Cape Town is not just pretty beaches, nice restaurants and wine farms. It also has some really poor areas, some really trashy areas, some really dangerous areas and some areas that are just stuck in 1984.

I work in Woodstock, the closest suburb to the CBD, not quite covered by the City Bowl. Woodstock, in the Apartheid days was declared a white area, but actually managed to stay integrated. Today it's becoming quite trendy and arty, known as the design District. The next few suburbs are Salt River, Maitland and Brooklyn.

Salt River is still a very poor area, with mostly clothing factories, low cost housing and pawn shops. I personally like Salt River very much. There are tons of bargains to be found - I do all my spice shopping at Fargo's, a wholesale supplier to the restaurant industry, where one can buy spices, herbs, and other dry goods at super low prices. What I like the most about the area is it feels like Little Africa, loads of Malawians, Congolese and Zimbabweans living in the area. So many languages, different types of music and a hustle in the air. I would probably not go there at night, but I am also one of those locals who likes these kinds of places for the raw energy of the people there. Probably not everyone's cup of tea.

Maitland is mainly auto shops, pawn shops and more factories. Very industrial.

Brooklyn, though, is another story. Very similar to Woodstock, but not as developed yet. My uncle, who is always doing some crazy development in the areas that are not even considered up and coming yet, opened a community space in an old Victorian building. It's a bit of a maker's space, with a recording studio, leather worker, and artist renting space there. He has also converted two or three old shipping containers into an office and living space.

I love going there, and have never seen cultures melt together so well as in Brooklyn. I took a drive around the neighbourhood on a Saturday afternoon, and saw a typical, lower-class white family braaing (remember this word from previously, people - we are famous for it - barbecuing) with a Nigerian looking family. There were no, or only very low, walls around the houses (this is very unusual in SA), and kids playing in the street. It was so inspiring to see, and my heart was truly warm. It is a true epitome of the New South Africa, The Rainbow Nation, and really gave me hope in this politically charged country, where there are the most bizarre happenings every day.

My uncle's girlfriend makes the most incredible art pieces, seen all over the Brklyn Prjct and in the Brooklyn area - find more about her here

If you enjoyed this post, check out the first two in this series, here and here

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on my new Cape Town series! Leave me a comment below!

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