Thursday, June 19, 2008

Reconnecting - Part 5

If you're looking for the Slow Cooking Thursday post, it's just below!



So it's a brilliant calm morning at the beach and we have the full day ahead of us, so we got in the car and drove the short distance to Durban. We had lunch and then explored the Ushaka Marine World.....little did I know that later in the day I would become part of the Seal Show.

At the entrance to Ushaka....Curt, me, Nicholas, Dylan, Taryn-Lee, Nela, Jasmine and my dad Dario


A view of the ship which they have turned into an aquarium and restaurant.

Now you may be wondering what the story is behind the Phantom Ship and so far what we've been able to learn is this:

Even stranger is the legend of the Phantom ship first sighted at the turn of the last century sailing into Durban harbour from a southerly direction. Ship’s stevedores noticed it at dusk rounding Durban’s Bluff headland with just one blue-green light swinging at the fore. They waited for the vessel - described as a stem ship with a black and scarlet funnel and two masts - to enter the harbour, but it never did.

Several weeks later it appeared again in the same area, but this time even closer to shore, moving slowly like a stealthy shadow again. It appeared to have no name, answered no signals and flew no flags.

Of course sea folk being notoriously superstitious, all kinds of notions were proffered. It was a pirate ship skulking in the dark waiting for its prey, said some. It was lost said others. Some suggested it was on some secret mission. But with no real answers it wasn’t long before the mystery ship was known simply as that darned phantom.

And there the legend may have remained, part myth, part reality, if it had not been for man’s insatiable curiosity which resulted in it being wrecked upon our shores.


The ship

Having lunch at the Cape Town Fish Market....I loved the restaurant setting, it was great and it overlooked the ocean

Love this photo of me and my dad :)


We all had the Calamari Meal which included this little potjie of muscles in a cream sauce. They were VERY good, but we all later felt a little sick. That's the thing with seafood, you have to be so careful as to not get food poisoning...it may be possible that it was just a coincidence, but I'm just saying.

Regardless of, the restaurant was pretty expensive and the food was ok, I wouldn't go back anytime soon just for the price alone.

Just looking at it now is making me hungry though LOL I could totally go for a meal like that today....

The inside bathroom area of the ship was maintained the same way

I would hate to have to go potty in this place, I can't even handle the normal public bathrooms with the doors that leave that huge space on the sides so that everyone can see you. *hahaha*

Have you EVER seen a Cod Fish as big as this one??? I mean, good grief, look at it in comparison to Nicholas.



Nicholas didn't quite know what to make of this LOL I for one thought it was hilarious especially when right after I snapped this pic he came running to me and said "mommy, don't put it on your blog" LOL

I LOVE dolphins, so watching the show was one of the best experiences for me





Here is a video of the dolphin show and there will be more coming tomorrow!

10 comments:

Jen said...

Love your time with family. I really enjoy the way you are showing us day by day....

Michelle said...

that looks like a neat aquarium to visit - can't wait to see how you were part of the seal show!

Susanne said...

oh, Nicholas made me laugh with that comment. I thought it was a great pic.

That looks like quite the restaurant. It's too bad about the prices and ok food. I hate it when that happens.

Kelli said...

Welcome back, Sandra! My family has been visiting for the past 1 1/2 weeks and I'm just getting around to see what I missed in blogland. :0) I love all the vacation pictures you shared and am so glad you had a fun time!
~Kelli

Michelle said...

What a great day trip that must have been..loved seeing the kids getting splashed (Jasmine & Nicholas I've been splashed and the water is freezing cold and salty.. isn't it..) Great pictures..

Mari said...

I can't believe all the fun things you did. The ship looks like it was awesome and I love Nicholas' comment!

Cheri said...

That does look like a cool place to visit. I can't wait to see your part in the show!

someone else said...

Welcome home, Sandra!! I'm just now getting over to read all your trip posts and I have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I'm so glad you had such a great time. The happiness just spills out of all these pictures.

Welcome home!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a bathroom!
I loved the pic of you with your dad too!

Lavinia said...

Sorry you all felt sick after that seafood.....that bathroom looks really spooky and gloomy...

I enjoyed the 'phantom ship' story, I like stories like that, having to do with ships and the sea...