Prosnit-Bloch family

Fairfield Connecticut - USA

25 December 2003

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26 December 2003

Having arrived in Cape Town the night before everyone got a good nights sleep and I met Jim, Wendy, Ethan and Jacob at the Commodore Hotel on this morning. After spending about 30 minutes talking in the car while getting to know one another we proceeded on our Cape Peninsula tour.

Ethan, Jacob, Jim and Wendy at Muizenberg

I could not resist taking this photo of Jacob at Jacobs Ladder above Kalk Bay. JJ

Jacob and Wendy at the penguin colony

Ethan and Jim at the penguin colony

We stopped for a picnic on the rocks at Bordjiesrif on the Cape of Good Hope Nature reserve where I took this picture of Jacob "testing" the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean

The whole family at Cape Point

On our way back to Cape Town from the Cape of Good Hope Reserve we found the waters to be huge and attractive at Misty Cliffs as can be seen from the above photo.

We travelled over Chapmans Peak where we had someone take the above photo of all of us. This was the first time I had travelled over Chapmans Peak since its closure 4 years back due to rockfalls and I came to the conclusion that the drive still remains one of the most spectacular visuals in Cape Town.

On our way back to Cape Town we travelled along the Atlantic Seaboard where I took this picture of Ethan and Jacob having fun with the sun was setting in the background.

I then took everyone back to the Commodore Hotel. That evening the family had dinner at Cafe Paradiso in Tamboerskloof. 

27 December 2003

The family had a free day on this day and visited the city centre. In the afternoon the family spent their time at the waterfront and in the evening they had a wonderful dinner at the Africa Cafe.

28 December 2003

On this day the family took the ferry to Robben Island to visit this important venue in Table Bay. On arrival back in Cape Town I arranged to meet them at the quayside as I felt it was worth ascending Table Mountain in the afternoon as the weather was very conducive to doing this journey.

Wendy disembarks from the Robben Island ferry

In the cablecar going up Table Mountain

Atop of Table Mountain

Doing the Table Mountain Shuffle

Brothers in discussion on Table Mountain

After our journey to Table Mountain we travelled down to the Mount Nelson Hotel and thereafter I dropped the family off at the Jewish Museum where they would spend the rest of the afternoon.

In the evening the Prosnit-Blochs went to Biesmiellah for a typical Cape Malay dinner.

29 December 2003

We started out our day on our Winelands tour by assisting the Afrikaans language monument.

The Prosnit/Bloch's at the Afrikaans language monument.
Please use your browser arrow keys to view this panoramic photo.

Jake and Ethan having fun with the scarecrows in the Strawberry patch at Mooiberg Farm

Wendy and Jim at Mooiberg Farm

We visited Rust en Vrede Winefarm where we enjoyed a winetasting under the trees at the farm.

Jim and Wendy enjoying the great red wine from Rust en Vrede

The family with some of the magnificent scenery of Rust en Vrede behind them.

We travelled on to Kayamandi where I took all of the below photos.

Mzwake explains the rituals of the Water Church to Ethan, Wendy and Jim.

Having fun with Ibani Bagota.

Jake, Ethan and Jim enjoy the choral singing of Ibani Bagota

The Prosnit/ Blochs with Shumi Ndlebe pose for a group photograph after sitting down and listening to her wonderfully inspiring life story at her home.

After our visit to Kayamandi we moved on to Moyo Restaurant where as the below pictures show we ended our tour with a wonderful evening of fun, entertainment and great food.

The Moyo entertainers known as "Third World Bunfight"

The Prosnit-Bloch's  were an amazing family to travel with. Everyone had something to give to the tour and it resulted in all enjoying themselves immensely. That certainly included me and for this alone I want to thank the whole family in a very BIG way.

The Prosnit-Bloch's simply went with the flow, trusted the situation and with their great sense of human kindness and consideration coming through so strongly we had a fabulous time together in Cape Town, Kayamandi and the Winelands. What an amazing and memorable journey this truly was.

 Finally I want to extend a BIG THANK YOU to this wonderful family for their very generous donation made to the people of Kayamandi.

Jim, Wendy, Ethan and Jake
 A HUGE THANK YOU FROM ME FOR THE GREAT JOURNEY THAT WE HAD TOGETHER IN MY CITY.

Received 11 January 2004

Dear Selwyn,

As I sit down to write this note, I can picture you soaking in the sun and 
the beautiful vistas of Cape Town and looking up to Table Mountain from many 
vantage points or looking down and seeing the magnificent coastline of South 
Africa. It's a picture we relish!

We so appreciate your very complimentary email of our time together but 
indeed, you are the one who deserves the enormous "thank you" for making our experience in Cape Town so unbelievably memorable. Not only was it fun and interesting to be with you but you responded to each of our interests and taught us great history, political science, geography and life lessons! We also appreciated how you went "above and beyond" all the time, giving so much of yourself, to make our trip so unique and very special. 

The pictures you put on the web of our tour make us smile and bring back 
great memories. Our time in Kayamandi resonates deeply - not only were we touched by the spirit and humanity of the people but we were so impressed with the very important work you do in the township - it is really work which we know is a labor of love that "makes a difference". Please keep us in the "loop" of what's happening there.

The rest of our trip was wonderful, as well. We were overwhelmed by the 
vastness and also incredible beauty of Namibia. Retracing Ethan's steps was a 
treat and seeing first hand his community and the land through his eyes.
We've been home two days and we're trying to adjust to the bitter cold, 
reclaim lost luggage and face the realities of work - however, we know our time in South Africa was a once in a lifetime experience and we are grateful and 
humbled to have been able to have had a trip like this and meet a special person like you! Thank you!

Wendy, Jim, Ethan and Jake

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