Cape windows

This post is sort of inspired by known and unknown expat Capetonians reading my blog for a taste of home and its glories. Now that I know you are out there, it's a jolly good excuse to open a window or two on our summer -- at present rudely interrupted by a ridiculous cold spell (that's the Cape weather for you, four seasons in one day, as they say, every bleedin' time).

We clambered up Elsie's Peak, the highest point in my Fish Hoek fastness, on Sunday, right to the marker on the summit, and gazed out at the entire vast yawn of False Bay; its sweep gives the sensation of standing on a map of the peninsula. In the photo here, K shows off the God's-eye view (although this is by no means the entire panorama -- more like half -- my little Pentax Optio lens being inadequate to the task).

A great many flowers are out now, none more profusely than the small trees of bright yellow pincushion proteas. But there are intense colours along the paths, tiny sparkles of blue, purple and magenta. And glissandos of tiny green double-collared sunbirds, darting from tree to tree. We saw a dassie or rock rabbit, somewhat rare here now, probably because black eagles (aka Verreaux's Eagle) hunt along this range.