Monday, October 3, 2011

Cape Grace Hotel

There are a few things about this hotel that are spectacular. I can't help but write about them as I can't figure out how to work them into any of the other posts.

First, the flower arrangements in the foyer are amazing. The national flower of South Africa is the King Protea. There are many types of protea and they are my absolute favourite flower, especially variations of the pincushion protea. We have seen them everywhere, here, growing wild. We've asked La Residence, the hotel we're getting married at, for boutonnieres that are bright, punchy, and local to South Africa. We really should have been more specific. I'm hoping that one of these will be pinned to our suits.
There is also a crazy amount of talent around the hotel on the waterfront. Perhaps South Africans might think it's kitschy but for someone that's come from the other side of the world, it's really nice to hear and experience, especially since it's old gents that are amazing at what they do... even if the song they're playing is the theme from The Littlest Hobo.
So, the hotel we're staying in has a yacht you can charter. WTF!? Seriously. If you feel the need to take a private tour of the waterfront, you can book it for about $500/3 hours. I know that seems expensive BUT you get a free picnic. DEAL! Ya, so we won't be doing that.
There is also a really cool whiskey bar that is on the ground level of the hotel called Bascule. They have over 400 types of whiskey and we were given a free tasting by our travel agent (which we haven't taken yet). The tour guide we had yesterday, Mark September, mentioned something about a whiskey available there... 25 (?) years old, and if I did the conversion correctly, works out to be about several hundred dollars a shot. We also won't be having that (on the private yacht charter with the free picnic).
The hotel has also been very lovely with gifts they've bought up on a daily basis. We're not sure if we're getting them from our travel agent or if every guest gets these. For example, they brought up a package yesterday morning that was perfectly wrapped and contained bath products. Lovely.
What's interesting is that fact that the guy who brought us up to our room for the first time was mortified that I was referred to as 'Mrs. Kaltio' on a card but that we're still getting greetings like this on these gifts:
Listen, bitches. I'm Mr. Magee for another 5 days. How dare you!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just had to comment before I have even read the post...I no sooner get through one post and low & behold, I can't believe when I go to the home page, ANOTHER post. I am a happy mamma this morning..

Waltersgram said...

Please save that tag, I love it! also love that you are getting gifts ever day, how special does that make you feel. With you Jess, that flower you mentioned and pictured is stunning, I hope it is on your suit, maybe not too late to mention to whom ever.Why do they say you are on your honeymoon? Oh right, everyday is a homeymoon for you guys...

*dalyn said...

those flowers are amazing... love how they continue to call you mrs.

alexandra said...

Hey guys when you go to order your bouts tell them you would like to see a sample of their work to make sure it isn't some huge gastly loud color that would reck all your pictures!!! Looks like it is a beautiful place.

Gucci Muse said...

Thanks for writing about the little peripherals of your trip-it was a great read and gives a different perspective on how I am envisioning your trip and personalizes it more.

Those flowers look so big, kind of like a take between a venus fly trap and water lily.