Souvenir Chronicles: CAPE TOWN: SOUTH AFRICA: PENGUINS AT BOULDERS BEACH

In 1982, a nesting pair of African penguins (also called "jackass" penguins because of the braying-like noise they make) arrived on Boulders Beach, a series of granite-lined inlets located between Cape Town and Cape Point. These days there are over 2,000 penguins sharing the spot.

As we walked down the sidewalk from the parking lot to the beach, we were excited to see our first penguins. This is NOT the setting that I expected:

What look like partially submerged barrels are actually penguin condos:

There were rows of them, and all appeared to be occupied:

However, there were also plenty of residents outdoors enjoying the sun, sand, and surf:

Malibu ain't got nothin' on Boulders Beach:

THIS California prefers Boulders Beach to Malibu any day:

It's fun to watch them waddle about:

Some appeared to be nesting:

Some seemed to be dealing with their toddlers or teenagers:

There isn't a lot of privacy in Penguinland:

If you want privacy, you have to get wet:

On our way out we stopped to admire the local crafts:

. . . and to enjoy the local music:

. . . and then Ryan took us to one of his favorite local fish-n-chips places in Kalk Bay. Before going in, we stopped to admire this cape fur seal. Isn't that wiry patch of fur on his back bizarre? It almost looks like corn rows.

The missus and kid were hanging out nearby:

A bit later, we saw that he had schlepped over to a fish shop and was unabashedly begging for a handout. The woman inside was having none of that, and kept shooing him away.

Meanwhile, I tried to get a picture of Bob with this guy:

. . . but the seal turned on him as if to push him into the water. Some bystanders sarcastically pointed out that "he IS a wild animal." We learned our lesson.