Seit Freitag ist es ja amtlich. Nun steht endlich fest wer gegen wen im Green Point Stadion im Juni 2010 gegeneinander antritt. Ein Grund für uns hier einen kleinen Überblick zu geben:

Los geht es am 11.06.2010 mit URUGUAY – FRANKREICH aus der Gruppe A um 20.30 Uhr.

Es folgt das Spiel ITALIEN gegen PARAGUAY am 14.06.2010 aus der Gruppe F wiederum um 20.30 Uhr.

ENGLAND gegen ALGERIEN spielen am 18.06.2010 um 20.30 Uhr

NORD KOREA muss gegen PORTUGAL am 25.06.2010 antreten

und KAMERUN gegen HOLLAND findet als letztes Vorrundenspiel in Kapstadt am 24.06.2010 statt.

Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft werden die Kapstädter (wenn überhaupt) frühestens im Viertelfinale am 03.07.2010 zu Gesicht bekommen. Dazu müssten sie allerdings als erster aus den Vorrundenspielen herausgehen und das Achtelfinale gewinnen. Nur dann käme es zu diesem Spetakel im Green Point Stadion. In dieser Konstellation würde allerdings ein Halbfinal-Spiel der Deutschen in Durban ausgetragen.

Geht man aber davon aus, dass die Deutsche Elf nur als Zweiter aus den Vorrundenspielen herausgeht, dann aber das Achtel- und Viertelfinale meistert, könnte das Halbfinalspiel der Deutschen tatsächlich in Kapstadt am 06.07.2010 stattfinden.

Between the 10th and 12th of June the World Economic Forum on Afirca will be held at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town (CTICC).

The main topic this year: “Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for Africa“

Special Guests are:

- Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations (1997-2006) and Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum
- Soud Ba’alawy, Executive Chairman, Dubai Group, United Arab Emirates
- Jiang Jianqing, Chairman of the Board, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, People’s Republic of China
- Graham Mackay, Chief Executive, SABMiller, United Kingdom
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director, World Bank, Washington DC

Of course tickets only on invitation!

More Information at weforum.org

More than 1.6 million ticket applications were received for World Cup 2010
finals in South Africa. The first sale period already closed at midnight on 31st of March!

Only about 30 percent of all ticket applications came from residents of the host country. Fifa had made 743.000 tickets available to the general public via Internet applications or for South African residents at local bank branches.  We will keep you up to date about the coming sale periods.

Second ticketing phase already started on the 4th of May.

Be quick and may you still have a chance because in the second round count: first come, first serve!!!

For more information visit fifa.com

Ok. I did some more research. First of all the name Secret Season is not South African. Even Alaska got a Secret Season. Then I have been asking some guests at our house and they say it would be indeed the best time for them to come to the Western Cape for holiday because the prices are affordable and the destinations are not overcrowded as in Main Season and servicewise establishments or restaurants would make this “extra effort” and offer excellent value for money, especially in times where holidays are plain luxury. Well, this explains why we are having as well a lot of locals on Sunset Manor this time of the year. Which is great because different crowds of people meet. Isn’t part of visiting a foreign country anyway about socialising and getting in touch with the people that live there? For me there is nothing worse than being on holiday running from one tourism attraction to the other, cueing for tickets with other tourists and paying double the price. However it seems like part of the secret is, that one gets to walk on the beaches almost alone, gets up Table Mountain quickly and gets to meet people relaxed, because the rush of the Seaon is over.

Our guest and friend Harald Schwyrz gave us a very nice video about Sunset Manor.
We cut some footage out to show you a short teaser of Sunset Manor.

A few minutes of our small paradise in South Africa.
ENJOY!!!

…. so why is something beautiful like this a secret? I am not too sure if  I will find an anwser to  this question.
The name is obviously made in South Africa. Is it that the South African decided, like , ” lets keep this a secret so we can spend some quality time with our country” ? Am not too sure, l will try to get behind this, maybe this name is only  for the Cape Region and not for the rest of South Africa. One change for this time of the year, which is magic , is that the sun over the last month moved to the right of False Bay just pass Table Mountain ( from Sunset Manors point of view) and therefore the light is coming in from the side which makes the sunsets the most spectacular of the year.
Let me unfold this secret. Check this!

secret 1luka sitting in front of Guest Lounge

A stunning location surrounded by a magnificent scenery?
A home away from home, centrally situated?
A tranquil place to relax, away from the maddening crowd?

A lot of people came to our house, and we are proud that they loved what we are working for. Share some of their experiences.

