The start of our South African quilting tour! We were met at the airport by Sarah our tour guide, Izak the coach driver and Renee de Beyer from the Cape of Good Hope Quilters Guild. Renee welcomed us with gifts of fabric and quilts. 

Within an hour, we were on top of Table Mountain, admiring the views in all directions. 

Sarah pointed out a dassie sitting on a ledge below, and told us it was related to an elephant. How can that be it looked the size of a rabbit! 

Lunch was in Company’s Park in Capetown and we had time to admire vegetation and birds that we have never seen before. Then it was off on a coastal coach ride through Camps Bay, Clifton and round to the Victoria and Alfred waterfront. You should have seen the real estate. We arrived at the 5* Table Bay Hotel mid afternoon and just look at the view from my bedroom window for the next 4 nights. 

Tonight we have a welcome dinner at The African Cafe. We will be eating a ‘communal feast’ 14 taster dishes before the dessert!

This was a memorable meal. We were also impressed with the interior decoration of the rooms, a few photos will have to do but I struggle to convey how different it is.

During the meal we had our faces painted.

And Renee showed us two quilts from an African challenge. More about this in the next few days.

We only left London 24 hours ago and more than half that time was spent on a plane. We can’t believe how much we have covered on our first day. It has been wonderful! Thank you Arena Travel.