Gifts

I have now been in Cape Town for just over a week and I am ever so appreciative of all that has been given to me already. There have been so many kind and wonderful people that have helped me out, given me food, rides, time, music, and kindness, all without obligation and without expectations.
In the first week I was here I met a young woman who, within an hour of meeting me, invited me to go to a cottage in the mountains with her and her friends for the weekend. It was a lovely trip, the mountains were beautiful, we made deliciously-entirely-vegetarian food, drank red wine from the Western Cape, and I made friends with strong, adventure-seeking, impassioned women.
This evening, the woman who I'm staying with invited me to the opening of an art exhibition at the Irma Stern Museum (named for the world's best-selling South African artist). The exhibit was of the illustrations of Fiona Moodie, an internationally renowned Children's book illustrator. I couldn't have imagined a better way to spend an evening. I was completely enchanted by her etchings, and wanted, quite literally, to dwell in her paintings, all night.
There have been countless instances of the gifts that people are willing to share with me here, and I am ever so grateful.