Category Archives: vacation

Let’s continue our trek around The V&S (Victoria & Albert Waterfront), which is comprised of several districts. Monday I showed you mostly the Quays District. Today we’ll head into the Clock Tower District, then take a boat tour of the ritzy Canal District. And in case you’re wondering what day it is, these photographs were taken on 10 March 2025. So let’s get moving, starting with what is probably the most famous feature of the V&A Clock Tower District. I’m speaking, of course, of the 1882 Waterfront Clock Tower, which we approached from the Quays District via the pedestrian Swing Bridge:

If I confused you with my description of where we are for today’s photos, these following two images should clear it up for you:

The area around the Swing Bridge gives you some nifty photo opportunities, such as this view of the Waterfront boardwalk and the Cape Wheel:

I believe I mentioned on Monday that this is an area for shopping, as well. Get a load of the massive Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, only a small fraction of which is contained in this image:

How massive? Well, that image above only captures the food court area plus a little more of this complex:

After a look around the Clock Tower District, Ursula wanted to take a boat tour of the Canal District. So, off we went for a City Sightseeing Canal Cruise, since our City Sightseeing tickets included this excursion. That meant heading back across the Swing Bridge and turning south past Nobel Square to catch the boat.

Within a few more minutes we boarded a City Sightseeing boat and headed out into the V&A Canal District. Ritzy, indeed. I’ll leave you today with this photo gallery/slide show of this high-end neighorhood:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Having made a couple of rounds on both the Blue and Red routes on our City Sightseeing bus tours, Ursula and I alighted at Stop 1 (see map below; upper right) for the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, otherwise known to the locals as The V&A. Here you’ll find much to see and do, including shopping, dining, and taking a water tour of some of the ritzier areas in Cape Town. One of the more distinctive sights here is the Victorian-era Gothic-style Waterfront Clock Tower picture above. The Waterfront Clock Tower, originally serving as the Port Captain’s office when it was built in 1882, lies within the appropriately named Clock Tower District.

But we’ll get to V&A in a moment. First I want to show you some areas we passed on our tour bus as we headed toward the V&A Waterfront, starting with Camps Bay (Stop 8):

Now let me show you what awaits you at Stop 1, the V&A Waterfront, beginning with the Two Oceans Aquarium:

Alas, we did not stop at the aquarium. Ursula and I may visit it on our next trip to Cape Town, coming in 2026. A short walk from the aquarium is The Watershed, a shopping venue in whichg you’ll find local arts and crafts:

Exiting out the other end (northeast entrance) of The Watershed, we hung a right and took in views of the Waterfront District:

Cape Town is on Ursula’s bucket list, and she had a blast taking it all in:

In the picture of Ursula above you’ll see a gray and white striped corrugated awning. That cover is on two buildings there, and you might want to swing by for some fun statue pictures at the northernmost one, which houses the African Trading Post:

Wednesday’s article will show us crossing over the V&A Waterfront Swing Bridge and wandering around the Clock Tower District, then taking a boat tour. Until then:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)