Day Ten - The final day and a relaxing look around the V&A waterfront with coffee and sketching :)

Then on the bus to the airport - it feels like I’ve been away for so long (in the very best of ways!), meeting some great people, enjoying beautiful weather and and an even more beautiful landscape. I didn’t do one of the key things however, hike up to Table Mountain, but in way I don’t mind.

It's a great reason to come back!

Day Nine - A visit to the stunning new Zeitz Museum by Thomas Heatherwick was a particular highlight - converted from an old grain silo, the interiors are dramatic and with some really impressive exhibitions of contemporary African art.

Then I joined the largest African Pride event starting in the cool De Waterkant district and ending for a party at Green Point next to the football World Cup stadium until sunset. Great fun!

Day Eight - I’m in danger of taking the warm weather and beauty of this part of the world for granted already! Got a bus to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in order to climb Table Mountain - unfortunately it was not recommended due to high winds so wandered round the beautiful and tranquil gardens. Then I bused through some of the wine regions to Hout Bay, including seeing a local fisherman feeding a seal on the dockside - I was unsure about this to begin with, but the seal was free swimming in the bay and not captive :) - amazing place.

Day Seven - A relaxing afternoon after a bus ride to beautiful Sandy Bay and the amazing quiet beach, stopping at Clifton for a small gathering for a Pride Beach picnic on the way back to Cape Town waterfront.

Day Six - I took a local train from Cape Town to Simon’s Town - the coast line is stunning and the train line runs along the coast for the final half. Interesting characters on the train and a walk to Boulder Beach - the home of the African Penguin - quite like drawing penguins as unlike humans they don’t move too much! A sketch on the train and at Jubilee Square in Simon’s Town.

Day Five - More exercise than I anticipated climbing the ‘Lion’s Head’ mountain close to Sea Point and Clifton. The climb included ladders and ropes! But the view was spectacular over the whole city and adjacent Table Mountain. It inspired the sketch from the comfort of my hotel room and another while having a well needed beer.

Day Four - I love getting lost in a city new to me and today was the day to explore Cape Town. After a walk to the wonderful De Waterkant district with its cute original architecture and cool cafes, I had a coffee and sketched.

After a further half hour walk I was in the centre of the city - a more authentic African part of the city compared to the wealthy but beautiful beach areas to the south.

Day Three - A chilled day walking from the hotel in Sea Point to the stunning beach at Clifton taking in a few rays and a few sketches. Then walked around the next bay to Camps Bay - where the rich here seem to party and chill. Amazing landscape setting all along the coast :)

Day Two - After a bus trip from the airport to Sea Port and two quick sketches - one over a brunch in the main street and the other chilling by the hotel pool waiting for check-in. Then a pool party in the waterfront area and a night out in De Waterkant.

Day One - A long 12 hour flight from Gatwick arriving here just before midnight and an overnight stay in an airport hotel avoiding the need to travel through Cape Town in the middle of the night. A quick sketch on the plane to occupy myself...