Colourful could be the best adjective for Cape Town. Or maybe vibrant? It's probably a little bit cliché, but that's ok. Clichés happen for a reason and it turns out everything here is both of those things. The city has an energy and brightness all of its own.
There's a monthly event called 'First Thursdays' that celebrates the colourful art scene. And an insane amount of markets that celebrate the colourful food scene, which are loaded with deliciousness and hipsters with vibrant pants. The clothes are bright and people are colourful as well.
Wherever we go and whatever we're up to, there's a friendly face who's up for a chat. There's the guys selling trinkets on street corners at lights, who have nothing but what they're wearing and are up for a laugh at all hours. The beggars in parks who turn card tricks for a buck - or ask for a piece of fruit with infinite politeness. Shopkeepers who go above and beyond with advice and directions. Wait staff who'll tell you where the best stuff is (even if it isn't theirs) and strangers in bars, restaurants, parks and buses who strike up conversations for the sake of chatting. We've been told about what times are the best for hitting local eateries, local events that are worth seeing and which tourist traps should be avoided. We've been handed condoms at tables with a laugh from health workers proud of the new labels and been given detailed run downs on the local plants and wildlife. Every time we've looked vaugly uncertain, faces have appeared to point (or quite literally lead) us in the right direction.
It's been one amazing welcome to a colourful country and continent.
Ending with another cliche, pictures tell a thousand words. Behold just some of the vibrancy. The buildings, sky, beaches, stalls and everything in between are very bright indeed.
Next up: We hunt down the wheels that will (hopefully) get guy, girl and goat on the road.