Tag Archives: Signal Hill

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 15/16 December

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine new headlines

*      Etihad Airways and SAA have announced one of the benefits of their ‘strategic partnership’, in that SAA is commencing flights between Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi from 29 March, doubling the number of flights on this route.  Abu Dhabi is a hub, with access to India, the Middle East, and Asia.

*   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that the profit of its member airlines is expected to grow, due to the lower oil price and GDP growth. Airfares are expected to decrease by 5%.

*   The R 2 million Sun Star sculpture on Signal Hill has unleashed a debate about the role of corporate sponsorship in Continue reading →

Lion’s Head firefighters Sweet Service and Celtic Cove Sour Service Awards!

Lions Head fire Whal CottageThe Sweet Service Award goes to the 130 Cape Town Fire Department firefighters and the Volunteer Wildfire Services, which were instrumental in combating the fire on Lion’s Head and Signal Hill on Tuesday, and from spreading to the houses of De Wet Road in Bantry Bay, despite an unusually strong South-Easter.  Fighting subsequent fires this week, fanned by the South Easter, in Kommetjie and other areas of Cape Town, is also commended.  Continue reading →

New Sun Star shines over Cape Town!

SunstarA new art installation called Sun Star on Signal Hill is attracting attention, despite poor publicity about the latest World Design Capital 2014 project, and is the second contentious outdoor art project to have been erected in the city recently.  The organisers of the design project for Cape Town appear to have already packed up their PR bags,  in that the hosting by Cape Town of World Design Capital 2014 ends next month and they are already taking bids for their furniture!

What makes the 24 meter high sculpture, which  was created by Christopher Swift, contentious is that it is sponsored by Sun International, the ‘Sun’ name written in the hotel group’s typeface at the advertising board alongside the artwork.  It does have emotional appeal in that fencing removed from Robben Island has been built into the ball of the sculpture.  Entitled  ‘Sun Star, A Beacon of Hope‘,  it survived the fire on Signal Hill last week.

The hotel group General Manager for Communications Michael Farr is reported to have placed the following spin on the project: ‘…the installation represented the ability of South Africans to view the future with optimism. Despite the obvious symbolism of using materials from Robben Island where political prisoners such as (the late) Madiba were Continue reading →

Cape Town makes music for FIFA 2014 World Cup, and Faul & Wad Ad’s ‘Changes’!

Coca Cola Anthem Middle EastOn Kfm yesterday morning presenter Ian Bredenkamp spoke about Cape Town’s role as film location, specifically referring to two music videos which have been produced in our beautiful city.

Coca Cola’s anthem for the Middle East for the 2014 soccer World Cup is really odd, entitled ‘The World is Ours’.   The music video tells the story of three friends from Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia meeting up at the airport in Brazil, for the World Cup soccer, and having a good time getting to enjoy the vibe of the country.  However, the video was shot in its entirety in Cape Town and surrounds, representing the ‘vibrant and colourful Brazilian landscape‘, according to the production company.  The video starts off with a park with palms, and features the view from Signal Hill looking down onto Sea Point, Cape Town International, Bo-Kaap, dancing on the rooftop of a building in the city centre with Lion’s HeadCoca Cola Anthem Middle East Rooftop Whale Cottage Portfolio as a backdrop, street food stalls, and having fun on a beach (most likely to be Camps Bay).  The production was by Silver Lining Pictures (in conjunction with Fortune Promoseven Cairo), and the post production was done by Searle Street Post, both from Cape Town.   The anthem interpretation is vibey, and its tune catchy, much nicer than the FIFA official anthem by Pitbull.  The Coca Cola Middle East music video achieved close to 2 million views on YouTube within 48 hours of being Continue reading →