Author: Anita Martinez Beijer

Cape Town VII –Cool & colourful Bo Kaap

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My final week I moved to Bo Kaap that has it’s own flavour and feel. It’s known for it’s brightly coloured houses situated at the foot of Signal Hill. Many of the residents are descendants of slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia and other African country that were imported to the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch during the 16th and 17th centuries. The slaves were known as Cape Malays, and Bo Kaap is known as The Cape Malay Quarter. It’s the home of the Cape’s Muslim community and have several mosques here. First I stayed with fashion designer Olivia with her own brand Lalesso and her husband Wesley, a confirmed surfer, production manager for photo shoots and film production, and now co-owner of the new barista company Frothing. They have a lovely house in Bo Kaap and I spent a coupe of days in their home, with them and their Rhodesian Ridgeback Chesa. Olivia is from Kenya and Wes is from Cape Town. Here is Wes with his barista truck stationed at the corner of Buitensingle and …

Cape Town VI –Organic food heaven

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I absolutely love the local farmers markets that they have here! Especially this one in Granger Bay. They have a large area packed with lovely organic products of all kinds every Saturday. There are also stalls here with delicious food and with freshly pressed juices to enjoy while you are here. Tons of vegetables of every kind. Straw on the floor. Inspiration! Eggs from happy hens. Organic produce of different kinds. Beautiful flowers. And really nice and friendly feel to the place. I wish I could spend every Saturday here! Copyright and photo: Anita Martinez Beijer

Cape Town V –Design & delight in Gardens

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I moved to Gardens next, to the wonderful family home of Doreen and Meyer. I loved staying here! Doreen is fantastic and interesting woman. She has worked as an editor and stylist at Elle Decoration amongst other interesting jobs, and now she now runs her hospitality business InAweStays.  Their house is the old vicarage that belonged to the next-door church and it’s absolutely beautiful. As are all the charming and tasteful cottages that are on the premises, all done up with Doreen’s skilful eye for design. I loved my new home, an L-shaped loft with magnificent views through the glassed facade towards the Table Mountain. It was not only the stylish design. Or the beautiful setting of this home. The attention to detail here was amazing. A blackboard with a welcoming message. Handmade toiletries on the bathroom shelves in InAweStays own brand. Masses of thick and fluffy towels changed on a daily basis. Wonderful treats in the shape of trays with all kinds of delicious nibbles and goodies, appeared like magic when I needed them the …

Cape Town III –Quirky & trendy Observatory

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I moved to Observatory for the next couple of weeks. Named so because the South African Astronomical Observatory is here. Known as Obs to the folks here. Also known as a student neighbourhood because of the proximity to the University of Cape Town.  During the years of apartheid this was one of the few ”grey” suburbs where all races lived together. It still is a very multicultural area today, with a lively, quirky and bohemian feel to it. Though I can’t say I felt totally at ease when walking home at night here. Crime is a problem. Still there is an Observatory Neighbourhood Watch close by and they are working on making it a more safe area. Saying that nobody walks in general in Cape Town. Everyone takes their cars or Uber. Never taken so many Uber rides in my life as here. And due to that I had one of the most interesting conversations with a taxi driver ever! Who in the thirty minutes or so that it took to drive me to the airport …

Cape Town II – Green Point & other stories

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My first home was with Carin in Green Point. When I arrived from a hectic month in Asia, I had tons of photos I needed to take care of and blog posts to write. But none of that for Carin. – Come on, you have to see this…let’s go… And off we went. She went over and beyond to show me amazing places that I would never have found myself. So my first thanks is to you Carin. Thank you for showing me both hidden and not so hidden gems. And also for showing me some great contemporary African design. And of course for your lovely company! Carin’s home is itself wildly and wonderfully creative. It’s a veritable cascade of colours and made me feel that yes, I’m in Africa now. A small Victorian house, it has been opened up and felt spacious with it’s high ceiling, loft and large glass doors leading out to a very private courtyard, where the sound of water pouring in a small wall fountain was relaxing to listen to. …

Costa Rica II – Where jungle meets ocean

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Here we’re in a cute little cafe called Almendra having a lemonade after one of our excursions in town. After our break we have another two hours of yoga in the afternoons before we walk down to the beach to have a swim and to enjoy the sunsets. Beautiful, out of this world beautiful, sunsets! Every day different. Everybody gathers on the beach and watch the sun slip into the sea. What a wonderful way to end a day. One day we had a guest teacher, Nico, who taught us to trust each other enough to try Acroyoga, which one does in pairs with a third person that assists. In the feature photo on my blog post from yesterday Nico and Malin, another teacher here, shows a stunningly beautiful pose where Malin is flying. Here it’s Nico and Jessika are showing how a headstand with partner looks like. One of the many dogs on this beach is accompanying them. The dogs here have a wonderful life by the way. They are free to come down …

Costa Rica I – Eat yoga love

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I’m having a break from my travels around the world documenting homes to participate in a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. We are in beautiful Santa Teresa on the Pacific coast. The seemingly endless beach with lovely warm waves, attract surfers and yogis alike. At the crack of dawn we walk silently down to the beach to have a yoga session and then to watch the sun rise above the trees. The only sounds are monkeys are screaming in the jungle behind us. Otherwise everything is very quiet and peaceful. Early in the morning the beach is pristine and stunningly beautiful. Then there is short break before we have more yoga up in the Shala before brunch. Sometimes I stayed on at the beach and meditated. Connected. Pure magic. When the delicious brunch is served at 9:30 we are more than ready to indulge. Smoothies, fruits, salad, rice and beans, bread, homemade peanut butter, banana cake and ginger tea is what I usually have. Yummy! Hope to keep up this healthy way to start a …