4th of July Braai on a rock on the ocean

The absolute BEAUTY of lax beach regulations in Cape Town! We found this cove between Sea Point and Camp's Bay almost deserted and set up a portable grill on a huge flat rock that you can jump to from the shore but is protected by a ton of other gigantic rocks between it and civilization. The desertion was due to it being "winter" and not Independence Day here (and PS everyone told me that winter here was a real downer full of rain and clouds day after day but it looks like I was had and I am not sad about it).

It was Red Laura (friend with bright red hair) and Caroline and Laura no. 2 (Caroline's GF) and Patrick and I, plus an overwhelming spread of meat, condiments, potato chips, potato salad, and immense volumes of dips in various colors and flavors. Caroline managed to find real "American Slices" of pickles for the occasion.

We were soon joined by a big group of fellow volunteers/friends from America who were on their way to dinner but conveniently detoured and helped us devour our own spread and laugh a lot, too.

The sunset was phenomenal, friends. You need to come to Cape Town and see it to believe it.

When it was pitch black and we were packing up, we had a lot of bright red coals that needed disposal, so we picked them up with tongs and flung them out on the rocks, where they burst open in bright red ash. It was pretty awesome. So the coal flinging commenced with gusto as our homemade fireworks show and, with a little teamwork and timing, we completed the event with a grand finale. It was brilliant.

Happy Fourth!!