| It was during a business trip that I stayed at the | | | | an offspring of Dutch. |
| Villa Grande, a stunning 1920's style villa in the | | | | After a typical hearty Irish meal, we stayed on |
| heart of Stellenbosch. A three day trip that | | | | longer then we should've, but when you are in the |
| turned into a five day mini-break. | | | | moment, enjoying the company, the atmosphere |
| My Stellenbosch accommodation… | | | | relaxing and a Kilkenny in hand, you tend to |
| While I was away during most of the day at | | | | forget that tomorrow might be a long day ahead. |
| business meetings and conferences, it was at | | | | It was only after Katy saw the time that we |
| night that I found that I could relax completely. | | | | realized that calling it a night was our only option. |
| There was something about the Villa Grande that | | | | We finished our drinks, said goodbye to Paddy our |
| gives you the feeling of absolute tranquillity. | | | | barman, who was most definitely one of the |
| Something that doesn't often happen on my | | | | most interesting characters I've met in ages, and |
| business trips. | | | | headed back to the Villa. |
| During my second night at the Villa Grande I was | | | | The winelands… |
| sitting in the lounge area enjoying my whisky | | | | I woke up Saturday morning feeling a little fragile, |
| when a group of about five Dutch tourists came | | | | but generally excited for what lay ahead. The |
| in. They settled on the chairs next to me | | | | breakfast was shared by the same state I woke |
| discussing their days outing. Somehow along the | | | | up in, but overall everybody was quite cheerful. |
| way, I ended up in their company, talking mostly | | | | Stefani organized a seat for me on the tour bus |
| about Stellenbosch, its views and then of course | | | | that was going to be chauffeuring us to the |
| the winelands. They were scheduled for a | | | | different wine estates. One of the highlights for |
| historical tour the following day, after which they | | | | me was Kanonkop wine estate. It was absolutely |
| were going for wine tasting the day after that. | | | | stunning and the history behind the name is quite |
| By the end of the night I was not only invited to | | | | intriguing. It was a way of means for the farmers |
| the wine tasting on the Saturday, but to join | | | | in the district to know in the time of the Dutch |
| them for the whole weekend. | | | | settlers that a ship has just docked and that the |
| Two more please… | | | | farmers needed to take their products to the |
| At first I felt like I was imposing on their trip, but | | | | harbour for trade. They would fire a cannon at |
| then thought better of it. With my business | | | | the Cape harbour, which would then be followed |
| travels I rarely get the chance to meet new | | | | by a string of cannons that would be fired all the |
| people I could enjoy a decent conversation with, | | | | way to Kanonkop, about fifty kilometres away |
| sharing the same sense of humour. So I arranged | | | | from the harbour, if not more. |
| with the owner Niel for another two nights at the | | | | By lunch time we had worked our way to the |
| guest house. His hospitality and overall attitude | | | | Kleine Zalze where we had a late lunch at the |
| was as before, extremely gracious. | | | | award-winning Terroir restaurant. We were all |
| By Friday afternoon I couldn't wait for the last | | | | starving, and I think we were a bit worried |
| meeting to finish so that I could return to the | | | | because Stefani was quite pale, and after an |
| guest house and join my company of tourists. | | | | absolutely scrumptious meal, we all felt that it had |
| When I walked into the lounge, they were already | | | | to be called a day. So we headed back to the Villa |
| sitting around comfortably. I joined them for | | | | Grande. |
| dinner at one of the local restaurants in | | | | To say I was knackered by the time we got |
| Stellenbosch. | | | | back to the Villa Grande would be an |
| The Brazen Head | | | | understatement. But it was a good feeling, the |
| During the day someone at the last meeting told | | | | kind where you feel content with life. I bid my |
| me about this restaurant called The Brazen Head, | | | | companions a temporary goodbye to enjoy a |
| and Irish restaurant and pub. Well, it wasn't difficult | | | | quick nap. |
| convincing my new company that maybe we | | | | The rest of the night and following day we spent |
| should give it a try. | | | | mostly at the Villa. By the end of Sunday I had |
| Jan, like me, enjoyed the pub vibe. It had a | | | | promised my new friends that I would visit them |
| genuine Irish feel to it. We all ordered a round of | | | | in Rotterdam, thanked them and Niel at the Villa, |
| Guinness and Kilkenny as we cheered to the | | | | for an absolutely amazing time and was on my |
| weekend ahead. The language wasn't really a | | | | way back home. |
| problem since I spoke Afrikaans, which is after all | | | | |