Cape Town- great beach city

[briker]

thanks mate. you're most welcome

[SYDNEY]

Fabulous sista You must have loved being back home - why are you so quiet of late ?

[Marsupalami]

Capr Town is without a doubt the best beach city in the Souther Hemisphere!! - better beaches than sydney, though admittedly colder water!

[anakngpasig]

Originally Posted by briker

capealive.co.za

looks like that mountain used to be a volcano? looks like a prehistoric caldera.

[briker]

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[nelly_the_elephant]

Originally Posted by Diggerdog

Rio and Cape Town are similar in the mountainous topography - they have an extra dimension in that they are both beach cities with lots of coves and different beach styles, but also the mountains right in the city, which creates micro-climates, wind shelter and stupendous views.
San Sebastian is the little brother in this league, more a town than a city, but equally beautiful.

Very true regarding San Sebastian! One of the best restaurant scenes in the world as well.

You forgot 1 city in your list: Vancouver. Its mountains are less iconic than table mountain or the ones surrounding Rio but it is a marvellous place nevertheless.

[Diggerdog]

World Design Capital is a Massive achievement, pipping Bibao and Dublin from the shortlist!

Only Torino, Helsinki and Seoul have won the title before, so Cape Town is in excellent company.
Very proud of the Cape Town Partnership and all the driven people pushing Cape Town to be its best!


http://www.worlddesigncapital.com/wo...tal-cape-town/

[briker]

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[Diggerdog]

And tripadvisor named number 1 travel website - they in turn named Cape Town the worlds best city!
These accolades are starting to pile up!

[briker]

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[Diggerdog]

She is a beauty alright, especially for her age!



Photo courtesy tablemountain.net by Dee Chetty

[Linguine]

Great updates....

[balthazar]

Originally Posted by briker

Officially the most iconic mountain in the world.

]

fantastic!

[briker]

Cape Town in top 10 list of world's hip cities

Hot on the heels of last weekend's announcement that Table Mountain is one of the New7wonders of Nature, Cape Town is making headlines in New York, featuring on the New York Times' Top 10 list of Hip Cities That Think About How They Work.

The list, compiled from a survey conducted by the newspaper, reflects cities of the world which aim to be smart and well-managed, while still maintaining the hip vibe required to attract the young and ambitious.

Cape Town is the only African city featured on the list, released on Thursday, joining Auckland ( New Zealand), Berlin (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Copenhagen (Denmark), Curitiba (Brazil), Montreal (Canada), Santiago (Chile), Shanghai (China) and Vilnius (Lithuania).

Welcoming the news yesterday, Western Cape Economic Development and Tourism MEC Alan Winde said it was great to see Cape Town in the company of cities like Barcelona and Santiago.

"These cities are on so many people's bucket lists, and to see Cape Town on this list is fantastic."

Other than seeing Table Mountain named a new natural wonder, Cape Town was also this year named World Design Capital 2014.

"We really seem to be on a fantastic roll," said Winde, which started with "a fantastic World Cup" last year.

"All the accolades we received this year have just been unreal."

In light of the city's recent successes, there had also been talks among city officials of a rebranding initiative.

Winde said: "We will now be looking to rebrand the city as not only a great place to visit, but also a great place to do business.

"That is why we are making plans to double the size of the Cape Town International Convention Centre so that we can cope with new business opportunities."

Cape Argus

[Diggerdog]

It's official: Cape Town makes world's top-10 hip cities
PHILANI NOMBEMBE | 20 November, 2011 23:55


Table mountain. File photo.
Image by: Reuben Goldberg

Cape Town has added another accolade to its list - it's now acknowledged as one of the world's top-10 hip cities.
Save & Share EmailPrint Cape Town clinched the 2014 World Design Capital accolade last monthand made The New York Times's list of hip cities this week.

Grant Pascoe, the member of the city's mayoral committee responsible for tourism, said: "These accolades are nice to have but we must turn them into something for the ordinary citizen of Cape Town. You cannot eat an accolade but I'm hoping this will assist us in attracting more investment to the city."

Among the cities listed as "Hip Cities That Think About How They Work" are Auckland, Barcelona and Copenhagen.

"The survey is not based solely on quality of life, number of trees or the cost of a month's rent. Instead, we examine some cities that aim to be both smart and well managed, yet have an undeniably hip vibe," said the survey compilers.

It notes that, as one of Africa's tourism destinations, Cape Town attracts "many residents from around the globe" and that, in trying to overcome inequality created by apartheid, the city is planning a more inclusive local government and development structure for its 3.4million people.

Despite poverty and crime, overall quality of life indicators rank the city as one of the best on the continent, the survey found.

"Four major universities and many research institutes make Cape Town one of the continent's bustling research centres . and the 2010 World Cup was a boon for infrastructure" development.
Libraries and civic centres have computers and free internet access, according to the survey.

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[Diggerdog]

Came across this article, from an American point of view. Cape Town makes the top 10 again.
One of the reasons this is so encouraging is the range of awards and big-ups the city is getting, over a number of years, from all quarters - gives us real impetus to improve further and shine.

