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Bo Kaap

 

Bo Kaap


It is no wonder that the former edition of LP featured in its cover a picture of Bo Kaap, one of the imperative visits while in Cape Town, easily reached on foot from the centre of the town.
The word means "Upper Cape Town" in old Dutch:  Boven Kaapstad. But despite its totally Dutch name, this is the Muslim Cape Town. The place where slaves first started settling after their emancipation (1830). The initial inhabitants were Malay. Today, its mostly coloured population seriously practices Islam, as you will notice if you happen to be there around the hours of the madrasa lessons, when children in typical Muslim clothing leave or go to school.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Cape Town, one I visited more than once. The houses are painted in vivid colours, and if you get a background deep blue sky (late afternoon being the best time of the day) you can make splendid shots. Apart wandering in the few streets of Bo Kaap, there is nothing else to do, except perhaps visit the Bo Kaap museum (small but cosy). But a few roads lower the Honest artisan chocolate café is waiting to quench your thirst and raise this somewhat low sugar level of yours. Honestly delicious chocolates and coffee!