeth chattering.
Well that preserve is definitely not on the bucket list! Were the tickets included with the KFC breakfast?
I’m trying to break up with the Colonel.
Have you seen the new creepy colonel