Art exhibitions are situated at many venues including: William Fehr Collection: Castle of Good Hope (+ 27 (0)21 - 454725) and Rust en Vreugd (+27 (0)21 - 453628). Michaelis Collection (Old Town House Greenmarket Square) + 27 (0)21 - 246367. Internationally renowned collection of 17th century Dutch and Flemish artists. South African National Gallery (Gardens) +27 (0)21 - 451628. UCT Irma Stern Museum (Rosebank) +27 (0)21 - 6855686.

Ballet is performed at the Nico Malan Opera House (+27 (0)21 - 217695) and the Baxter Theatre (Computicket: +27 (0)21 - 4308010).

Classical Music is performed at various venues. The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (+27 (0)21 - 4189190) performs at the Nico Malan Theatre and the City Hall. Kirstenbosch Twilight Concerts have performances on Sunday evenings in summer. St Georges Cathedral Choir gives performances free of charge - watch the press for details or telephone Computicket (+27 (0)21 - 4308010). The Oude Libertas Centre (+27 (0)21 - 8087911), in Stellenbosch, is an open-air theatre where classical music is performed during the summer months.

Live music is performed at many venues (including some restaurants) and encompasses many styles including jazz. Appletiser Summer Sunset Concerts at Kirstenbosch on Sunday evenings. Watch the press for details.

Nightlife - Cape Town doesn't dim the lights after dinner. Like most cities, nightlife flourishes in many forms, including nightclubs, discotheques , wine-bars, music pubs, cocktail lounges and restaurants. The Waterfront, Sea Point and lower Cape Town buzz until the early hours.

Opera is performed at the Nico Malan Opera House (+27 (0)21 - 217695) on the Foreshore.

Theatre - Drama is lively with many locally written plays. The big musicals are staged at the Nico Malan Opera House, the Baxter Theatre, Dock Road Theatre, Theatre on the Bay and at Maynardville Open Air Theatre. Bookings at Computicket (+27 (0)21 - 4308010). Watch the press for details.

The Planetarium (Queen Victoria Street) +27 (0)21 - 243330 - offers lectures and many interesting talks and shows on astronomy.

::EATING OUT::

The cuisine of most nationalities is to be found in the wide choice of restaurants in and around Cape Town. Fresh vegetables are supplied from the thriving agricultural sector and meat of excellent quality is available. Traditional cuisine is a mixture of Indonesian, Malaysian, French, German, British and Dutch. During the Winter months, venison (especially springbok) of all kinds is popular. Live Cape rock-lobster (crayfish) and perlemoen, along with a superb selection of freshly caught fish, are freely available.

Traditional Cuisine - Local cuisine is as international as the ancestors of today's South Africans. When one thinks of South African dishes, it is easy to imagine sosaties braaied over an open fire, a thick bredie or a sweet Malay curry.

However, dishes such as sweet & sour pork, spaghetti Bolognese, veal schnitzel and roast beef & Yorkshire pudding are equally as South African.

Fish & Seafood - Oceans cold and tropical provide a generous, varied catch of fish and seafood. From fish & chips to crayfish (lobster), langoustine and prawns, and all the trimmings can be indulged if visitors so wish.

Among the fine seafood also available is: hake, kabeljou, kingklip, sole, white-steenbras, red-steenbras, Cape salmon, yellowtail, angelfish, tuna, bluefish, snoek, perlemoen, calamari (squid), octopus, oysters and mussels.

For Carnivores - Cape Town's restaurants serve hefty portions which are enough to satisfy any appetite. The quality of meat is extremely good and the variety wide. Beef, lamb and veal dominate menus with venison being popular in winter.

Chicken and duck are available at most restaurants. South Africans are extremely fond of (and good at) braaiing (barbecuing), and boerewors (sausage), kebabs and lamb-chops are popular.

Fruit & Vegetables - Fresh vegetables from the farms in the Western Cape come daily to the markets where they are purchased by restaurateurs with a knack for finding the best quality.

::SHOPPING::

The favourable international exchange rate makes South Africa a shopper's paradise for the overseas visitors. Cape Town offers a great variety of domestic and imported goods including gold (South Africa's chief export), diamonds (South Africa is world famous for these sparkling gems), jewellery, leather goods, African curios, art, antiques, ceramics and fashion clothing. The shopping hours are from 08h00 to 17h00 Monday to Friday and until 13h00 on Saturday. Some stores stay open late on Friday evening until 21h00.

Adderley Street has shopping centres, malls and many interesting gift shops catering to the visitor. The area is well known for its curio and fashion shops, as well as many well known jewellery stores which offer quality goods for the discerning buyer.

St George's Mall has a number of interesting boutiques and around the corner is Greenmarket Square with its flea market and fashion boutiques. Long Street has many small charming shops, reflecting the character of Cape Town.

The V&A Waterfront has a variety of shops (open 7 days a week) from curios to fashion and has late trading hours.

::OTHER ATTRACTIONS/ACTIVITIES::

Golf, scuba diving, mountain walks, day trips, mountain biking, abseiling, paragliding, 
beach walks, forest walks, jet flights (in ex-military fighter jets), helicopter rides, birding etc.

Bolders Beach Penguin Colony

Cape Point, where the two oceans meet

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Cape winelands

Historical Simon's Town

Jackass penguin reserve at Boulders Beach

Cape of Good Hope Game and Nature Reserve

African arts and crafts villages

Chapman's Peak (closed)

Hout Bay Harbour

Robben Island

Excellent restaurants close by

Table Mountain Cable Way

Various museums

The V&A Waterfront where it's all happening

Plus all the entertainment of Cape Town where something is happening all year round

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