When my family and I arrived from France on the 'Athlone Castle', and before coming up to Johannesburg, we stayed at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. I was 6 years old and I have always remembered a large, pink, comfortable building and a sedate and restful room , lots of trees and greenery and many, many squirrels scampering about. I also remember my Mom buying me a book of paper dolls and clothes to 
cut out, probably to keep me busy and out of her (and 
others') hair! It was a very nice book! I loved it!Now on my visit to Cape Town last May, it coincided with Mothers' Day, and Cathy had planned a lavish treat for me. Firstly she took me to Company's Gardens to walk around and to open the appetite! It was ful
l of nosy, fearless, impetuous squirrels almost coming to sit on your lap to beg for 
food. After loving watching their theatrical antics we walked to the Mount Nelson Hotel, just across the road, for 'afternoon tea'! How dandy! I was thrilled! I did remember it a bit, but not much, I remembered the 'pinkness' and the 'greenness' of it, and the
comfortable ease of the whole place. It just felt right when I was 6 and still does 'a few years later'. Tee Hee! We began our afternoon feast sitting outside on the terrace overlooking lush, well-tended gardens, then retired to the loung
e to finish gorging in large, body-hugging, soft armchairs. We ate like little piglets. There was such a choice of delicious, well-presented, tempting goodies to choose from, savoury and sweet, from small tasty little quiches to melt-in-the-mouth cakes, puddings and trifles with dollops of fresh cream, and tea, coffee, hot chocolate, whatever you fancied, served by a long-serving, chatty, giggly, old, coloured waiter, ready to chat and laugh at every opportunity. I look back gratefully on a lovely chap, lovely place, lovely food, lovely company, lovely day.
l of nosy, fearless, impetuous squirrels almost coming to sit on your lap to beg for 
food. After loving watching their theatrical antics we walked to the Mount Nelson Hotel, just across the road, for 'afternoon tea'! How dandy! I was thrilled! I did remember it a bit, but not much, I remembered the 'pinkness' and the 'greenness' of it, and the
comfortable ease of the whole place. It just felt right when I was 6 and still does 'a few years later'. Tee Hee! We began our afternoon feast sitting outside on the terrace overlooking lush, well-tended gardens, then retired to the loung
e to finish gorging in large, body-hugging, soft armchairs. We ate like little piglets. There was such a choice of delicious, well-presented, tempting goodies to choose from, savoury and sweet, from small tasty little quiches to melt-in-the-mouth cakes, puddings and trifles with dollops of fresh cream, and tea, coffee, hot chocolate, whatever you fancied, served by a long-serving, chatty, giggly, old, coloured waiter, ready to chat and laugh at every opportunity. I look back gratefully on a lovely chap, lovely place, lovely food, lovely company, lovely day.
.... of Mount Nelson, I only remember palm trees and lovely gardens and squirrels (am using this one -squirrel- as PC b/g for a while - I change every few days), but nothing of inside except a sense of then unknown luxury! I'd love to see it again.
ReplyDeleteWell seems I'm also plunging in my memories, not an easy date.