La Residence in Franschhoek

Driving east toward Franschhoek, nestled in the shadow of yet more blue-hued mountains, we had to turn our backs on the spectacular city of Cape Town, the Mother City as it is called, and a city I hope to return to one day. We had to turn our backs on a colorful city that blends the styles of San Francisco with New York, according to one assistant director we met who was scouting movie locations, but is still distinctly unique and not just because of the seals and the penguins and Table Mountain. Experiencing Cape Town was like experiencing a fabulous dessert that awakened my taste buds to something I’d eaten before, but I couldn’t quite pin point what it was  for this delicious city has a taste all its own just like the rest of South Africa and can’t be imitated. I didn’t want to leave the animals of Kwandwe and Samara, but Cape Town is a city that makes me feel  equally happy to be alive!

But we had to turn our backs on the city, on the World Heritage site of the sleeping giant of Table Mountain, which is what it looks like from Robben Island, also a World Heritage site made famous by  Nelson Mandela.  We had to turn our backs on blue -- the blue sky, the purplish-blue haze of the mountains, the clear greenish-blue coastal water -- blue is the color I’ll always associate with Cape Town, a cheery and positive place with friendly  and helpful people everywhere. And it was bittersweet, this turning our backs on this fabulous city, just as bittersweet as the other places we’ve had to leave over the past two weeks.  But one thing I’ve learned from this incredible Ker & Downey adventure is that you have to turn your backs on what you love to discover a lovely surprise looming in front of you in this rainbow country of contrasts.

Motoring through a bouquet of wineries that were at first miniscule dots on our map waiting to be discovered, the roads lined with green pine trees reminiscent of home invited us to travel through a land that beckoned and welcomed and patiently waited for our arrival. And after a brief stop at Spier, a very green landscaped vineyard with picnic sites and terraces and where we sampled and snacked on wine and cheese, in particular the goat cheese which I consumed with embarrassing fervor, we ventured out once more through the green vine-covered hills as we moved closer toward our ultimate destination of La Residence, and as I soon discovered, the pièce de résistance.  

Franschhoek, less than an hour away from Cape Town, is a place where it’s easy to lose sight of your ultimate destination for there’s so much to enjoy along the way. In fact, my suggestion is to get a little lost. We didn’t, as Reid had a visual on La Residence before we saw it, but meandering through the side streets against the background of yet more majestic mountains allowed us a feel for this charming village, host to the fabulous villa which was our ultimate destination. And as we meandered down Elandskloof, the private road lined with breath-taking, fragrant white roses and then alighted at the villa where we were greeted by  Evan, my heart was captured as I was presented with flowers and refreshed by smiles from the staff. And then after a leisurely stroll before we were led to our suite, I decided, once more, that I was not going home!

At La Rez, grandeur outside meets grandeur inside -- just as the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean collided in Cape Town -- and an explosion of beauty occurs and with that experience, my heart moved.    God doesn’t just give us words, he gives us emotions, and for me, this final emotional experience of our trip  is a merging of all that we’ve experienced so far. And just as I felt yesterday, I’m saying it today: I can’t wait to see what this day brings! But for now, my latte’s arrived, the windows are open, and God’s world awaits.

For more information: www.laresidence.co.za.