September is non-stop birthday month! Yesterday: Mik-the-losh collected another year around the sun and we celebrated in high style at the all-new Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos. The last time we were there was for his birthday two years prior & oh how things have changed!
In an effort to expand our wine palates’ horizons we ventured up the 101 this weekend to taste a whole new terroir in Paso Robles. As a special added bonus, we also booked a night at the Comus House at Denner Vineyards. The wine was interesting (more wine tasting details here), but the highlight of this trip was definitely Comus House!
I just turned 30 last weekend and had the most fantastic birthday this year! Mik took me out to Stella Mare’s the night before and it was beautiful and delicious – my favorite combo! We split a shrimp appetizer and both ordered steaks. We had neither been there before and it was a really nice experience – good choice!
Canon’s description of their newest camera:
Changing the way users capture still images and video with a DSLR camera, Canon proudly introduces the EOS 70D – a trailblazing powerhouse featuring a revolutionary autofocus technology that unlocks the potential of Live View: Dual Pixel CMOS AF. This game-changing technology allows the EOS 70D to capture video in Live View with smooth and precise autofocus similar to that of a camcorder, complete with the superb image quality that is a hallmark of EOS cameras. Additionally, Dual Pixel CMOS AF provides fast and accurate autofocus during Live View still image capture, enabling you to fully benefit from the freedom of angle allowed by the Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II. Compositional options are now nearly limitless with the two real-world choices of Live View and viewfinder shooting.
For no reason – a collection of my cross-pose swim photos! I usually try to get a handstand photo whenever I travel, but if there is a pool I’ve added this cross-pose to my must-get shot list. You can stay up to date with my latest cross-pose photos in my Flickr set. Enjoy!
The Bay Hotel is starting to feel like my home away from home after having stayed there the last time I was in Cape Town and extending our stay this time to be there more than a week. I mostly like it because it’s right in the heart of Camps Bay and I can walk almost anywhere I want to go. The pool terrace is perfect for sundowners, Codfather is only a few blocks away and all of the beaches within walking distance are ridiculously good. The decor felt a little dated this time after staying at Tintswalo, La Res and Birkenhead House, but in reality: I think it is… Oh well, the view of Lion’s Head from the pool will never get old!
The Abalone House was a serendipitous find on the way back to Cape Town after spending the weekend at Bushmans Kloof. We had planned to drive the entire 250km back to Cape Town via Velddrif and Langebaan, but after a few navigational errors and the entire day lost on dirt backroads, we decided to stop in Paternoster for dinner.
Continuing the grand tour around South Africa, our next stop was at Bushmans Kloof in the Cederberg Wilderness area. There was promise of a Cape Mountain zebra, ancient rock art and a fabulous pool for swimming so I was in for a weekend full of all of my favorite things! With extra special additions of a fantastic riverside foot scrub and massage, an amazing dinner in their candle-lit lodge, African dominoes and the most deluxe afternoon tea spread. I’m moving in!
After a few nights in Hermanus at Birkenhead House, it was time to head inland to Franschhoek. The wine valley! My people! We opted to stay at a property owned by the same people who run Birkenhead House – La Residence. Liz Biden is the designer at both properties and I love her style!
Babylonstoren is a Cape Dutch farm with vineyards and orchards surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Drakenstein Valley. It has an exceptionally well–preserved werf dating from 1690. A fruit and vegetable garden of botanical diversity supplies a remarkable restaurant. Guests staying at an exclusive farm hotel enjoy access to the entire farm, plus facilities like a spa and gym. The aim is to have guests feel more comfortable, more alive among warm smiles and the simple daily rhythm of the farm.
After an incredible stay at Tintswalo, we packed up and headed down the road to Hermanus. Next on the agenda: move camp to Birkenhead House and find somewhere to watch the India Premier League cricket game! (I probably spent more time watching cricket on this trip than taking photos, which should be telling considering my camera has become an extension of my arm.)
Trapped in airports and on planes for an 11 hour flight from Los Angeles to London and another 11 hour flight from London to Cape Town, we finally arrived in The Mother City. It was cold, raining and Table Mountain was hiding behind a thick layer of clouds, the same way it was the first time I landed in Cape Town 3 years earlier.
