There’s something so deeply relaxing about spending a few days in a holiday town. Oh, I know some people live in Knysna, but as opposed to the fast pace of Cape Town (and the simply frenetic pace of Joburg), Knysna is deliciously laidback.
We’ve spent our first few days here wandering around the various entertainment on offer for the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival (many of them, no surprise, involving oysters!) Highlights for me include:
* The Wade Bales Wine Tasting on Monday night – over 40 of South Africa’s top wine makers offering unlimited tastings to go with the cheese and biscuits or fresh oysters on offer.
* Taking a ride on the Carnival ferris wheel with stunning views of Knysna laid out on all sides.
* Checking out all the incredibly well-organised kids events (Cooking classes! Colouring in competitions! Pavement art contests! Sport!)
* Watching the Oystercatcher Oyster Shucking Contest (presented and surrounded by Tabasco to spice up the fresh oysters), while listening to a live band in a tent on the waterfront.
* Going on an oyster bed / Knysna Heads / mampoer tasting boat ride around the lagoon (fun except for the somewhat-terrifying ‘oyster shot’ – a raw oyster, a dash of lemon and some strawberry chilli mampoer. Yikes!)
* Indulging in an absolutely heavenly massage at Pezula… Absolutely heavenly. Followed by some down-time in the post-treatment room on a (wait for it) heated water bed that massages different sections of the body one at a time. And a deliciously fresh berry smoothie to bring me back to life. I’m still floating in a happy haze from that one.
Still to come is the PnP Knysna Oyster Festival Mardi Gras (apparently a highlight!)
I’ll let you know what it’s like… For now, though, what’s keeping you? Head to Knysna for a festival that manages to be both entertaining and relaxing. A rare and lovely combination!