My Favourite Holiday
My manager tried to get me to work, but I told him I’d already had my first shot of Jaegermeister, and it wouldn’t be the last. It was December 2022. I had the worst year and finally pulled myself back from heartbreak. I got home in the embrace of a friend and a warm welcome to my birthday. I trembled with excitement, arousal of butterflies in my stomach. Sweaty palms and an increased heart rate, perspiration prepared for the best weekend of the year. We got up early, packed our bags and on our way to Hermanus, I laid back and stared at the trees and wondered what life could be like if I travelled forever. An apartment overlooking the beach, the light piercing through my room, and a bed dressed in fresh linen, I couldn’t wait to wake up to the sunrise and the waves. I had an outfit prepared, and the beautiful day confirmed by the weather, we went on an adventure to a nearby restaurant. I had already been having sparkling wine, and this was my celebratory drink for the rest of the weekend. We restaurant-hopped and didn’t care for the amount of money we would regret spending that weekend. I felt free, beautiful, and alive. And I knew I wanted to feel this forever. Montagu wasn’t different either, a small town with a community of wonderful people who sang for me in a local bar. I felt whole again, and I didn’t want it to end. My friend had a buttery textured lean and beefy flavoured Picanha steak, juicy, and it produced a flavour that danced on my palate. We sat in relaxation while the restaurant owner indulged us through the restaurant’s history and the town it was situated in. Not only did he give us a glass of champagne, but he made us feel welcome while we sipped away. Our dessert wasn’t great, but I was impressed that it was set alight. Waking up to the peaceful sound of birds chirping, we neared the end of our mini getaway. My heart couldn’t take that the weekend had come to an end. The road back was tiresome, yet I still pondered on travelling. We ended the night back in Cape Town with dinner on a rooftop, a saucy and hearty beef Ragu pasta paired with a glass of Merlot. As a traveller and dreamer, I realised I do not want to spend a second in a place that doesn’t make me feel alive.
~ Shantey Moabelo
Unfinished Rooms 