South Africa Trip - Day 2: Stellenbosch tour of wine country (6/5/10)

The gorgeous mountains of the stellenbosch area. Glad it is a pretty day.

View from the highway of the stellenbosch area.

After getting ready for the day, we got to the train station and headed out to Stellenbosch; 

Me trying to figure out the train system on our way out of Cape Town towards Stellenbosch. Nice trains with graffiti but we were one of a few people on this train.

we picked a great day as it was sunny and clear as opposed to yesterday which was overcast and drizzly. Got to see the top of table mountain which looks nice and would be great to get to the top of it (though we would not get to on this trip).  The train ride was pretty cool as we saw people's farms that had zebras and other livestock on them; used to seeing people having just normal horses and cows on their farms back in the states. We get to the SB train station and some people Jim was put in touch with (Lianel and Chanel) picked us up from the train station and take us to the wine country after we all pile into the one car. 

Our group cheersing to the start of what would be a fantastic day meeting new friends and enjoying the fabulous countryside.

Our group including our amazing hostesses for the day. Dont know if we would have enjoyed ourselves as much without their wonderful hospitality.

View from the balcony of the second winery we went to. Had a nice reflection pool and beautiful surroundings (though all the places had the scenery)
It just so happened that this weekend was the annual SB wine festival, which made this trip even more awesome as the atmosphere was much more crazy than just visiting a vineyard. On the drive to get to the wine festival area, the highway had baboons on them, just chilling on the medians and on the sides of the roads.

A baboon on the side of the road just chilling. We are not in Kansas anymore. 

The wine region was beautiful, the mountains and vegetation reminded me somewhat of Philmont from my boy scout days. 

One could get used to views like this. 

We went to a few different wineries, tried some of their wines while socializing with other wine-philes and having some grub.

This was one of the attractions at one of the wineries. Those are people in giant plastic balls running on water. It was pretty awesome.

Us getting some grub. Well me stuffing my face and Sean posing for the camera. 

Wispy clouds before the sunset while standing at the final winery of the day. I was loving being outside on such a glorious day.

Clearly someone caught me enjoying the skyline a little too intently. Behind me is the crowd of the festival at this winery; clearly we werent the only one enjoying the spectacular event. 

Sean and I posing for a pic in the tent outside. 

 Was a fantastic time. After things started winding down, Lianel drove us back to Cape town where we got some more food and had some beers before calling it a night.