“What?! We’re not going?!” I sputter, my face livid. “Why not?!”

“Gotcha!” laughs my dad. “We’re driving up in 20 minutes.”

“Yess!” We are going to the famed Table Mountain, in the Cape of Good Hope on the tip of Africa. I have only been there once before, when I was 7; a beautiful place where you can see all of Cape town and the surrounding area.

In what feels like 30 seconds, we are on our way. Driving past the dirty little town of Vishoek. It is our last day here, we fly back tonight. But I put that into the back of my mind as I excite myself about this experience. After about half an hour, we finally arrive at the base of the mountain. From here we can see the small blue cable cars, dangling on what seems like a piece of fishing line, from the top of the mountain.

Inside, we are stuck in the line for what feels like hours, waiting to buy our tickets. Walking into the station, there is one of the old cable cars, battered and beaten, painted a flat red color.

“Man, imagine going up in that, hey?” I say to my dad and Alastair.

“Yah, a rickety little thing that is.”

Coming down the thick threaded steel cable is one of the new, advanced cable cars. It holds around 30 people, and it is one of 4 in the world which have a revolving floor. Because of this, when ascending you can see all around. Clambering into the car, we are excited and all smiles. We thought we werent going to be able to come; my sister has pinkeye and we had to pack the stuff.

The cable car is hot and humid, but we don’t really care. As it ascends, we can see a larger and better view of the city below. We can see the waterfront, the beaches, and Robben Island, the South Africa equivalent of Alcatraz. The car is slowly rotating and our view is slowly changes. We can see CAmps Bay, the beach where we were the day before. We can see the Lion’s Head, a peak nearby. AS we near the upper station, we can see the Devil’s Peak. I am exalted as We step out onto the dirt and rocks of Table Mountain.

It is a clear day, perfect for taking pictures. my camera is endlessly clicking as we walk the path. My dad shows me the different places in the city. He also pionts out where his mother’s ashes were scattered. I ame in awe, mouth hanging open, at this beautiful green rocky mountain. We walk the edge or a great forge, which from far away just looks like a nick in the side of the mountain.  as we come around the back of the walkable path, I scoop up a rock and a little bit of dirt. A small souveneir from a huge place.

Coming back down the cable car, I reminisce about my amazing experience here and the rest of my experience here in South Africa. I have a feeling of great joy for this trip, but with it comes a great sadness that it is over.