The 10 Friendliest Expat Cities

Lifestyles, Culture & Inspiration, lisette, Volunteer, Study & Work Abroad | connaroo | April 11, 2011 at 8:28 am
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Photo by: Little Sureshot




Back in the day, anyone who left home in search of the good life was called an immigrant. Today, there’s a much hipper label for the modern migrant—expatriate, or expat. Unlike people who immigrate because of poverty, political instability, or poor working conditions, expats usually come from wealthier countries and often plan to return or keep their native citizenship. Expats can be anyone; from broke-ass young travelers who never bothered with a return ticket to white middle-aged business dudes looking for someone to love them long time. If you’re planning to get out of dodge for a few years—or forever—try one of these, OTP-approved, cities to show your expatriotism.


Photo by: magdulec
The third-largest city in Ecuador, Cuenca is a thriving metropolis with a small-town feel. A combination of colonial beauty and friendly non-Gringo-hating locals make it a top pick if you’re looking for a laid-back place to settle down. The fact that Ecuador is ridiculously cheap and the weather is perfect year-round is just a bonus. Located by the Andes and the Amazon Basin for all your outdoorsy needs, trade in your gym membership for something a little more tropical.

In spite of its harsh anti-littering policy and unforgiving drug laws (no poppy seed bagels in sight), the city-state of Singapore is ideal for foreigners hungry for a slice of Asian life. Unlike Bangkok or Manila, Singapore is incredibly efficient with an insanely low crime rate—but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. With endless blocks of restaurants, clubs, bars, and shops, this sunny English-speaking port town is a cosmopolitan junkie’s playground. With a huge population of expats, you won’t have a hard time making friends. Use those tax incentives to take your new buddies for a drink.

If Singapore is too spotless, try Saigon. Like Singapore, there’s everything from late-night dance parties to Tai Chi in the park, but with enough grit to keep it real. Its vast network of 24/7 food vendors and cheap-ass bars guarantee you’ll never go hungry or thirsty again. When you’re ready to get local, buy a motorbike for practically pennies and learn to navigate your way through the hot mess that is city traffic. And now, thanks to the new citizenship law, becoming a Vietnamese national is as easy as learning the language, marrying a local or staying put for 5 years.

Way less expensive and cliché, Panama is taking over Costa Rica as the expat capital of Central America. Panama City is a cheaper, less pretentious version of Miami, and there’s a little something for everyone; from swank nightclubs and trendy lounges to opportunities for trekking and zip-lining across rainforests. Europeans, Americans and Asians have all discovered the secret and set up shop. For you, this means the city is filled with food options in case you have a hard time leaving your American zest for variety behind. Panama also offers some sweet tax breaks for expats.

Previously overlooked in lieu of more glamorous European cities like Barcelona or Vienna, Vilnius is emerging as an expat hotspot. There’s something enchanting about this quirky Lithuanian capital. Decked out in Gothic-Baroque charm and home to the world’s only statue of Frank Zappa, artists and bohemians love Vilnius for its cheap cost of living and carefree attitude.

Despite claims by travel sites and blogs that Rio is too dangerous for tourists, the city remains a top pick for expats. Perhaps it has something to do with their gorgeous beaches, nonstop parties, sexy locals, and a huge, close-knit population of other expats. This modern city, in a developing country, is one of the more foreigner-friendly places in Brazil. If living within city limits is too pricey or rowdy, there are plenty of cheaper options in the suburbs of Rio where you can still spend your days tanning on the beach and your nights partying with Brazilians.

Cocaine wars and FARC-related shootings are so 1990s. The new Medellin is surprisingly safe and welcoming to visitors. With perfect year-round temperatures, lush mountain ranges, and several area universities, Medellin has recently attracted a growing number of expats. This means plenty of student-priced apartments are always available for rent. The nightlife might not be as crazy as it is in Bogota, but the number of fake boobs per capita is still pretty favorable.





Photo by: EBoechat
Surrounded by stunning beaches and situated right under Table Mountain, this seaside city’s prime location is enough to make anyone move there. Throw in a perfect climate, thriving cultural scene, and an eco-friendly attitude, and you’ve got expat central. With all the outdoorsy, adventurous things to do, you’ll be looking fit and rugged in no time. If you’re more of a drinker than a hiker, there are plenty of vineyards in the area to indulge your boozy self.




Uruguay is one of South America’s best-kept secrets, and the small population of expats who live there hope to keep it that way. Frequently overshadowed by rambunctious Buenos Aires, Montevideo is like the like the girl next door—fun, attractive and totally accessible. Montevideo locals are super friendly, and from historic Ciudad Vieja to trendy beach-situated Punta Carretas, there’s more to it than you might think.


Photo by: Jose Téllez

Maybe it isn’t as cheap or friendly as Montevideo, but there’s something damn seductive about Buenos Aires . Still pretty affordable, Buenos Aires is perfect for expats in search of a long-term cosmopolitan getaway. Definitely not the girl next door, this city is more likely to go down on you every night while force-feeding you bottles of wine and seducing you into calling her to do it again the next day. Just know that once you start a love affair with Buenos Aires, you’ll be asking your home country for a divorce in no time.

With 7 continents and over 200 countries to choose from, there’s no reason to stay put in your country of origin just because it’s marked on the front of your passport. The economy sucks right now anyway; there’s no better time to pack your bags and head to where your money means more. You just might find that the good life costs a lot less than it does back home.