Long Street Baths

If you fancy a good old fashioned Turkish Bath - the sort where you get the crap rubbed and beaten out of you in the name of cleanliness, try the Turkish Baths at the top of Long Street in Cape Town. A heated indoor public swimming pool and Turkish bath delights await. I can not vouch for their current state of repair and use, but they were very popular and well maintained. Not really a gay cruising area - try your luck at Hot House instead - but hey, where there are naked men, there may be action!

Anyone who has been to the baths recently is welcome to post and comment. If not, I'll give them a go :-)

Signal Hill, Cape Town

Gay couples, straight couples, groups of friends old and young all make the pilgrimage to watch our star dip below the horizon. Its best to do this somewhere high up. Chapman's Peak Drive is one place to do this. Signal Hill in the heart of the city is a much forgotten alternative. People mill around, walk the paths, eat and drink, or chat and listen to music without getting rowdy and bothersome. Its a lovely way to end a sunny warm day. It's best appreciated with friends, but if you need some once you're there, there are plenty of people you could acquaint yourself with ;-). Security is pretty good with car guards and guards with torches/flashlights, that walk the paths once the sun has set.

To get there, follow the signs for the Table Mountain Cableway from the city (heading towards Camps Bay along Buitengracht). When you get to the cableway turning on Kloofnek Road (the top part of Buitengracht), turn right into Signal Hill Drive and follow it all the way to the top of Signal Hill. There you'll get great panoramic photo opportunity views of Bantry Bay along to the Waterfront and the City. If it's not too hazy, you should be able to spot Bloubergstrand and Melkbosstrand way across Table Bay. Of course, the famous Robben Island is very visible.

Please take your litter with you or use the lidded bins provided. Smoking up there is a fire hazard (dry brush everywhere), so please exercise utmost caution and heed signs if you must smoke there. There is usually some refreshment stand of some sort as well as a small visitor centre and some whiffy eco-loos.

Rather take your own food and drink - but remember to take a blanket to picnic on/roll around on after dark and a torch to find your picnic that got scattered with the rolling around :-)

Iziko: South African National Gallery

The Iziko is hosting a Picasso exhibition till 21 May 2006. If you are in town (Cape Town)and want to see works done by a modern master - pop in. As we all know, anything that engages kulcha is a magnet for the informed friends of Dorothy, so admire the paintings and cruise the clientele! This is the exhibition's second stop, after a five week trip to Jo'burg.

Happy viewing!

More plants than you can poke a stick at

Every country has its botanical institution. Even if they are the most threadbare of parks, as a species, we tend to find comfort in literally returning to (our) roots and enjoying peace and tranquility under a shady bough; momentarily escaping the schedule of the day to day grind. So, if you are among the hoards of schedule paced tourists arriving in bus after bus after bus, following umbrellas, sticks, where's the translator.. and damn - who IS that with the baby screaming...... take a trip to Kirstenbosch.

Although not guaranteed to leave the madding crowds far behind - it is a very popular spot for tourists and locals alike - Kirstenbosh has to rank among the best and most spectacular gardens in the world. Set behind Table Mountain (the part that gets the weather), the dramatic backdrop of the mountain and the stunning displays of indigenous plants and art is a worthwhile day out. You will recognise many flowers, which have become part of many homes and gardens worldwide - but here, you see them in their original and natural habitat. Genteel concerts are often held at Kirstenbosch, so check online for details.

There is a snack bar, restaurant and funky waterless eco-urinals. Not sure what eco-wonders are in the ladies though. Have an enjoyable camera happy day out!

Arbitrary old building

Taken early evening on the way to the Symphony of Fire, Cape Town has some lovely buildings that really stand out when the lights come on. So often we take things for granted, just driving backwards and forwards. Sometimes its nice to sit at the back and just appreciate your city.

Pink Loerie

The Pink Loerie is a gay carnival annually held in the genteel town of Knysna. Originally conceived to help with tourist flow and the subsequent tourist money, the festival is a buy-in by residents and retailers, which always helps. More first-hand information and photos after the event this May...

Fireworks galore

The "Symphony of Fire" took place this past week. It's an international fireworks competition that takes place at Cape Town's Waterfront. There were plans to host it at the Witwatersrand Botanical Gardens in Johannesburg, but due to a rather rare nesting family of Black Eagles, the event was moved to the Cape to rather terrorise the more plentiful seagulls.

The competition lasts a week and is an international event. It's also the largest fireworks display on the continent.

Seats can be booked - but if you do, ensure you arrive well in advance, so you don't have to lean out your car window to watch the displays while stuck in a queue of cars all trying to get to the Waterfront!

The Grand Finale that took place last night did seem somewhat short, but the displays were amazing.

Slight Pause

Currently on a two week course with a gruelling homework and daily test schedule, so almost all other activities are on hold till the course is over.