From the Cradle of Humankind

Today, our journey took us to a southern coastal town on the African continent, specifically to Mossel Bay, South Africa.

The sunny weather made for a perfect day to explore this beautiful port, which catered to both of our interests. Jeff, with his love for mussels, and I, with my passion for genealogy, were excited to embark on our planned excursion: a Mussels and Wine Pairing. The experience not only satisfied our culinary desires but also treated us to a delightful sampling of local red wines. As an added bonus, we had the opportunity to visit a nearby museum that delved into the fascinating history of mankind and the early explorations of the Portuguese navigators, providing a rich cultural context to our gastronomic adventure.

• Ancient beginnings: Mossel Bay is so much more than a coastal town - Its rich history begins 400 000 years ago, evidenced in the findings in the caves at Pinnacle Point, the world renowned site now known as The Point of Human Origins. The site inhabited by Middle Stone Age humans approximately 170,000 to 40,000 years ago shows evidence of human exploitation of marine resources, such as shellfish, their use of ochre pigments, the presence of advanced stone tool technology, and their ability to adapt to changing climates through occupation of the caves.

These discoveries suggest that Pinnacle Point was a crucial site for early human evolution, highlighting the development of complex behavior, symbolism, and technological advancements. At the museum, there was an interesting diagram showing the location of Mossel Bay in relation to the rest of Africa. The diagram also included a timeline and facts providing evidence that the origins of mankind can be traced back to Africa.

As humans migrated, new haplogroups emerged due to genetic mutations, allowing scientists to map the routes taken by our ancestors. By studying the geographic distribution and age of different haplogroups, researchers have reconstructed the general path of human migration from Africa to other continents. Standing on the southern African coast, I found it fascinating to be at the point of origin during this incredible journey.

The museum also had significant information about the continued development of the area from the stone age man up to and beyond when Portuguese explorers landed, followed soon after by the Dutch, French, English. A replica of the Portugese sailing ship used by Bartolomeu Dias to round the Cape of Good Hope in 1488 resides in the interior of the museum. Various maritime exhibits depict the 'successes' and 'failures' of the Portuguese, Dutch and English seafarers around the south-eastern coast of Africa. [Just what I've been reading about in Michener's book "The Covenant"].

One of the fascinating "Finds" at the museum was the boot mailbox located under a 500-year-old milkwood tree. The story behind this mailbox dates back to 1500 when a ship commander, returning from the East, left an important letter in an iron pot shaped like a shoe under this large tree. A year later, in 1501, the commander of the third East India Fleet discovered the letter on his way to India. This event marked the beginning of the postal system in the country. Today, we sent postcards to friends and family back home using the same "boot" mailbox. I wonder how long it will take for these postcards to reach their destinations!

• Mussels and Wine Pairing: Fast forward to the present day and Mossel Bay, known as the place with the second most moderate climate in the world, beaten only by Hawaii, and some astoundingly beautiful beaches. It's also renowned for its fresh mussels and other seafood delicacies, which we thoroughly enjoyed along with a pairing of some nice red wines from a local vineyard, Jaegervliet.

We were delighted when our wine host provided us each with a bottle of Hanepoot, a wine described as fruity and soft on the tongue, for us to enjoy back on the ship with an appetizer or dessert. ,

The perfect combination of breathtaking coastal vistas, exceptional wines from local vineyards like Jaegervliet, and the freshest seafood, such as succulent mussels, made this unique part of South Africa a true delight. We both agreed we'd welcome the opportunity to return and further explore the enchanting treasures of this port city.