Blogger Guides – CAPE TOWN – Featured Blogger: Karisa Nicholls

Interview With Featured Blogger: Karisa Nicholls, CapeTownMyLove.com

by Alyssa Ramos

1. How extended have you lived in Cape Town and what do you totally enjoy the most?
   I moved to to Cape Town in January of 2003.  I love all the various options the city has to provide.  From becoming able to get pleasure from the stunning outdoors, touring the winelands, paying the day at the seashore, climbing mountains, indulging in some good shopping and top rated high quality foods, and currently being inspired by nearby art & style and design, it’s all right here.
2. How would you describe the men and women/your close friends? (personality/life-style wise)
   I believe my group of buddies are all very similar to me.  We adore exploring and striving new points.  We’re usually active and up for rather much anything at all.  You rest when you’re dead appropriate?
3. What is the absolute need to see/do in Cape Town?
   You basically have to do the major touristy stuff – Table Mountain & the cableway, a hike up Lion’s Head, the Camps Bay strip, Clifton Beach, the V&A Waterfront, a wine route, and in summer a Sunday afternoon concert at Kirstenbosch Gardens.  A single factor Cape Town also does particularly well is a marketplace and we have so several to select from.  I personally really like the V&A Marketplace on the Wharf (open seven days a week), the Hope St Market on a Thu eve, the Neighbourgoods Industry at the Biscuit Mill on a Sat morning and the Bay Harbour Market place in Hout Bay on a Sunday.
4. Exactly where is a enjoyable area to go for wine?
   I adore the Constantia Wine Route.  It’s only about a 15min drive from the city centre and there are some wonderful wineries with some genuinely good wines on that route.  Some of my individual favourites are Eagle’s Nest (makers of the finest Shiraz in the word according to a current global award), Constantia Glen (their cheese & charcuterie platter is a need to!) and then Beau Constantia for an elegant setting with some incredible views.  Then in town, if you’re just on the lookout for a excellent drinking hole / wine bar, test Publik or WeinHaus+BierGarten (formerly known as &Union – they do terrific craft beers also)
5. What is your standard day like?
   I’m a freelance on the internet copywriter/social media manager/internet site creator, so normally you’ll obtain me huddled over my laptop in my PJs during the day.  Then in the evenings I’m at some form of launch (I get a lot of invites through my website) or trying out new restaurants & bars.  On the weekends I really like to hit the markets, some wine farms, or if the weather’s great you’ll locate me poolside or on the seaside.  I’m also always up for getting some fresh air into my lungs with a hike or a promenade run.
6. What is the style like right now?
   You can acquire quite substantially any kind of fashion right here.  We have most of the significant worldwide retailers like Zara, Topshop, and so forth.  Also all the luxury brand names like Louis Vuitton, Burberry & Gucci.  We’re even finding our very first Forever 21 quickly.  The only issue we will need now is an H&M… but Mr Rate is like our regional edition for very low expense, quick trend.
   Then we also have some fantastic street fashion purchasing and neighborhood clothes & accessory models if you hit up regions like Long St, Kloof St and Woodstock (primarily Albert Rd exactly where you’ll discover The Woodstock Exchange, The Bromwell Boutique Mall, The Woodstock Foundry & The Biscuit Mill).  The hipster scene is very massive in Cape Town, so skinnies, thick-rimmed glasses, bow ties & vintage looking knits are popular area.  But in basic you’ll see a superior mix of distinctive vogue.  We’re really a great deal on trend with what’s occurring all-around the globe.
7. What fashion/style/packing guidance would you give to an individual going to from the U.S.?
   Cape Town climate can be rather unpredictable.  We joke that you can virtually practical experience all 4 seasons in a single day.  So come ready to layer on and layer off.  Straightforward walking sneakers are a ought to to take a look at the city streets and then if you’re the adventurous sort, some trail operating or hiking shoes are a good idea as well.
8. Do you have any unique suggestions for girls traveling to Cape Town?
   Safety sensible, I’d give the identical guidance as travelling anywhere truly:  Don’t accept drinks from strangers, stay with your group as significantly as possible and be weary of above-friendly strangers.  Generally just stay alert and trust your instincts.  Most Capetonians are super friendly and we truly do like exhibiting travellers all around (due to the fact we’re so damn proud of our city), but just don’t place oneself in any compromising positions.
