It was another early start today as we wanted to reach the top of Table Mountain before the tourist rush. The mountain is always buzzing with visitors. Today, we joined the ranks of over 16 million people who have taken the aerial cableway to the top since it was built in 1929.  We are in good company: Queen Elizabeth II, Oprah Winfrey, Sting, and Jackie Chan have all made this journey.

Table Mountain can be seen from all over Cape Town. Nelson Mandela spoke of how he could see it from Robben Island where he was held prisoner. He said,“To us, on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon of hope.”

It was so chilly that we immediately ducked into the mountain top café for hot tea and coffee with the hope it would help us shake the cold. (None of us had prepared for the drastic temperature change - it was not nearly as cold at the base of the mountain.) Once we had thawed a bit, we made our way to the edge and took-in one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring views I have ever seen: the beautiful Cape Town coastline, punctuated by houses here and there, broken up by sweeping grasslands in between, and some isolated handfuls of Acacia trees sprinkled about.

However, when we crossed to the other side of the mountain top, we saw nothing but a dense, grey fog. This is known locally as ‘The Tablecloth’ and it surrounds the ever changing parts of Table Mountain throughout the day. It was like staring into a deep abyss.

With my head in the clouds,

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