Category: 6000 recommends

New Aquarium Exhibit Opens This Week

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Indeed. The new, ever so slightly warmer water tank, with imported Italian acrylic windows and tunnel, and featuring animals that like ever so slightly warmer water, opens in Thursday.

The kids and I got a sneak peek around the place yesterday (and got to pet a penguin), and while I promised not to spoil any surprises by sharing photos ahead of the big unveiling, suffice to say that the overall effect is quite breathtaking. That 36m² single sheet window is BIG!

The 1.5 million litres of water went in last weekend and it took 3 days to fill, creeping up the walls at 10cm per hour.
It’s already come a long way since our previous visit in February, but there were no animals in there when we went through yesterday: they’re going in on Monday once the sand has properly settled and the water is ready for them.

Thursday is a public holiday and the aquarium opens at 9.30am. Members can get in at 9am (by prior arrangement), but I’d fully advise you getting down there asap to be one of the first to see the incredible new entrance into the new exhibit (can’t say what it is, except ‘unique’) and the stunning new tank.

#6000recommends
This is not a sponsored post.

Quads

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Nope. No new arrivals Chez 6000. Certainly not twins of twins. *shudders a little at the thought*

We did go quadbiking though, in Grabouw.

And the we went for lunch. Also in Grabouw.

Grabouw itself doesn’t really have a lot going for it. However, the quadbiking and restaurant facilities in the surrounds are nothing short of excellent.

I can totally recommend both of our stops today, which you can view by clicking the links above.

Photos? Flickr.

Greek Letters

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More holiday. More wine.

Back onto the Constantia Wine Route, with the intentions of getting to High and Beau, before lunch at Glen. The latter, we achieved by booking a table there a couple of weeks back. The former, we managed by starting there. But, as previously with attempted wine route planning, we failed to make out second port of call simply by enjoying the first place too much, and staying there.

We’ve done it before, back in 2013, just after I’d mashed my ankle. Again – a quick visit to High Constantia for a quick Groupon pairing, led to us staying for several (or more) hours and having to order pizza on the way home. It was a memorable visit for us, and, it seemed, for the staff, who remembered us from almost 3 years ago. I’m aware that this isn’t necessarily a good thing. But they are evidently non-judgmental, being friendly, chatty, knowledgeable and ever patient with us non fundis. Their MCC is magnificent, and there’s always their HUGE Bordeaux blend – Sebastian – to look forward to at the end of the proceedings.

This (purely ornamental) vine also makes shapes like the Greek alphabet. What’s not to like?

The tranquility of High Constantia sets it aside from all the other Constantia vineyards. I’m putting it firmly in my 6000 recommends category. Wander through their working cellar, out onto the stoop and watch the birds in their small garden while you enjoy tasting 7 or more wines for R50. The prices are high (no pun intended), but the wine is genuinely world class. It’s worth treating yourself every two and half years. Or maybe more often, given that the 2007 Sebastian is out any time now and is supposedly incredible.

Then it was up the road for lunch at Constantia Glen – platters, rosé and some Five. Superb, as expected. And then, back to Eagle’s Nest for the kids to run off some frustration and play in the stream there. After last time (when this got me into trouble with them), I let Mrs 6000 do the talking, and I also sat out on the tasting. It was a world away from the near silence of High Constantia and the elegant Constantia Glen, but they’re certainly not struggling for business.

More photos have been dropped into this set on Flickr, and it looks like tomorrow, when we’re… er… visiting another wine region, there may be even more.
I’m sure you, just like me, can hardly contain your excitement.

SA Rugby Quiz Book makes ideal Xmas gift

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First off, this isn’t a sponsored post. No money or goods have exchanged hands.
It’s just that when you look at nature, you see that organisms helping each other out generally seem to have a good time.
Lichen is a mix of fungus and algae, and covers 6% of the entire plant. Successful.
Ocellaris clownfish live in perfect harmony with protective Ritteri sea anemones. Pretty.
And in the microbiological world, beneficial mutualism is around every very tiny corner. Small.Fullscreen capture 2015-12-11 115934 AM.bmpNo. See, I know the author of this book (that’s one reason I know it’s going to be good) and I also know that some (or more) readers out there will be looking for a decent present for their (let’s face it, probably male, and therefore probably really difficult to buy for) family members.

