When DH and I went to Capetown last June, our hosts put us up at Mandela Rhodes Place.
Despite its name, the building’s facade looks unassuming enough…
…as does the hallway between apartments. [NB: Mandela Rhodes Place features hotel apartments.]
But as I stepped into the one-bedroom apartment, I was pleased with what I saw.
The bedroom is to the left. A bit on the cramped side but comfortable nonetheless.
The first thing that I did as soon as I stepped into the bedroom? Close the blinds. Because they open up to the hallway. And I don’t relish the thought of passers-by peeping in on the bedroom! Oh, and I drew the drapes, as well, to be doubly sure of complete privacy.
This is the toilet and bath. Nothing too fancy but clean and sufficiently equipped.
Ah…then there’s the kitchen. It was small but well-planned and fully equipped, including plates, cutlery, knives, pots and pans.
The washing machine/dryer came in very handy (even though detergent was not provided), as did the microwave (for re-heating food) and the electric kettle.
There was a small basket with little packets of coffee, creamer, hot chocolate, sugar and low-calorie sweetener on the counter. Plates, spoons, forks and everything else you’d need for simple cooking are inside the drawers or on the shelves.
The preparation counter was, obviously, largely unused for the duration of our stay.
The lounge had a flatscreen TV and a sofa…
And an armchair in one corner.
Breakfast was served at the Synergy Restaurant and Bar on the 7th Floor, which commands a good view of the swimming pool.
Framed photos of Nelson Mandela can be found in front of the lifts…
…as well as a brass plaque engraved with his autograph.
What I loved most about the hotel? The view from the window — the iconic Table Mountain. Unfortunately, it was mostly cloudy during our stay, with the sky only clearing up on the day of our departure. Ironic, huh?
The hotel is located in a quieter part of town, across the road from St. George’s Cathedral (which can be seen clearly from our window)…
about 3 minutes walk from the Slave Lodge…
…and 5 minutes walk from the Cape Malay (Bo-Kaap) Quarter.
Are these part of SA’s preparation for the coming World Cup next year?
oh yeah, the world cup. i saw the unfinished stadium from a distance. many places in town were also under repair during my visit, eg cobblestones in one market square.
Murag hotel sa Geneva.
The view from the window is nice. I hope to get there some day.
–Matt Bamberg, author, http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Secrets-Create-Winning-Photographs/dp/1598639021
hey, matt. yes, the view from the window was nice but the view from the top of table mountain was even better :) i’ll post them soon.