We receive some interesting invitations;
some we can't resist. We live on a peninsula, but we must confess that we
rarely visit the other end of it, so this was a chance to have a welcome
overnight break, taste some good wine and eat great fish and chips, all before
setting off early the next morning after a good breakfast to the CWG auction at
Spier
The Lord Nelson Hotel is on the main road running
through Simon's Town, famous for its Naval dockyards. They are just across the
road from its entrance. It is a typical old style Traveller’s hotel, which has had a
revamp
The entrance plaque
The wine tasting advertising. It was very well
attended by locals, who enthusiastically embrace this sort of entertainment .
And there were some very good wines to taste
Our room is named after the famous friendly Great
Dane, AB Just Nuisance, that used to escort naval men about town during the Second World War and
became a mascot and was even enlisted into the Royal Navy. He even got his own
pass to travel on the train. Read about it here http://www.simonstown.com/tourism/nuisance/nuisance.htm
It’s a lovely story
The room with its large bed and good linen, has a
bathroom and access to the shared terrace outside
The view from the terrace. Noisy and, sadly, rather
full of traffic fumes
Views of the SA Navy ships in harbour
The bar still speaks to the past history of the
hotel
Bedecked with lots of Navy shields, presents from
visiting ships, and a bust of Lord Nelson
Lynne chatting to old friend Tariro Masayiti, GM
and winemaker at Springfontein in Stanford while his wife Hildegard chooses
another wine for us to taste
The happy couple
Also showing their wines were Tracey Fourie and
Matthew from Benguela Cove near Hermanus
Raka owner Piet Dreyer's daughter Jorika (also in
Stanford) was an excellent choice to do their wine tasting, she is so knowledgeable
about the wines, which are made by her brother Joseph. Jorika runs the tasting
centre on the farm
It seems this was a hat wearing day for the
locals, here seen enjoying some wine from Hermanuspietersfontein (Hermanus)
The popular tasting was held in two rooms. Some
canapés were served
The tasting ended at 8 and we then went in search
of some supper. We fancied some fish and chips, which this area does so well as
it’s the base for many of our fishermen. The Main Road was pretty quiet even
at this early hour
The restaurant, the Salty Sea Dog, was only about
5 or 6 minutes walk from the hotel and is just across from Bertha’s
Initially, we were seated in the glassed in
terrace, but it was a little chilly that evening so we moved inside as soon as
a table became available
Some of the best fish and chips we have ever been
served in the Cape. We told them crispy chips please and they delivered. After
wine, we drank beer and it goes so well together with this dish. No frills,
just lemon and Lynne ordered a small pot of tartar sauce
The bill came to a
very reasonable R212
A notice in the restaurant!
The take out menu. This was very popular with
guests and Mr Delivery drivers arriving all the time. The only combo that is
missing was our favourite: calamari and fish
We loved the witty T shirts that the very helpful
staff wear
We met a street vendor selling this wonderful wire
and LED light sculpture of a rabbit on the street. Sadly we weren’t carrying
cash. Lynne is so impressed by the sheer artistry of what they can create and
each year there is something new, innovative and well made, from almost
nothing. We walked home with the song Bright Eyes echoing in our heads. This
would enchant a child
A local hostelry
Down to breakfast the next morning after a rather
noisy night with people talking loudly outside at 1 pm. John had an Omelette,
Lynne had Bacon and Eggs, both nicely prepared and the coffee was also very good; then it was off to the CWG auction via the
magnificent coastal road, Baden Powell Drive
© John & Lynne
Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2016
