Coming back to Cape Town (during lockdown)

After I spent the fall in Mexico, I went home to spend Christmas with my family (after my 2-week quarantine/tswift yoga retreat of course), and after that, it was time to get back out into the world and continue pursuing my life/career/dreams.

I feel like I talk about this all the time and don’t need to justify it, but in case anyone’s wondering, the reason I am “travelling” (aka living my life) during a pandemic is because:

my mental health struggles in a Canadian winter on a good year, let alone a pandemic year (which is a big reason why I moved out of my home to become a digital nomad in the first place). I don’t have my own home there anymore and quarantining there for March-September was taking a TOLL on the ol’ wellbeing. For me, travel is the lifestyle I have chosen and created for myself, it is not a vacation.
The countries I am visiting have their borders open to tourists for a reason: they want and need us to come.
I am doing my best to abide by restrictions and be as safe as possible. COVID is everywhere and just as I could get it by going into a grocery store at home, I can get it here, but I’m not gonna live under a rock for 2-3 years while it lingers around.
My livelihood actually does depend on travel. My income comes from travel writing, and my business Adventurelust, and the opportunities that have come from this since being back out in the world are invaluable.

That’s the gist of it, you can also read my article on World Footprints, Balancing Safety and Sanity as a Nomadic Soul During The Pandemic.

So anyone who has known me for approx 30 seconds know that my soul is in Cape Town, and all year I couldn’t wait to come back here. When I left in March 2020 it was the day before South Africa went into Level 5 lockdown, where they stayed for a few months with no alcohol sales, only essential businesses, basically being confined to their homes. Lockdown is not over in South Africa but this is where I am my happiest self, it’s the place I always wish I was when I’m not there, it’s where I live my best, most inspired, most productive life. So when Cyril opened borders, I knew I had to get back here!

After a couple weeks of yelling at FlightHub and Air Canada after they tried to switch my layover to 29 hours in Heathrow (the epicentre of this “new strain” — along with South Africa, where I was going, of course), I got a new flight, and on December 28 I was on my 27-hour journey back to my spirit city!! YAAAYYY!!

Being back in Cape Town, even for the 4th time over the last 3 years, still brings me butterflies. There is no denying that this city is stunning. I still wake up happy and excited for what the day will bring every morning here. I still cry a lil when the clouds are being all magical and cascading at the top of Table Mountain. I’m still doing epic adventures and keeping busy with something new every day, seeing lots of different people, making lots of exciting plans. I keep just pinching myself that I’m here.

(side note: here are a few other Cape Town-related blog posts that I’ve written for anyone interested:

But of course, it’s not like normal times, and actually on flight over, South Africa announced it was going back into Level 3 lockdown. In a nutshell, this meant no alcohol sales (no glass of wine or bubbly at my fave bars), 9pm-6am curfew (no sunrise hikes, and stress to get home after sunset) and beaches are closed (no beach bummin’ at my faves Llandudno or Clifton). It’s a pretty big buzzkill, but there are improvisations to be made, and there is still nowhere I’d rather be.

Here are some of my favourite things I still get to do in Cape Town, even during lockdown:

Hike Lion’s Head, which I’ve done like 6 times since arriving, and it is still a life-changing experience. I love that when I go with new people they are so blown away and wanna cry (or actually do cry), this hike is so special to me and I absolutely love sharing it with people. I honestly wish everyone could experience the kind of magic that happens on that mountain. We did an Adventurelust meet-up hike for sunrise and it was so fun, we had so many laughs, and it made me soo excited for future meetups. Curfew got moved to end at 5 so we can do sunrise hikes now and those have been amazing obv. Lovin it <3

Go to my fave cafes and work during the day (which I need to do more of but BEEN BUSY — Bootlegger is my go-to, I also love Jason Bakery, Scheckter’s Raw, Clarke’s Diner, etc. Cocoa Oola was my fave but is now closed which is sad :(

Smoothies/yummy health food at nü

Mangos/little salad meals from Woolies

Running along the promenade to Sea Point pools

Hostel shenanigans — things are a bit more tame at Atlantic Point Backpackers this time around cause of the alcohol ban, but we have been having a ton of fun, having parties of our own and jam seshes with the hostel guitar on the lawn every night, stargazing, etc :) We’re all trapped in there from 9pm on and I’d say we have been making the most of it! There’s such an eclectic and unique group of characters there, but that’s what hostel/travel life is all about!

Getaways — a group of us likeminded souls from Atlantic Point went on the most incredible getaway to the mountains at McGregor, where we stayed in Onverwacht Cottages and hiked the Boesmanskloof Trail to that waterfall. It was absolute magic and you can read more about it in this blog post.

I also did a self-care getaway by myself to Simon’s Town, where I stayed in two amazing Airbnbs with ocean views. I needed to clear my head, get out of the hostel, a bunch of stuff was happening in the world and my personal life and I needed to get out and breathe. I also wanted to set my intentions for 2021, which I did and you can read about here: Don’t forget to manifest. It absolutely did the trick and I got so much perspective, and it’s soso amazing that you can go 45 minutes outside of Cape Town city centre to a peaceful escape like this.

Wineries — even with the liquor ban, I have made a few trips out to the wine lands! A beautiful lunch at La Petite Ferme and exploring Franschoek one day, and Chynna and I went to Stellenbosch and explored Babylonstoren (it was soso hot), had an UNREAL lunch with matching unreal views at Delair Graff, and went to the Giraffe House (would not recommend). We also stopped at Lord’s Wine after our McGregor getaway which was so peaceful and had a beautiful view. The wine lands are stunning in South Africa so it’s worth it to go even without the wine (but like obviously the wine would be an improvement).

Shopping — ya been doing WAAAYYY too much of this. Cotton On is killing my budge but it is soooo cute. I’ve also got a “KAAPSTAD” sweatshirt from Afrika Joe that I am LIVING in, a fun safari hat from Cape Union Mart, necklace and purse from Spirit, you know, all the necessities.

Markets — I’ve just been to Oranjezicht so far (and it’s slightly crowded for COVID times), but the Biscuit Mill is also open!

Catching sunsets — gotta book it home shortly after because of curfew and this can get a bit stressful with Ubers, but in Cape Town, you gotta catch sunset whenever you can. It is a daily phenomenon here and you never know what you’re gonna get. The sky exploded into a fireball when we pulled up to the tidal pool at Camps Bay and we were all just rejoicing to the heavens. Had a couple of magical Lion’s Head sunsets where the clouds were overflowing over Table and the 12 Apostles. Chynna and I went to The Rock, which was my first time there, it was quite crowded and hectic tbh but the view is so so stunning. Also a couple of Signal Hill missions, which is a go-to sunset spot in Cape Town.

Going to my fave restaurants — While I can’t enjoy a glass of wine or bubbly, I can still eat at my fave spots! I’ve gotten my burger at Camps Bay, had a yummy poke bowl at Silo Rooftop, dined at Radisson Red rooftop, and gone for a lovely lunch at The Lawns to catch up with Tammy.

It’s been amazing and interesting to catch up with old friends and meet new ones while I’m here, as you know the South African people are so friendly and welcoming and I always feel like I’m at home here.

Hokay so that’s the update from my first few weeks at Cape Town — time has flown but it has also stood still (my hashtag for the trip is #insoulmotion, after all)… and I am actually writing this while on a plane to FREAKING NAMIBIA so thought it was a good time for a status update. I always like writing on planes. Don’t forget you can subscribe to my blog at the bottom of this page if you’d like to get my new posts sent straight to your inbox.

Thanks for reading friends!!! <3