“Where to go in South Africa with no idea of the place? Sunset Manor seemed to be as good as any other place. But it was much better than you could expect of a 5 star place. Gorgeous view, perfect staff and Lyn and Simon where great. “
Jette, Maarten, Susanne and Andreas (Germany)

“Just wanted to relax a week…. The view is indescribable, you guys are like best friends to your guests. We fell in love with Sunset Manor, We fell in love with South Africa. ‘Where the hell is Gordons Bay …now we know and shall never forget.”
Martine and Walter ( Netherlands)

“Many people step into your life but just a few leave footprints on your heart”
Eve (Great Britain)

“One of our accommodation highlights: people, rooms, views … everything the best! AMAZING!”
Sabine and Christian (Germany)

„Had a absolute ball of a time will definitely return. Keep it up – Brilliant hospitality.“
Beyers and Liezel (South Africa)

For more guest reviews and info about sunset manor click here!

Sunset Manor combines the comfort of a Guest House, with the comfort of fully serviced apartments including a self catering option.

Each apartment offers you full sea view and a breathtaking panorama of the mountains. This central hide-away, will provide you with an incomparable piece of paradise and is ideally situated for a relaxing seaside holiday. Bordering the Cape Winelands, but on the coast, Sunset Manor is the perfect base to explore the numerous attractions of the Cape Region. Within a short drive to the bright lights of Cape Town and twenty five minutes to the main airport.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lyn & Simon

Until the end 31st of March you can take part in the first round to order tickets for the soccer world cup in South Africa.

In this round it doesn’t matter if you ordered first or not. Because it’s depends on how many tickets orders coming you need some fortune.

We hold the thumbs for you and if you are attending the WM in Cape Town you know your first choise of accommodation

Here is the link to the fifa website where you can take part in the “lottery” -> WM 2010 ticketing

—

Bis zum 31. März 2099 kann man an der ersten Bestellrunde für die Tickets der Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft 2010 in Südafrika teilnehmen.

Die erste Runde funktioniert nach Losverfahren. Abhängig von der Anzahl der eingegangenen Orders braucht man ein bisschen Glück.

Wir werden Ihnen die Daumen halten und wenn Sie Spiele in Kapstadt besuchen, kennen Sie ja Ihre Erste Wahl der Unterkunft.

Hier gehts zur Ticket-Vorbestellung -> FIFA WM 2010 – deutsch

September 2003.  Arrival in South Africa …no idea what to expect.

We are supposed to renovate an old farm house and convert it into a Guest House.
Schedule three month but things are different here…
Who to trust?  …..maybe we should just paint the house for now.
We finally find a builder.

After the ceilings are down we find we should take the whole roof off and do the whole thing… one time.
Months of heavy construction start.

After ruining the house, breaking down walls, changing windows  around, lifting floors, we put it back together throwing concrete, bricking up walls, installations, plastering ,tiling….
… every week somebody else on site finishing somebody else’s job.

Around  the house there  is  15000 sqm of bush to be cleaned, dead trees to be removed, hips of building rubble. We need a parking bay and a gate that works and why does the guy paint the tree in front of the house? …I  do not know anymore if it would not have been better to just paint the house.

I meet Lyn …oh, South Africa is beautiful!
The winter is starting . Who will ever swim in this pool… and yes the water is going downhill!
“Simon do not stress. God gave the South Africans the time and the Germans the watch”

5 years later , still in South Africa, I am looking back.
Just coming out of the kitchen where Joyce is busy packing away the breakfast, walking through the main lounge pass the open fire place, looking up into this beautiful roof construction.
I am still convinced that it looks like wings of an eagle flying through the valley towards the ocean… … but maybe that’s just me.
This became the centre of Sunset Manor, the meeting room where guests socialize, where we had conferences, Teambuilding , Birthday Parties, Dinner and braai (barbecue) evenings.
I am opening the door to the wrap-around veranda that is connecting the Lounge with the apartments. The boomerang shape of the house is perfectly angled, opening towards the pool and the garden, allowing each apartment this amazing view over False Bay.

While having a smoke I am looking through the big windows into the lounge of an apartment with its couch , kitchen and dining area . It was good to keep it plain, it was good to keep it earthy …. just gives this stunning scenery the priority, which makes the television, probably the less used asset of Sunset Manor.

…and those windows?… need to be cleaned again, all those little hands all over, only up to 1 metre though , …well…does not spoil the view out of the couches.. and I cannot exactly handcuff our child.
Luka Fitz is now 2 years old, starting to talk, hard to understand though ‘cause he is learning four languages at a time…hey, and another one on the way.
It all has been a great experience.

Over 1500 guests came to our house, from all over the world, showing us that it was worth  doing the whole thing …one time.
Showing us that they love what we are working for.

Thanks a million to everybody for being our guests and sharing a part of your journey with us.

Lyn, Luka and Simon

It is unbelievable! Just a stone throw away from Sunset Manor we had an amazing experience.

Several whales directly on the coast in the False Bay. One was very active and jumped out of the water for several times.

So you do not even have to drive to Hermanus. Drive a little bit along the coast and you will find these beautiful animals. Two kilometers outside of Gordons Bay.