The Germans are coming.
It was only after I let slip that my morning at the visa section of the American Consulate in Cape Town was like being in a concentration camp that I realised how insensitive I'd been - not just to the memory of those who had perished there but also to the three Germans with whom I was sharing an ice cream.
The truth is, I felt herded and guilty of a sabotage I hadn’t been contemplating. I was barked at and treated rather less than gently. It was not so much that I minded having the contents of my bag unpacked, my snotty handkerchief displayed on the counter for everyone to see, and my wallet searched -- it was the anonymity of it. While being cavity-searched by a Marine had crossed my mind before, having a well-built lass tugging at my belt and ankles was a first.
I think the impatient demeanour by some of the staff is a psychological tactic to remind me (and many others) that America means business and if I put a toe out of line, my shoes will join the pile of those slain in war crimes.
Anyway, back to the ice cream… First I tasted Cool Ice Cream Cafe's (021-418-8204)'s Rum and Raisin (which I really enjoyed and was amazed to hear it was made with milk and not cream). The lemon sorbet was excellent but the cappuccino made with cream was the most fabulous. I had arranged to meet journalist Wolfgang Drechsler and he suggested meeting at Cool, the new ice cream parlour where the Dros used to be in Kloof Street . I now know where the term press ganged originates - what I assumed would be an innocent coffee with colleagues turned out to be a PR platform for me to hear about their new ice cream. As a PR hack myself, I congratulate Wolfgang on his achievement and the very nice ice cream owners on their new venture. Worth mentioning here is that they bought their equipment on e-Bay.
I have succumbed to the boredom of my Nissan Almiera and sold it to buy a spanking cute Mini Cooper in Indigo Blue with zooty racing stripes. I collected it today, together with my American visa and a ticket to New York via London for September. Ryan Rheeder at Auto Atlantic, the BMW/Mini agents at the Waterfront, was excellent and the buying process efficient and painless. The faith lost in estate agents has been restored in second hand car salesmen. Ryan mentioned that the quintessentially English marque is now produced in Germany .
I saw Michael Fridjhon in the visa queue yesterday (I spotted him having breakfast at the take out in the Monte Carlo centre on the Foreshore, which is where I headed after my interview yesterday for a fabulous anchovy toast. (It tasted as if the bread had first been fried)
When I collected my visa today I was joined in the queue by Audrey de Angelo, a veteran journalist and travel doyenne, and Francois Williams of Die Burger. On Thursday night I dined at Catharina's restaurant at Steenberg. Gaby Gramm, the German GM of Steenberg, and Richard Johnson, the Scottish GM of The Saxon, prepared an AbFab dinner. I had the privilege of having executive chef Garth Almazan on my left and Les Aupias, who I think is even more divine than before, on my right. Sandy Bailey, the hotel's PR, was the table’s host. It's good to know these hoteliers can cook too!
Just before uploading this Blog I visited www.Gawker.com and watched a Vlog (a video log) made with a new wireless connection on SAS Airlines. It makes interesting viewing and is relevant because now being out of touch on an airplane is a thing of the past.
http://calacanis.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000440046132/
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