Fifth Time's the Charm

Similar to a relationship with a person, a relationship with a city has its ups and downs. A month ago, I went through this slump with Cape Town where I felt as though there was nothing else for me to do here- silly me. Luckily, this stupidity lasted for a mere day and I was back on the CT lovin’ boat. It was then that I complied a list of places to go and things to do in Cape Town, and at the top of my list was Crystal Pools. The saying “nothing worthwhile comes easy” really characterizes my journey to the Pools. I would not let it be “the one that got away” as my determination overrode the complications that accompanied it. 

I booked a car a couple days before for Crystal Pools a couple friends and I. However, in my moments of excitement leading up to the day, I accidentally ended up inviting more people than there were seats in the car. But I thought that renting another car for the day would not be a problem. I mean, it IS a car rental place. They have to have cars! Thus I did not worry too much.

The thing about Crystal Pools is that it closes on May 1^st and only 100 permits are allowed a day as part of South Africa’s preservation plan. This just made it even more desirable for me- “you always want what you cannot have.” Therefore, in order to gain entrance even into the Pools, you have to arrive early morning. So, I told the 10 people that agreed to come with me to meet at my house while it was still dark out. We took a cab to Cape Town center and thus began the test of my determination.

Fun interrupting relevant fact: South African cars are manual. However, me living in America where driving a manual is considered a victory, I did not even think twice while booking online as to which car to choose. So when arriving at the counter of the car rental, I asked if the car held for us was an automatic (wishful thinking). Of course it was not. This began our journey from one car rental to another to another to another to lastly, Hertz. I did not add all those “another”s for exaggeration. We legitimately walked to five different car rental places to finally find an available automatic car. Sadly, by this time, half of the group had grown weary and skeptical as to whether or not we would get into the Pools, so they decided to head back home.

Fortunately, four people stuck with me. We rented the car and were on our way to Crystal Pools. After a mini freak out about the directions (FYI, Googlemaps is not as reliable here as it is back home), we embarked on a 200 kilometer and 5 hour time crunch to our destination. Throughout the entire drive, I was just waiting for another obstacle to be thrown my way. When we arrived to the tiny hut that is the Crystal Pools entrance, I held my breath hoping that tickets would not be sold out. However, my luck was beginning to turn-no one was there. So we parked the car, gave an excited shriek out and ran towards the hill for the Crystal Pools hike.

The hike was absolutely gorgeous. It is you and the mountains. That is it. There was no one there while we were hiking so it felt as if we were the only ones in this world, and that world consisted of omniscient rock formations and the prospect of reaching waterfalls.

The second we reached our first waterfall, we all stood there in awe. I had to keep reminding myself that this was all real and my life at this moment. We proceeded to climb to the other waterfalls, which similarly made us feel a part of this natural world that we constantly forget exists (especially while living in a city like LA). As the sun reflects on the water of the pools, it moves like fire works only to reappear again as tiny crystals atop the water. The name now made sense to us. Simple enough. J

In the end, Friday ended up being one of my best days in Cape Town. At the end of our waterfall escapades, we realized the time and rushed back to return the car. At exactly 4:00pm, the car was returned. In order to celebrate such a fabulous day, we decided to treat ourselves to some Mexican food. This was the cherry on top. I am slowly realizing that I am a Mexican food (real or fake) feen.

Overall, Crystal Pools was long awaited and completely worthwhile. Although the day began with panic and guilt, it ended with laughter, odd tan lines, margaritas and a newfound appreciation for the cliché phrases that infiltrated my mind throughout that day (and this blog). Especially, “nothing worthwhile comes easy.” You are telling me.