Cape Town!
The view from our B&B in Camps Bay, Cape Town
What a long time it’s been!
We cannot believe that our last blog entry has been a few months ago already. It’s amazing how time flies! We’ve done soooo much in the past few months. Can you believe it’s April?
SO where to begin…we’ve had quite a few visitors passing through and we both agree that it’s always nice to hear the American accent. Johannesburg really acts as a major African hub for Southern Africa, so all sorts of our friends who work for the US Embassy, Foundations, etc, have spent the night, not to mention just friends visiting to see beautiful South Africa!
Work is going very well for both of us. Geoff has had an opportunity to travel to Zambia to present at a conference and is heading back to Senegal and Ivory Coast at the end of April to due another presentation…in French! He says it’s always nice to be back in West Africa, but the second you step off that plane, you remember the heat…and it hits you like a brick wall! Now imagine being in that in a suit!
Lauren is crushing it up at work like usual. She travels quite a bit back and forth all over South Africa. She recently finished developing and implementing a training on orphans and vulnerable children for the Re-Action! Outreach Workers. One of the topics was household economic strengthening. It was interesting to hear how people get by- 600 Rand for food per month--- Geoff and Lauren spend that at dinner...200 Rand for rent per month-- most people we know in Sandton
(where we live) pays around 25,000 Rand!!!!
(where we live) pays around 25,000 Rand!!!!
One of the best moments of living down here is actually coming home and discussing our days. Geoff might be in client meetings all day discussing best business strategy for South Africa Treasury and Lauren might be visting a clinic in a township. So when we come together, we just have such different views and experiences of South Africa – it’s a real treat to have the opportunity to see the two South Africa’s like that.
Anyway, let’s see some pictures! We’ll start with when Jono Sillcocks visited South Africa for 3 weeks. Geoff and Jon went on a safari for 3 nights – and laughed together 24 / 7!
Jono and Geoff headed to Sabi Sands game reserve in Northeast SA adn enjoyed three manly days of safari filled with whiskey, meat, and laughter.
Check out how close the elephants got to the vehicle!
Hsieng-Wei, Myriam, Stacey, Alain et sa famille, Desi, and us celebrated with Manuel before he went back to Italy- Caio! Geoff worked the braai once again and delivered delicious beef, chicken and ribs to the table living up to his name Chef Geoff.
Manuel came to ours for a good-bye dinner the night before he left. Bellissimo! We'll-a miss-a you-a Manuel-a!
Every weekend we head to brunch at an ourdoor restaurant in Joburg- here we are at Tasha's one of our favorites!
We also had a visit from Ben Welch - an amazing recent Georgetown MBA grad who is starting a great job at Merill Lynch this fall and visited South Africa for a case study. It was good to see him and meet his fellow G-Town classmates - especially Felix who was the only person we ever met who had been to Bhutan! Good times.
Pajton, Geoff's friend from Pound Ridge, passed through on his african adventure working for the Clinton Foundation. It was great to hear his perspective on Africa. He later quizzed us on all 44 U.S. presidents... amazing what you pick up when you're alone in a small African town....
We took Pajton to the Elephant Sanctuary. Here we are stopping for lunch.
Lauren steps up to feed Dumbo! 
We got together with the West African contingent of Citi for a Sunday brunch at a Beninese restaurant. It brought back a lot of memories as we enjoyed poulet, poisson grille, yams, aloko, and of course- piment! It was good to speak French and listen to Alain Ngoma and other West African singers.
Bon Appetit!
Our friend Steve and his (new!) wife Hester came down to Cape Town from London to get married at the beautiful Twelve Apostles Hotel. The first night we were all back together is a bit blurry! Here is Steve saluting Arsenal Football Club in the bar as Lauren sung hymns. So awesome for the gang to be back together!
Debs, Mick, and Lauren outside the B&B ready to head to the V&A Waterfront.
The girls went horseback riding on the beach (where Lauren managed to get into a trot!). These are some pics that Lauren took from the car window on the way back to the hotel.
Breathtaking!
A view of Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront.
Geoff and Lauren get ready for the ceremony- champagne in hand!
Debs and Mick before the ceremony- check out Lion's Head in the background. (Soon they'll be moving down to Joburg to live near us!!! WOOHOO! We're really looking forward to the lavish game meat dinners that Deb will be preparing for Lucy and us! Sing Star 3am Cat Stevens.....!!)
The 3 Amigos pose for a pic before the wedding.
Mick and Steve (best man and groom)
Deb quickly googled a youtube clip to learn how to tie the cravat! Well done!
Steve - the Ol' Casanova!- One last jaunt with the ladies minutes before Steve ties the knot!
Gorgeous venue-look at the view!
The reception! Fantastic dinner followed by touching speeches and (of course) dancing! A great time had by all!! We wish Steve and Hester all the best!
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