Wine, wine, wine

This valley reminds me so much of Napa Valley, California that I have to keep telling myself that we are in South Africa. The mountains are in the background.  The foreground is filled with grapevines, fruit trees, tidy wineries, trees, and beautiful scenery everywhere.  Took the bus to downtown Stellenbosch which is very picturesque complete with buildings on the historic register which are white washed and originally built by the Dutch with some thatching on the roof.  We visited some art galleries.  Justin sold me a oil on canvas painting of women in native dress.  Would rather have had some of his 6 or 7 foot tall carved wooden giraffes.  Got back on the bus to continue our drive.  Stopped by the prison where Nelson Mandela spent his last two years of emprisonment.  There was statue of Mandela mounted on a black marble pedestal surrounded by large rocks (adults) and small rocks (children).  Later Chuck had an interesting conversation with our bus driver who is a colored (SA term for mixed race) man.  He is a very gregarious chap and an excellent bus driver.  He told Chuck that before 1994 (the year SA became a democracy) he could never have had a good job like driving a bus.  Continued up the valley to Franshchock where the French winemakers originally settled into this area.  Forgot to tell you that it is harvest time here and we were seeing wagon loads of grapes pulled by tractors. Stopped for a little shopping.  Gertrude sold me an animal print that her husband had made.  On to Dieu Donne Wine Estate where we tasted four wines.  We particularly liked the Rose'.  Lunch next door at the Roca Restaurant.  Our guide said it would be the best meal of the trip and he wasn't kidding.  Chuck had a venison salad (thin slices of rare venison with vegetables) and I had a tomato salad.  I had ostrich over vegetables for my main course and he had fettucine with mushrooms.  Of course, we had delicious bread and plenty of butter.  The meal ended with creme brulee'.  I went back to buy a bottle of the Rose'.  The lady looked horrified.  She said they were all out and then found the LAST bottle.  They had filled a 480 bottle order for a German customer and underestimated how much they needed.to keep.  Back to the bus for the snooze --I mean 'ride' home.