Cape Town has some of the most extreme weather I’ve ever experienced. In winter, the rain can be relentless and is often accompanied by wind that blows it sideways. But the wind doesn’t truly get cranked up until spring and summer, when the region’s infamous “Southeaster” can literally knock a man down. One day last month it blew steadily at 40mph and gusted to 50, blowing rooftops away and fanning a fire that destroyed a dozen homes in one township.
And the summer heat is oppressive. Yesterday it hit 102, with no breeze. If it’s this hot here on the coast, I can only imagine what it’s like on other parts of the continent. It makes me long for the sub-freezing temperatures that I just came from back home.
But regardless of how hot it gets, I won’t be wading into the local waters to cool off. Not after what happened on Tuesday, when a visitor from Zimbabwe was attacked by a great white shark off Fish Hoek Beach, a popular swimming spot for locals and tourists alike. That was two days ago and no sign of him has been found.
No comments:
Post a Comment