Recovery room with a view

There are many reasons to visit the Mother City. We have the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a whole host of incredible beaches, the Waterfront, Table Mountain, the Constantia wine route, a penguin colony, antique stores aplenty, colourful street performers, a laughably good exchange rate and the bulk of South Africa’s worthwhile restaurants and dining establishments (to name but a few). In light of all of this, it would seem strange that many people from around the globe come to Cape Town expressly to take advantage our medical establishments, doctors and rehabilitation facilities, yet they do.

Medical tourism is becoming a booming trade. Places like Panama, Brazil, Malaysia, Costa Rica and India have been tapping this particular vein for a number of years, and it seems South Africa is pretty keen to join the party. (For the uninitiated: the term ‘medical tourism’ relates to a branch of the travelling industry that allows foreigners to combine affordable plastic- or reconstructive surgery with pre- and post-operative forays around the country).

Not a big fan of gratuitous elective plastic surgery myself, I can still understand why foreigners name South Africa as a preferred medical tourism destination. Let’s tick the relevant points, shall we? We have:

1. A favourable exchange rate (my aunt and uncle from America recently had dental work done in Cape Town and their whole trip, including flights, transport, accommodation and the actual cost of the procedures came to around four times less than they would’ve paid for the same treatment in California).
2. High quality medical care facilities.
3. World renowned surgeons and physicians (remember the whole heart transplant thing?).
4. Incredibly scenic surrounding in which to recuperate.
5. Reputable establishments that facilitate medical tourism trips. This includes everything from flights to airport transfers, consultations with surgeons, the actual surgery, a recuperation period in the locale of your choice, as well as pre- and post-operative trips around sunny South Africa.

Basically what you’re looking at is First World health care at Third World prices. What’s not to love about that? Accommodation venues include the likes of five star Constantia and Camps Bay hotels, as well as the beautiful Arabella Sheraton. After your surgery, you can then decide whether you would like to go on a tour of the Winelands, enjoy a Big Five Safari tour or participate in a thorough exploration of the country’s most illustrious golf courses. South Africa is quite literally your oyster (especially if you happen to be around Knysna while to Oyster Festival is underway).

So, there you have it – one more reason to include Cape Town in your global itinerary.

home is where the vine is.

I very recently moved to the Mother City. Previously I was eking out a snug, cocoon-like existence in the vibrant student town of Stellenbosch at the very heart of the Winelands. Due to work related reasons I had to relocate and so began the search for suitable Cape Town accommodation.

I had a pretty good deal in Stellenbosch, my father owns a townhouse there and my sister and I were living very comfortably at nominal rent. I guess becoming independent is all part of growing up but it quite literally felt as if I was having the rug pulled out from under me. I asked around but it was an awkward time of the year and everyone I knew already had flatmates or were tied up in existing rent contracts. It seemed I would have to set out all on my lonesome.

Luckily we live in the digital age and there were quite a few websites advertising flatshare opportunities in the city. Of course, being a girl, I had a list of very pesky particulars. This is what I wanted:

1. A place within walking distance of my work (smaller carbon footprint, less petrol consumption, good for the bum)
2. A room of my own that gets morning sunlight
3. Access to a bathroom with both shower and bath facilities
4. SAFE PARKING (see previous post)
5. A garden and braai facilities
6. A clothesline (again the thing with the carbon footprint, tumble dryers chow electricity like you wouldn’t believe)

Quite the tall order, right?? Well, guess what? I got it – a lovely little place just off of Cape Town’s bustling Kloof Street. Tucked away on a large property Martine, my flatmate, and I now share 20 Upper Union Road. Light and airy, the whole space is just screaming to be decorated. I’ve started by refurnishing my (quite sizable) room in light wood with splashes of creamy white and cheerful red. I’ve never been one for minimalism and usually strive to make my space as cosy as possible. This doesn’t mean I condone knick-knacks though – form follows function and all that.

Which just goes to show, if you take the time to look around properly finding Cape Town accommodation to suit your individual needs is not all that difficult. The Mother City is teeming with little nooks and crannies that hide the most delightful abodes.