Charles Apple

Despite the fact that there are incredibly dramatic views on the other side of the hotel — views of Devil’s Peak, Table and Lion’s Head mountains — I find myself drawn to the much smaller but still beautiful Signal Hill, just outside my 11th-floor window here at the Westin Grand in Cape Town.

Here’s the way it looked Thursday night just after sundown (click any of these for a larger view):

I just love the way the sunlight brushes the clouds with just a touch of pink. Gorgeous.

Here’s how the hill looked much later, with the last rays of sunlight peering through the clouds, the lights of the city twinkling below and a thick plume of condensation streaming from the top as if Signal Hill were a volcano or something:

This morning’s first sunlight caught the hill masked with a thin layer of wispy clouds that quickly chased away after the dark:

I’ve collected quite a few photos of this hill. It’s lazy journalism: Merely the view outside my hotel room window.

Maybe so. But I like it.

Today marks the end of my two-week period with the news artists of these publications. I paid tribute to the artists today by wearing the African-shirt they bought for me:

The one they gave me last week didn’t fit, so Hanlie took it back and exchanged it for one that did. It’s nice and loose and comfortable with three-quarter-length sleeves and pockets on the sides.

I’ve had a wonderful time with these fine folks. I’m going to miss them.
A lot.

Left to right; top to bottom: Anton,
Elsolet, Hanlie, Jaco, Morné and Salomé.
—

They’ve come a long way in two weeks. The stunning successes I mentioned yesterday is a fitting end to our time together. We spent yesterday tying up loose threads and today, folks are working on live work for the weekend and, in some cases, pitching new ideas to their editors.

This group was wonderful. Baie dankie [pronounced: buy a donkey] to you all.

The plan for the weekend: Get out an enjoy a little more of the city. But most of all, prepare for the advertising and marketing design classes I’m leading next week.

Oh, and maybe I’ll go out and buy a donkey. I’ve had this sudden urge to do that.

—
EXPEDITION TO SOUTH AFRICA

You’re reading chapter 16 of my journey to Cape Town, South Africa. Previous installments:

• CHAPTER 1: Preparing for the journey.
  
• CHAPTER 2: I made it as far as the Dulles airport bar
• CHAPTER 3: Getting really bored sitting at Dulles
• CHAPTER 4: Safe and sound in Cape Town
• CHAPTER 5: Day one in Cape Town
  
• CHAPTER 6: Day two; No effects at all from jet lag
• CHAPTER 7: A tour of the Westin Grand
• CHAPTER 8: Dealing with little things like money and electricity
• CHAPTER 9: Thursday night on the Cape Town waterfront
• CHAPTER 10: Ending the work week on a high note
• CHAPTER 11: A Saturday trip to the Cape of Good Hope
• CHAPTER 12: A Sunday visit to Cape Town’s Table Mountain
• CHAPTER 13: The blustery ‘Cape Doctor’ winds arrive
• CHAPTER 14: Making some real progress in our class work
• CHAPTER 15: Giant infographics and a night on the town
  

This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Charles Apple, Travelogue, Trip to South Africa, Visual ethics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.