For
discerning traveller to Cape who would like to explore Cape Town's City Bowl, here are a few suggestions. Remember, Cape Town bears two distinct faces, a mask worn by day and a mask worn by night. Whichever one you choose, this article will provide you with a few hints on how, when and where to explore city bowl, whether by day or by night. The City Bowl by Day:
Pan African Market
Now that subject of masks has been broached, discerning traveller to Cape may want to experience full range of African facades. If this is case, you need go no further than Pan African Market. Located in a national monument on historic Long Street, one could easily walk to this destination and most rented taxis know exactly where Long Street is situated. Drop by market on any day of week and they should be open, although there are certain occasions when they may be closed due to certain religious observances.
Well worth a visit, it literally looks as though contents of this shop sprang straight out of pages of “King Solomons Mines”. Although motifs behind masks and other goodies have often been lost in time, just looking at them should provide you with enough of an explanation!
Green Market Square
A large cobbled area known as Greenmarket Square can be found in centre of city bowl. It is a busy place, a place to barter and haggle, providing a pleasant, corner café atmosphere good for just sitting peacefully and watching goings on.
There is perhaps no other place where paths cross as they do at this hub of city life. A traveller to Cape is able to gain an insight into African culture with only an hour's observation, as Greenmarket Square provides a varied cultural sampling of cities folk.
The Cape Town Gardens
This historic parkland in heart of Cape Town is simply about birds, tea, roses, Koi Fish and history, hopefully mixed with a bit of sunshine.
The best place to start your leisurely walkabout would be just outside Slave Lodge on Corner of Adderley and Wale Streets. To avoid disappointing areas inhabitants, bring peanuts. Oh, and lookout for Albino Squirrel.
The Bokaap
The architecturally and socially unique Bokaap, otherwise known as Malay Quarter, rests on slopes of Signal Hill. This quiet niche on fringe of City Bowl is a newly proclaimed national monument. With its quaint, cobbled streets and renovated slave quarters it, till this day, houses original descendants for whom quarters were built. If you have never heard of a “Roti” ask for one at a Bokaap café, they are delicious.
