| This activity
ended in 1996. For information only.
|
WATERFRONT
Where are we going to find a parking space? At the Imax, the
Aquarium, the mall, or underground? Through the sea of cars we spot
a vacant bay. Accelerate! Swarms of people hustle in and out of
buildings. How are we going to move through the crowd? The shops
are fuller because everyone's looking for presents. The smell of
rich coffee wafts over the mass of people going up and down the
escalator. Blends of perfumes are smelt as you amble by several
boutiques.
Arriving filled with excitement and expecting fun, we love to go to
the Waterfront. Walk along the pier and smell the damp, pungent
scent, entwined with the spicy fragrances of nearby Eastern delis.
Allow your feet to wander aimlessly through corridors, roasting
popcorn and sweet exotic flavours waft gently through your nostrils
and overcome your other senses. We have many friendly encounters and
experience amazement and awe on our tantaliziang travels. Table
Mountain smiles upon the harbour around which a bustling commercial
centre has grown up. The shopping mall is a hive of activity with a
vast variety of interesting goods to be purchased in numerous,
colourful shops.
As the sun rises, trawlers sleepily enter Cape Town harbour after a
midnight rendezvous with the harvest of the sea.
Toot... toot. The tug-boat chugs into the harbour escorted by the
squawking cry of the hungry seagulls. The foreign jabber of the
tourists is answered by the barking and splashing of the seals.
"Ten rand for a boat-ride..." but the marimbas beat draws you away.
The buzz of conversation is occasionally broken by ripples of
laughter or "Whoosh... Waaaa!" a child's balloon is whisked away by a
gust of wind; which carries with it the mouth-watering sounds of
oysters and mussels cracking open, and sizzling sausages.
Tip-tap go the heels as people rush through the shops, carrying their
bright rustling packages.
As the sun sets so does the noise and buzz, and at night romance
lingers in the air. As the stars are reflected in the lapping water
so too are they reflected in the eyes of the lovers strolling by or
sitting in quiet corners. This contrasts with the bright lights and
noise of the bustling pubs and restaurants. The clank of beer mugs
hails the victory of the "Springboks" initiating raucous celebrations
to follow till dawn.
By: Std 8(2) at Springfield Convent Senior School, Wynberg,
Cape Town, South Africa.
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