INSERT_MAP<\/center><\/p>\nWhen we arrived we could find no one home so we strolled around the corner to the Boplass Winery for our first sampling. Despite being a free sampling the wines, ports and brandies were both delicious and copious. Knowing we have limited allowances to the UK we bought just one bottle of vintage port vowing that if we ever return, we’ll do so at the beginning of our trip, not near the end, so we can buy more of the very attractively priced wines.<\/p>\n
When we returned (slightly staggered perhaps) to our accommodation we found the owner home and our room available so we were able to drop some of our gear off. The owner reassured us there was no crime in Calitzdorp and that we would be ok leaving most our stuff in the car. (It’s worth noting the houses still had bars on the windows and fearsome fences).<\/p>\n
After a rest we headed out into town and followed a couple of historic walks around town we got from a printed guide. This took us back to our lodging so we continued on to our second tasting. Along the way we checked out the abandoned railway station only to find a surreal object one would normally find in Google Earth. See pics below for what I mean.<\/p>\n
Our second tasting, at the De Krans winery, was shorter but perhaps more delicious than the first. We were consequently influenced to buy an 11 years old vintage port and a bottle of relatively inexpensive red plonk. We were out and about for over two hours walking continuously (except when sampling) so we had some good exercise.<\/p>\n
After another return to our room we headed back into town to first hear the organist at the Dutch Reformed Church perform his 6pm daily recital. The organist was more interesting than his music as between each pair of songs he would come over and give us a flowing description of what he was about to play. To give a brief idea of this here is a short clip.<\/p>\n
[youtube]http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Gxi0pZYywaQ[\/youtube]<\/p>\n
After the recital came dinner which we had just by the church.<\/p>\n
Here are some more pics. As you can see, the weather has finally turned nice.<\/p>\n