Hallo all. I stand by my views and I live 150 km from the Cape,due to all these facts. I think the opinions
might differ because of age-differences amongst us,or lack of experience,but I've been a full-time
traveller for 25 years (in this country as well) and have had the privilege to do 2 million km's by car in last 15
years in this country. I do not have an office-job. My job is to move around - and I am very openminded
and realistic. The last year I have put 80 000km on my car. I think I am entitled to my opinion and I
will most definately not dissuade people to come to S.A, but I'm talking facts here. Not wishfull thinking -
with all respect to all of the above contributers.I knew it was going to have this reaction,after I've been
on LP for a while now and I can really laugh out loud ,because I know what I know and I dont see
why I should lie .Does anybody else? Further more this country has IT ALL. AND I STRONLY ADVISE
PEOPLE TO COME HERE. YOU SHOULDN'T MISS ANY OF IT. THAT IS WHY I PUT A LONG LIST OF INFO
ON LP.
missalaska,no to your question .Reason:my husband was nearly killed on a train in JHB once,just
because he was wearing a military uniform.And I can go on and on and on forever. Praise the Lord,I do not have to make use of the train. I would
rather jump from Table Mountain. I dont scratch where it doesnt itch.I have brains. Thank the Lord for
it. I also thank the Lord that I have had the opportunity of being an Air-hostess for many years and after
that more travel for many years right up to today and next 20 years every day of my life. It has been my
GREATEST GIFT in life and I wouldn't want it any other way. I have so much vision and common knowledge and common sense because of it. And soon my Moroccan Guesthouse will invite more
tourists to our country. and I will tell them exactly the same. Nice chatting to all. Lotsa love to all.
Keep up the Good Work!
missalaska and all others:
Thank you for your input. Most reviews and traveler guides I have read agree that walking along Long St., Green Point and Sea Point should be fine if one takes the necessary quasi-common-sense traveler precautions, and asks when possible for local advice.
curiousdiva, I am sure all or most of us sincerely trust your life-gained advice! :) Many others also agree that urban trains in SA present grave risks to tourists and even to locals. But I hope you agree that it is still possible to walk safely (in couples or groups, not in deserted areas and not deep into the night, etc.) around Cape Town's most famous districts (like the three forementioned ones).
shanti, shanti.
Sorry, iquaque, I did not reply to you. I'm doing that now. I feel fine and happy when I'm with my
husband in Long Street and Seapoint and Greenpoint. The lady in question is coming alone as I under-
stand it .There are many security cameras installed,I believe on the streets as well as all over Cape City
area. There are carwatches at night,many of them. there are police-vans on the streets patrolling,but
maybe I shouldn't mention that , because I will cause a full-on WAR if I mention my experience with the
Police. Oh,I could write books and make movies about that. Maybe I'm just the most unlucky person
in South Africa. And still,I love to visit the Cape City area.Just dont expect major fireworks if you get
into a tight spot. YOu will be disappointed. Yes, I am Afrikaans-speaking and my best friends are
Coloured People and I have many multi-racial friends and I love it in this country. My favourite food is Sushi, Asian, Indian food. So I'm not your average Afrikaner. Actually I will be happy
anywhere- because I have found after many years of travelling the answers and happiness lies inside of
you and not the next exotic location. IQUAQUE-WE ARE NOT IN A WAR-ZONE AND I WOULD COME IF I
WERE YOU AND GO AND WALK IN LONG STREET,SEAPOINT AND GREENPOINT. BUT BE AWARE.
Happy Travels and see you soon!
iguauqe - please ask any further questions (maybe on a new thread) we'll be happy to answer them. you are more than welcome to pm me.
i totally agree curious diva that everyone is entitled to their opinion and although i ride the train to work everyday and sometimes to my part time college i would like to point out that i do have brains, i own a car and do not have to use the train - it is a choice
i'm sure there will be no full on war if you mention the police - we are quite an amiable bunch on this branch ;-)
where is your moroccan guest house?
I have to respond to the negative comments made by "CuriousDiva" about safety in Cape Town. I have lived in Cape Town for most of my life (and still do), and I have travelled around 30 or more countries in Europe, Asia and North America as well, so I think I am well-qualified to pass judgement here.
Local trains in and around Cape Town are NOT as unsafe as portrayed. I, and many thousands of people, travel on them regularly with no problems whatsoever. I have never been mugged or attacked or even witnessed any kind of unsavoury incident on a train. Look at things in perspective - just one person on one train every 9 months gets robbed and it makes news headlines and everybody says the trains are unsafe. This out of the tens of thousands of commuters who use the trains every single day. On the other hand, smash-and-grabs on the roads are so common that they are hardly even reported any more (a "smash-and-grab" is where somebody breaks your car window at a traffic light and grabs whatever they can through the window - this has happened to me and many people I know). There are smash-and-grabs taking place every single day in Cape Town. But yet the TRAINS are not safe and the ROADS are ? It's absurd. There is no doubt whatsoever that it is way, way SAFER to travel by train in Cape Town than by car!!!!
However, this myth of unsafe public transport is propagated by a combination of social snobbery (people believe travelling by bus/train is beneath them), paranoia (people are scared to be out there on their own without the security blanket of their car) and the notion that taking public transport is perceived by others as a sign that you "haven't made it". I won't even go into the racial aspects of this that still exist 13 years after deomcracy in SA.
MissAlaska (as always!) has made some balanced and appropriate remarks as well ; listen to what she says.
You aren't going to find a hotel on the beach for $10 a night in Cape Town! There is a place in Muizenberg that is right on the beach that is quite cheap (not sure of the name or price), but it's essentially a backpackers. If you like I can get you the details. Muizenberg is about 45 minutes from Cape Town by train (and it IS safe) ; the station is also right on the beach.
CBD. I've often wondered if that term was perhaps of British origin and wasn't in use in the U.S., which would be a reversal of what I usually encounter. And #7 to #9 prompted me to try and check that. That Colorado-based website ranks that def #4 of many, so it's seemingly not unknown.
My contribution to trivia today.
Just a quick note: I ( a smallish female ) have just spent a week plodding up and down Long street Cape Town going back and forth getting a tattoo. I found the people in the shops and on the street nothing but friendly. I did not wear flashy jewellery or look like I had huge amounts of cash on me , but it was great! Everything is what you make of it. If it doesn't feel safe , don't go there. I lived in Kwazulu Natal, and have not ( yet) been mugged, attacked or hijacked. I have had to go to some areas that were notoriuosly not safe, but as I got there I made a judgement. If its dark and lonely , don't go there.
Public transport is the same. Most people in South Africa just want to get to where they are going in one piece, however they do it. Go with your gut, you may be surprised!
thank you PKilfoil - couldn't agree more about the roads / trains safety comment
I got a private message from the aforementioned poster to say: "sorry,I'm not going to waste my time.this has gone far enough"
which i really don't understand - what has gone far enough ?- who knows ? and who really cares?
missalaska if you mean #14, I did think it weird (at best) when she seemingly took major umbrage at your #13. And you had even added a smiley. Ah well, takes all sorts I guess, even on this branch. Maybe the "diva" part is a clue. And never trust anyone who writes full sentences in capitals. ;-) (My turn. And awaiting the flame.)
trusted partner
