Welcome to My World - SUNDAY ROAD TRIP

Sunday's are GREAT days for "relaxing adventures" don't you think?!

There is something special about a Sunday morning... when you open your eyes and the sun is streaming through the curtains... I always lie in bed with a sense of peaceful enthusiasm. There is no pressure yet there is a simultaneous desire to get up and make the best of what the sun has to offer.

It has been a particularly LONG and rather hard week for me... I have burnt the candle at both ends, and have really felt it! I was SUPER spoilt last night because my mom @lizziesworld offered to come and cook for me so that I could just sit and relax. She cooked a leg of lamb for us with all the extras and after dinner my little man washed all the dishes! It was SO amazing and such a treat! I am VERY blessed!!!!!

Sunday morning arrived and Jude had a party to go to, I was spoilt once again... Dave and I decided to hit the road for a mini road trip! (Always good for a Sunday!!)

It is always an ongoing debate of "where should we go" but amazingly enough - today we agreed fairly quickly. lol We had a "bit" of time... but not "a lot" - wanted somewhere with a decent dining experience.... and a VIEW. (A view is ALWAYS high up on my list of priorities lol)

So Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch it was to be...

Amongst the hundreds of wine farms in the Western Cape, Spier is probably THE most "commercial" one... it is a real "go to" for tourists... so needless to say is seldom visited by us locals... but time was an issue so off we went... I personally have not been there for about 15 years, so what the hell, right?!

Hi ho, Hi ho its off to Spier we go...

Not sure if any of you are big series enthusiasts.... but that ship on the left of the below photo is the set for the series "Black Sails" - geeks will know ;) lol

Approx. 30 minutes later and we have arrived! Considering it is Winter it is PRETTY DAMN hot! lol Welcome to the country folks!

By this stage I was so hungry I could and most probably would have eaten the dash board if I was given half a chance.... lol.. There are a few restaurants on the wine estate and the one that I REALLY want to got to was sadly fully booked outside. They had a table for us inside - but no Capetonian with any sense will opt for sitting inside when the weather is as glorious as it was today...

So onward we headed... to the "HogHouse" - with a name like that I am not really questioning what most of the menu is going to consist of...lol

Arrived we have! Overwhelmed, I was not. lol (but alas.... sit down, we shall...)

Quite a "relaxed" establishment - although you would never say so from their prices... krikey! - but it is a great place for the family to relax and enjoy themselves whilst the kids do what kids do best... climbing trees, rocks and the like...

You would THINK that with prices like that, that the burgers would AT LEAST be served with chips... but sadly no. The burgers are served "voets toets" (SA language for "at the buyers risk") and apparently, today there was a shortage of plates... because my starter and David's main were served on one "plate".... um, sorry what?!

And his burger looked like... well... let me think how to put this diplomatically... no, let me not.... it SUCKED! That was a burger?! ok... if you say so....

That empty stainless steel bowl is what my starter was served in... alongside that AMAZING looking burger... >cough, splutter, wtf<

Anyhoooooo.... lets not forget about the amazing scenery shall we...

I decided to try something different and order the "pigs tail" starter...

It was absolutely delicious, but to be honest... tasted like every other piece of pork crackling I have had in my life... I am not quite sure what I was expecting but "the usual" was not it... I think I had a visual in my mind of some kind if curly chip? lol

But hey... there was wine... so all was good with the world.... squiggly pig tails or not... hahaha!

Alrighty then... I think both Dave and I had had enough of that... so got the bill we did and explore the surroundings we shall....

Heading out on our exploration, this AMAZING oak tree captured my attention for quite some time! They are so MAJESTIC don't you think?

We took a walk across a bridge and went to go stare at the river from the other side....

David was captivated by the river, but something else had caught my attention...

oooooooh!!!! there was a mini bamboo forest!!!!! SOLD!!!! lol

We also discovered the most unusual "see-saw" I have ever seen...lol - Yip that is in fact a wine barrel see-saw lol... LOVE IT!

We were going to attempt to go back to "initially desired" restaurant and have a main...

but sadly, the time had run away and we needed to head back to go and fetch my little man from his party....

We observed some of the "wine stories" on our way out... and I say observed because, well - at this point my ratio of food to wine was well.... bias. lol

"oooon the road again" (no I have never seen Shrek lol)....

Back at the party! Little man was CLEARLY having a blast.... and well, we ended up having a fabulous time too! Way too much good conversation... and wine.... hahaha (keeping in mind that all I have eaten for the day was a few pigs tails, and the piece of pizza I stole from Dave...) Jayne NEEDS food!!!!! lol

Homeward bound... I would like to introduce you to "OLD MAN MOUNTAIN"

Can you see him? ;)

Until next time...

Much Love from Cape Town, South Africa xxx