Tons to do at the Waterfront

Published Dec 17, 2014

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Cape Town - Can you feel that? It’s that unmistakable frisson of a city on holiday. There is much to be seen and done in the frenetic pursuit of fun. And one place that offers a lot is the V&A Waterfront.

A popular destination for locals, visitors and celebrities, and recent winner of the international award for “Best Destination for Responsible Tourism” at the World Travel Market in London, the Waterfront has something for everyone.

Heck, the other day I saw Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler wandering around enjoying a beautiful summer’s day with just two discreet bodyguards a few paces behind him, and a very young girl on his arm. He said hello to me and I said hello back. True story.

Besides the glorious tree covered in lights, extended shopping hours, choirs singing carols, Father Christmas, and gift wrapping for charity, activities you can enjoy this festive season and beyond include open air movies at the Galileo cinema on the lawn in front of the Rugby Museum, the Two Oceans Aquarium, free outdoor exercise, free music concerts every day, a spin on the Cape Wheel, boat and helicopter trips, and dozens of restaurants from fine dining to fast food. It’s a working harbour, so pleasure can be as simple as looking at a ship in the Robinson dry dock (the oldest operating one of its kind in the world), or watching tugboats help a repaired ship back out to sea just after its crew raced back on board after shore leave.

The world-renowned Lego art exhibit, The Art of The Brick, opened at the new Watershed Exhibition Centre, the first exhibition to take place in this space, and I can’t wait to see what adults do with Lego. Tickets from Computicket are R140 for adults and R95 for children, under-2s get in free. The exhibition runs until February 28. For more information go to www.theartofthebricksa.co.za.

While we’re on the topic of the Watershed, I visited it last week and managed to finish my Christmas shopping all in one place. Okay, so I only had two more people to buy for because I am that annoying person who does it early, but there are so many wonderful things in there. The whole space is so much lighter and brighter and better than the old shed. An interesting snippet of trivia is that it’s the only building at the Waterfront with a view of the dry dock.

The philosophy of this revamped addition is to celebrate African entrepreneurship with a huge variety of arts, crafts, jewellery, clothing, and more. Many of the stall holders can be seen creating their wares, from a man carving a Tin Tin statue to a woman spinning yarn. There was another bloke playing a tin can guitar through an amp (you would never have known it wasn’t a “real” guitar by the sound), but he didn’t want his photograph taken unless I paid him.

Things I loved were the teeny tiny creatures at Fay’s Miniature World (the detail in these thumbnail-sized animals is incredible), gorgeous cushions that look like sea anemone shells, and a life-size silver skull at Imagenius. When I sit on Santa’s lap to whisper in his ear, this is what I shall ask him for.

On the upstairs level is an extensive design display (we are still the design capital of the world for a little longer) and the new wellness hub which collects all the hey-shoo-wow esoteric magical stuff in one place. These include walk-in therapies from alternative, holistic healing treatments such as reiki and reflexology to massages, as well as lifestyle products like candles, incense, cosmetics, music, books, and healthy smoothies.

Holiday time goes hand in hand with over-indulging. To burn off some of the Christmas pudding, you can join the free outdoor fitness classes at the Waterfront. The programme runs until March or April next year, so no excuses.

Hosted by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, boot camp is on the croquet lawn every Tuesday from 5.30pm to 6.15pm, which is probably about as much as anyone can handle. Early risers can greet the day with yoga every Wednesday at 7am on the Pierhead Deck, hosted by Gururamdas Yoga Studio.

The Nike+ Run Club invites everyone to join its free running club every Wednesday at 5.30pm until 7pm. The route follows one of the V&A’s established 2.5km or 5km running routes. Meet outside the Nike store in Victoria Wharf (ground floor, opposite Centre Court).

l For more information on what’s happening at the V&A Waterfront this holiday season, and the full music and Galileo movie line-ups, go to www.waterfront.co.za.

Weekend Argus

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