9. Have you ever been on a safari, if so wherever and do you have any recommendations?
   I haven’t nonetheless been on a full safari, but I’ve been on a lot of game drives.  Most game reserve web sites will have lots of guidelines & guidance on their web-sites close to what to pack, what to put on, what to search out for, and so on.  Also if you’re uncertain, just pop them an electronic mail.  From my working experience the safari & game drive operators in our area are all really useful and qualified.
10. What would you say is a typical misconception about South Africa/Cape Town?
    That it’s a unsafe place to travel to…  I consider all cities/nations have regions that you ought to keep away from and it’s just about applying some simple street smarts.  Maintain a watchful eye in excess of your belongings for example, don’t flash too a lot funds when you’re out and about, and if an place doesn’t truly feel safe, it almost certainly isn’t, so stick to parts the place there are a good deal of persons about you.
11. What are some items/merchandise that are ought to-haves in your purse every day?
    Cash, credit score cards, sunglasses, sunscreen (this is Africa following all, the sun can be quite harsh), and my iPhone.
12. How concerned are people with Social Media there?
    Social media is big – FB, Twitter & Instagram are all pretty preferred.  Foursquare (not technically social media, a lot more of a social details sharing app) is also getting really well known and I discover it’s a great tool when I travel to get ideas on excellent spots to eat/drink/perform/take a look at in my area.
13. I noticed you also do a lot of world-wide-web-based get the job done – do you have any tips for persons who are considering about/attempting to function when traveling?
    I applied to have a really really serious “desk job” as an IT Project Manager.  It was fascinating & challenging, but I hated being caught in an office.  I wished the freedom to work from anywhere, only needing my laptop & an world wide web connection.  This is why I just lately decided to start executing freelance creating/social media/web site do the job.  I consider the most vital thing is to prepare ahead, because the money’s not likely going to be rolling in from day one particular.  Make confident you have some backup financial savings to dwell on even though you’re still setting up your consumer base, and check out to stick to a excellent functioning program.  Also network, network, network!
14. What are the finest destinations to “see and be viewed”?
    Anywhere on the Camps Bay strip (particularly Caprice), and then there are a lot of what we’d class as “hipster” spots in town:  WeinHaus+BierGarten, Residence of Machines, Orphanage Cocktail Emporium, La Parada (basically a tapas spot, but also good for drinks & they have a new bar downstairs termed the Catacombs).  Cape Town’s not actually significant on mega nightclubs, intimate/fashionable bars are additional the scene.  If a bit of dancing is your point, check out Shimmy Seaside Club, The Assembly (they do plenty of live acts as very well, so a wonderful spot to see regional music), Club 31 (31 floors up, so fantastic views) or Decodance (for older hits that you can happily sing along too).
15. What are the most well-known places for locals?
    All of the over. Anyone in Cape Town loves to be viewed (at all times) 🙂
16. If I wanted to get some outfits that are in vogue there (on a spending budget) what would you recommend?
    Mr Selling price, Cotton On, Factorie & Legit.  Then of program you’ll discover great offers at the markets also.
17. If you had to choose a word to describe your existence as a film, what would it be? (i.e. “My Life’s a __travel____Movie”)
    My existence’s an adventure film for confident.
18. If you could inform the world 1 thing, what would it be?
    When Cape Town will get hold of you, you’ll never ever want to leave…

Blogger Guides are a collection of interviews from leading bloggers in unique nations who I contacted through Twitter to assistance give me area/insider insight on points to do and see in every nation I visit rather than only researching the place on the Internet. Bloggers know their cities within and out, not just as residents, but as dedicated researchers and writers about them. Blogger Guides also aims to show how connected we all really are, the two on a human level and a digital degree.