Two Oceans Aquarium
Hung out at the hotel reading email, hacking, etc. until about 11:00 then walked to the waterfront, intending to have an early lunch and take the tour of Robben Island. Succeeded on the lunch - excellent latte and Cape Seed Loaf sandwich at Sundance Coffee Co. on the Albert wharf. The sandwich was a 2 layer affiar of smoked salmon, cream cheese, avocado, gerkins, and sliced (pickled?) onion on toasted bread not too dissilimar from the Cobb’s Bakery Cape Seed Loaf.
Got a better photo of the Tatoosh with Table Mtn in the background from the cafe.
As for the tour to Robben Island, it was sold out for today, so I booked on to the 11:00 tour for tomorrow. Spent some time at the Mendela Gateway reading the history of Robben Island, then wandered around the east side of the waterfront and foreshore. Passed a sculpture called “Still Life with Ice Cream Cone and Blue Cheese".
Wandered into a big music store on the Waterfront, but couldn’t really get enough of a handle on any South African music to make me want to buy anything. Then wandered through the unimpressive Craft and Wellness market, mostly because it was on the way to the Aquarium.
Spent the rest of the afternoon in the Two Oceans Aquarium. The display of Indian Ocean fish that drew me in was not that impressive, but many of the other displays were; in particular, the giant spider crabs, the kelp tank, and the huge preditors tank, featuring several ragged tooth sharks. Those sharks are one of this aquariums specialities, like orcas, belugas, and harbour seals are at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Dinner was hosted by Susan’s workshop at Panama Jack’s Seafood Restaurant. It’s in an unlikely location in amongst warehouses and container yard in the working port, and looks a bit like a covered beer garden from the outside, but the food was really good. The long, 8 to 12 seat tables worked well for the group of 50 or so from the workshop. I had a piece of grilled Kingsklip with grilled vegetables, and Susan had a big mess of prawns with veggies. Wines were a sauvignon blanc and a merlot from Stellenbosch.