As we saw Adult World, Teazers and Toys R Us fly past us along the N1 towards Paarl; we knew we had left Cape Town behind. Our weekend in McGregor could not have been better timed. If you have ever seen the start of Four Weddings and a Funeral you will understand what life has been like the last six months. It has been crazy, stressful living, to say the least.
For someone who usually has bags packed at least two days before a trip, with a fully typed itinerary in hand, I hadn’t even worked out as much as the directions this time round. I simply knew where we were staying (Cape Cottages – McGregor, I’d scrawled). On the morning of the start of our weekend getaway, I packed my bag in chaos grabbing the list of “˜things to do’ that my boss had emailed me some weeks before, together with the food hamper she had given me on my last day in the office (and I hate to admit it, but the map she had armed me with must have got caught among the pile of sales figures on my desk, and didn’t quite make it into my backpack).
Feeling somewhat fragile & blurry-eyed with fatigue, we thought it wise to fill up our tank at the local petrol station (and to stock up on immune system boosters) before we really knew that we were on our way.
As the mountains grew closer and larger, so my mind emptied and I was able to absorb the most magnificent array of scenery that I’d almost forgotten existed. By the time we had driven through Du Toitskloof, the chaos of life in Cape Town had escaped me and the tranquility of the local surrounds was captive. We drove in silence for much of the last leg; a chance to simply digress (and largely because my husband, Jason, had lost the face of his CD player).
We reached Voortrekker Road in McGregor at midday, when we soon realized it wasn’t necessary to drive at 100 km/h (nor was there necessity to use your indicators). The town was quaint, spotted with beautiful thatch-roofed homes, boutiques and enticing restaurants, which we would explore later. We found Hoopoe Cottage with ease, and were met by our host, Simon, who was dressed in a t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and a pair of crocs (I was pleased I’d left my stilettos, Levi’s and latest Guess handbag at home), although admittedly, had crammed my hairdryer and GHDs into my backpack at the last minute, and I asked myself “˜why’?
Simon had a wide smile and healthy complexion (typical of country living) and gave us a hearty welcome, probably wondering what we city folk were doing in this little place called McGregor. We didn’t pull any punches, and told him that we were simply here to relax. He gave us that knowing smile along with a few recommendations and said that this little town draws stressed out and pale looking execs, because of its “˜energy lines’ and assured us that we would sleep well and restore some harmony to our souls over the coming days. And so, with heads pounding, chests wheezing and complexions whiter than the whitewashed exterior of our cottage, we unpacked quickly and then just sat. I resorted to a sunny patch in the garden and relished the silence, interrupted only by the sounds of birds chirping. A street vendor sold me two brooms (of handmade quality), which I think will make for perfect ornaments, he was quite chuffed to his photograph taken too. And so I sat, just listening to nothing, feeling a type of serenity that no other place than this could possibly have restored so quickly.
Hoopoe Cottage resembled those you find in picture story books. Whitewashed and thatched, set within a beautifully maintained garden and surrounded by gravel roads that lead to nowhere. The cottage was sufficiently kitted out to braai on the Friday night. In fact, the cottage was probably one of the best self-catering establishments we have ever found.
We ventured out on Saturday night, after a day of chilling, reading and strolling around McGregor’s boutiques, lapping up the glorious sunshine. Tabaldi’s Restaurant is within walking distance from the cottage and we were treated to some superb local cuisine. Jason enjoyed his lamb shank, while I got tucked into a tasty chicken curry. The bean soup and cheese soufflé starters were delicious. A crackling red fire welcomed us back to our cottage and the effects of the Lord’s Pinot Noir had set in. We both slept like logs (proving Simon right).
Known as the place where time stood still, I wished our days there could have lasted forever; and as reality stared me in the face whilst tucking into a latte and carrot cake at “˜Deli Girls‘ late on Sunday afternoon, I knew that we’d soon be snapped out of our reverie and have to leave this marvelously magical place.
Contact
Cape Cottages McGregor
Tel 083-275-5274 / 083-601-9646 / 023-625-1381
Email [email protected]
Deli Girls
Tel 023-625-1446
Lord’s of McGregor
Tel +27-23-625-1265
Fax: +27-86-514-2512
Email [email protected]
Click here for more accommodation options in McGregor
