Eastbound and Down

Once Jonathan and I made the decision to go on this adventure, we had support, love, and advice pour in from around the world.  Fiona and Alexis, two wonderful and quite well-traveled friends of ours, were quick not only with enthusiasm but with emails full of fantastic tips from places they loved and friends we could meet along the way.  However, the most important email was one that held an invitation to their wedding celebration in South Africa taking place on New Year’s Eve.  There was not a doubt in our minds that we would be at that wedding.

On Christmas Eve we flew into Cape Town to meet up with one of our best friends, Kathryn.  Kathryn, who introduced us to Fiona 8 years ago, flew in for the wedding celebration and three weeks in South Africa with us!  After picking up our rental car (a go-kart sized Chevy Spark) and grabbing a beer at a local brewery (in the middle of a cheetah reserve…) the three of us (now known as “the tripod”) headed to the beach.

Fiona’s parents have an incredible home in the small beach village of Rooi-Els, which they Graciously (yes, with a capital G!) let us (and two other wedding guests) stay in for the holiday.  The drive along the coast was breathtaking and when we arrived, the “strangers” we were sharing the house with greeted us with hugs, cold beer, and fish and chips.  We spent Christmas Eve watching the sunset and laughing with Ania and James, our two new friends.  Christmas away from family is always difficult, but if one must do it, I suggest starting the day with a swim on the beach in South Africa, followed by brunch, and ending with a braii (South African cook-out) with old and new friends.

Now, when we say we went to a wedding celebration in South Africa, we mean to say that we said yes to EVERYTHING on a 10 day itinerary sent to us from the bride and groom.

These two guided us on hikes up Lion’s Head Peak one day:

And to the top of Table Mountain the next day:

 

They sent us on wine tastings, river cruises, and Farmer Redbeard tractor rides:

And made time for plenty of sundowners (the art of drinking a glass of wine while watching the sunset in some amazing location):

Fiona, Alexis, and their families treated us to exquisite meals (ostrich, springbok, lamb and prawns) with phenomenal entertainment:

 

And celebrated their love with songs, dance, trees, noise, hugs, and poems in one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever seen:

It was an incredible setting and our mouths hurt from smiling.

We ate, drank, danced, and had a wild midnight costume change the night of their wedding.  They went all out and truly gave us a New Years we will never forget!

It was an honor to be a part of their celebration and spoiled by their love and desire to ensure we had a kick-ass wonderful time.  Thank you Fiona and Alexis for the new friends, the gut busting laughs, and the many many memories!

A huge thank you to Kathryn, Ania, and Tess for sharing photos of the week!!!