Cape Town, My City.

Even before I touched down on Cape Town soil, I knew about Long Street, or had heard about it rather. I remember sitting in the bus and wondering if it’s really true that Long Street has just clubs, pubs and cafes. People told me that you walk out of a club straight into another club’s line and when you walk home, there is always some club that is going to reel you in just down the road from where you’d “called it a night”. I remember this one guy who told me that if you’d make everyone in the street disappear and only leave the bouncers – the street would still be jam packed!

So as you can imagine, I was pretty eager to pay this Long Street a visit. It took me all of 1 hour to track down Long Street. But the funniest bit about it is I didn’t even ask for directions; I walked straight into it without even realizing I was there. It was only when I walked past Long Street Café that I realized…I’m in Long Street! I froze for a second; looked around to see if maybe I was seeing things…I wasn’t! There it read on the corner – Long Street Corner Shop…I was really in Long Street (and I was really not going home as I was a minute ago)

Now I knew I was in Long Street. What was I to do next? Were there even that many spots around here?
Then I noticed; the people are just sitting outside sipping cocktails and chit-chatting about whatever – where am I – paradise?!?

I looked around and noticed: six Bars, two Irish pubs, a random eatery, a bistro, and miraculously a book shop. The thing that amused me the most about what I was saying was that I was not walking when I was seeing these places – I just did a 360 degree spin on one spot – I really was in paradise! Imagine; if I saw all those bars standing on one spot…what would I see if I walked 50 meters down the street?

Well, I have been in Cape Town for four years now. But one thing that amazes me about Long Street is that I always find myself walking past a bar or burger place that I’ve never seen before. What’s bizarre about this is that most of the places that were there when I first stumbled upon Long are still there; where do these new spots pop out from? Is Long Street getting longer or something? I don’t know. Maybe I’m seeing things – that happens in paradise.

I’m all for Cape Town tours. But if you want Cape Town to explore you, go to Long Street. Anything can happen in Long Street – don’t come prepared. Another thing, make sure you’re not in a rush to get somewhere. The truth about Long Street is once you enter there is no getting out. You could successfully elude a few clubs…and as you think you’re free – you succumb to the sweet sounds of Lebanese music which hypnotizes you into buying a boereworsroll [sausage and roll the South African way]. And if you’ve ever had a boerie, you’ll not only know that it leaves you wanting one more drink for the road, but you’ll also know that there is ‘one more’ in Long Street – grab a seat and relax.

If you haven’t understood what I’ve been trying to say I will spell it out to you:
L O N G S T R E E T I S L I K E T H E M A T R I X – Y O U C A N ‘ T G E T O U T !

-Mokhalaka Kakud-