This is the hardest part.
Welcome home.
The nicest sort of accommodation in Cape Town is also, sadly, the most expensive. This is of course in direct opposition to what I consider to be a pleasant living experience. Cape Town is a hive, a buzzing nest of illegal immigrants, angry yuppies and contemptuous new-age, born-into-wealth teenagers. They come to central Cape Town to live, to live freely amongst the buildings and roaches and sewer water that overflows after a heavy night of rain. I have two month left of self-imposed torture. This is when my girlfriend and I will disappear into the suburbs, with no intention of ever coming back.
It’s fun to live in the city for a year or two. The convenience, the lack of traffic and the proximity to work is all a major plus. The heat, the prices, the lack of privacy and millions of other factors are all the minuses. Perhaps we reach a time in our lives when it no longer matters – the convenience that is. Maybe we all need a bit of that good old country living. I certainly do, and will do so as soon as I can find the perfect apartment.
This is of course another issue. The owners of these elusive suburban homes are a vicious bunch, choosing their treasured lessees by sifting through the mire with a fine-toothed comb. I have seen three apartments already, all of them perfect representations of Cape Town’s innate and hidden wonders. Kenilworth is one option, Newlands is another. As is any suburb that is not particularly far from the city itself. Traffic will be the new threat, my new daily demon which will require constant conquering.
My heart yearns for the perfect home, which in turn will become the perfect life. I will keep all of our fair readers updated. Only two more months of city living, I am so excited.