As ever, I’m here to help.

Ex-journalist Pierre has been researching and writing his 1001 question long Springbok Rugby Quiz book for over 10 years. He has a scientific background, is a stickler for detail and has an immense passion for the sport, both as a participant and as an avid fan. It’s the perfect recipe for this sort of thing.
Oh, and he’s also led a pretty adventurous life.

I’m no expert on egg-chasing, even less so on the history of the South African game, but I’ve seen the book and I even managed to get one question correct (the answer was Kobus Wiese) from the approximately twenty I attempted. This 5% record might not seem impressive, but I was looking at the Afrikaans (rather than the English) version of the book, and any right answer when you first have to translate the question from a language you can’t actually speak is not to be sniffed at.

So – here’s what you need to know about the ordering the book:

  • It’s R250, all in. 
  • That includes it being signed by the author.
  • And it also includes delivery to any address in South Africa within 4 working days.
  • Ook, jy kan die boek in Engels of Afrikaans kry.
  • You can pay by credit card or EFT.

Ordering details here.

Again, I’m not on any affiliate deal or commission here. Just trying to help match you, the rugby quiz book needing customer, with Pierre, the rugby quiz book writing… writer.

Likewise, maybe you want to share this post with someone who needs to buy a Springbok rugby quiz book.
Symbiosis, see? We should all try it.

Constantia Wine Route redux

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When people think “Wine Route”, they generally think of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl or Wellington (jks – no-one goes to Wellington deliberately). We think that Local is lekker though, so we headed just down the road to sample a bit of what Constantia had to offer.

It had been a while since we had been on the Constantia Wine Route, and we came far from doing all of it today. However, three wine farms and 19 wines later, we’d had a good time. It was only when we got back that I realised I hadn’t taken many photos. Having too much fun, see?

First up was Klein Constantia, where a tasting is R30 for 7 wines, but buy a bottle (or more) and they’ll waive the fee. The informative Johan helped us out. They still have their peculiar ‘stand up and taste’ set up, but the wines are superb, including (of course) their famous Vin de Constance and the last of their unusual, but incredible 2007 Madame Marlbrook. All I need is some fine quality seafood to pair it up with now.
I don’t have much more to add here. They just do stuff well, with understated elegance.

Then it was up the hill to Eagles’ Nest. It’s another beautiful place, without the spectacular views of its closest neighbours, but with enthusiastic service; it’s family friendly and tourist driven (it’s on the Red Bus wine tour). The wines though? Not all that. Perhaps the exception was their Little Eagle Rosé, which was alive with crisp strawberry flavours. Their flagship 2012 Shiraz was rather ordinary, and – I thought – vastly overpriced at R225 a bottle. Those Brits on the bus must have thought they were in heaven though. When you compare this with what you get in Tesco for what is essentially ten quid – suddenly you start to understand the pricing structure. R50 gets you a 5 wine tasting, and you have to spend over R300 per person to get that refunded.

Protea on the way up to Constantia Glen

And then onward and upward to Constantia Glen. Last time we were up here (amazingly 4 years ago to the day), we had the tiny place to ourselves. This time, we were greeted with a bright, modern, brand new tasting room and restaurant, plus literally hundreds of people. We got the last two seats at the bar and tucked into one of their cheese and charcuterie platters with a Premium (capital P) wine tasting (R80 for seven wines) for me and a white wine tasting (R55 for 4 wines) for Mrs 6k. Enoch may have helped her out with a couple of refills though. If you’re Enoch’s boss and you have a problem with this, then he didn’t. But he’s still great.

Wines here are excellent, especially their Estate Range Sauvignon Blanc with lots of grass and lots of green figs. On the reds, the bold Three is good, but the hugely rich and deep Five French blend is simply sublime and paired beautifully with the cheeses on the platter. We spent [rather a lot] here, meaning that our tasting was gratis and we have a nicely stocked wine rack for the foreseeable future. Winning.

We’re so lucky to have these amazing places right on our doorstep, but we sometimes need a reminder that they are there. So, let this blog post be it and give yourself a few hours off over the summer holiday enjoying some of the superb wine Constantia has to offer.

Not a sponsored post. Just a really good day.