A statue reflecting in one of the many ponds at the Company Gardens early on Tuesday morning.

In case you are wondering what I was doing in town so early in the morning, I was visiting the Italian Consulate to arrange my EU visa. I arrived a little early, and since the Company Gardens were just around the corner, an early-morning stroll through the gardens was the perfect way to start the day.

By the way, the consulate was really efficient; I was in and out in about 10 minutes. In theory I collect my visa tomorrow.

This is a magical place in Cape Town, and a must see when visiting Cape Town. They were formally established in 1652, and they contain:

* The oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa (circa 1652) * A rose garden designed and built in 1929 * An aviary – a great favourite with children * Local arts and crafts along the avenue * Grassy lawns and benches * A herb and succulent garden

More details are here

A lovely Avenue to walk down during the day; a peaceful calm amidst the chaos of the city.

Spring Flowers, originally uploaded by Craig is shooting.

I think that the spring flowers are a few weeks early, but they truly look wonderful. What looked like overgrown weeds suddenly turns into white carpets of spring flowers.

These flowers will be found throughout Cape Town and the West Coast for the next few weeks, after which they will disappear almost overnight.

It amazes me that you can see such wonderful flowers about 4 metres from a busy road.

The side-effect is that most of Cape Town will have hay-fever for the next few weeks, oh well!

Birds landing, originally uploaded by Craig is shooting.

There is a tiny lagoon on the beach, just opposite the landfill on Baden Powell drive which I often drive past. In the morning it is covered in Seagulls and small birds enjoying the shallow waters.

Today I stopped to take a pic of them, and I gaught this show of the two birds fighting (or possibly mating). I really don’t know Seagulls too well, but they constantly literally flying into each other and almost chasing each other away.

It was an interesting site, and I think it makes quite a nice photo.

Eric the Accordion player, originally uploaded by Craig is shooting.

My Friend Eric (aka Smokkel). You can find him playing the accordion pretty much anywhere that he can, but in particular at the various village festivals around Cape Town. Eg Bastille festival in Franschhoek and the Olive Festival in Riebeek Kasteel.

From time to time you will see Eric jamming at my house (and even with me on the bass on occasion).

You can find out more about Eric (and listen to samples) on his website.