N is for Newlands, Neptune and Nobel

One of the things I promised myself before we arrived in Cape Town was to watch a cricket match at Newlands, the test match venue that was a short drive from where we were staying.

It is said to be one of the most beautiful cricket grounds, standing as it does in the shadow of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, but as you can see from the photo, we didn’t pick the right day to appreciate it.

We chose one of those days when clouds poured off the mountain to watch an evening Standard Bank Pro 20 game, but it was hard to tell how much of the cloud came from Table Mountain and how much was from the Castle Brewery that you can see behind the far stand.

The match was between the Cape Cobras and the Chevrolet Warriors from Port Elizabeth which the Cobras had to win to secure a place in the semi-finals. I’m pleased to say that the Cobras did indeed triumph, thanks to an unbeaten 58 from Englishman, Owais Shah, who also scored the winning run.

Unfortunately, we had a second and less pleasurable visit to Newlands after Mrs P fell and dislocated a rib. (No, I didn’t think you could do that either.)

She was referred to the prestigious Scientific Institute of South Africa for x-rays, situated at Newlands between the cricket and rugby stadiums.

A painful experience that didn’t spoil the holiday too much and top marks for Cape Town’s health services.

My next N is none other than Neptune sitting atop the Castle of Good Hope on a rather nicer day than we experienced at Newlands.

The pentagon/star shaped castle has been the centre of civilian, administrative and military life at the Cape since it was built in 1678, although today it is purely a military base and tourist attraction.

My final N takes me back to the sea, or to the waterfront at least, where you will find Nobel Square and the statues of four Nobel Peace Laureates.

From left to right, they are Albert Luthuli who ‘fought to implant the idea of justice in the individual, in the nation, and among the nations.’

Desmond Tutu who ‘although he has never learnt to hate, none has opposed injustice with a more burning anger.’

FW de Klerk who was ‘a shining example for the world that there are ways out of the vicious circle of violence and bitterness.’

And last, but certainly not least, Nelson Mandela who, with de Klerk, chose ‘reconciliation rather than the alternative, which would inevitably have been an ever more bitter and bloodier conflict.’