Cape Town, South Africa THREE

Opera in the Quarry our invitation read, A Celebration of Operatic Treasures and South African Treasures. It was as magnificent as we had hoped. As we left the ship, an orchestra of young people filled the hall with the sound of their violins (Margaret Adams, dear granddaughter, you would have fit in well!). We made our way to The Hillcrest Winery Estate in Durbanville; beyond the vineyards is a magnificent quarry, mined from 1939-1951 to build the breakwater in Cape Town harbor.

Elephants met us as we came into the quarry. As we came closer, we saw that they were amazing life size creations, including a baby, who ambled in the field. Then came the drums and song of the South African Youth Choir. Dinner was in a huge clear shed strung with lanterns, and more elephants abounded – as table decorations and lighted sculptures. We strolled with champagne and then were served a five course dinner, paired with South African wines. And wait, there’s more .... the production: from Traviata to music from The Mission, from Lakmé to a Xhosa song. One of the sopranos was Amira Willghagen, an 18 year old whom we heard in a concert three years ago.

South Africa, the rainbow nation, is indeed a land of contrasts and great potential.