Cafe Cadiz!

Michael Alexander · August 23, 2007, 09:01:10 AM

My hostel, Salesians, was situated on Greenpoint main road, right on the edge of the CBD of Cape Town. I knew the city at night very well. Best bars, which pubs to avoid, and what streets not to walk down..... I also knew in those years that the only after hours Cafe that you could get any take aways was a place called Cafe Cadiz, a portuguese establishment of the highest calibre....

One night, a group of Oranjemunders were together after a Birthday party, we were driving in a convoy af 4 cars, including a SC beachbuggy, We were all hungry and i was leading the gang to Cafe Cadiz for a late late night snack.

I warned my fellow Oranjemunders, " when we get there, just go in , order , pay, don't look at anyone, don't talk to anyone.... this is a rough place at this time of night!", I repeated myself, "there are dangerous people here, just get in and get out.... Are you listening?"

Well our drunken convoy of SC cars pulled up outside the grimey, littered cafe.... we all disembarked, "stay together!, Watch your back", I urged....

And lo and behold, true to my word, there was hostilities afoot inside that cafe..... One thug was kicking the Arcade machine senseless, due to the fact that it had stolen his money, his partner in crime had the poor Cafe owner, half dragged across the dirty counter, threatening him. The place looked a clip out of a "Dirty Harry" movie, thugs and vandals..... What was even more incredible, we all knew thos etwo thugs as Stephen Hockney and Greig Gerstner, ........ My thugs were only Oranjemunders in Cape Town....

Sigh! So much for feeling threatened!

:-\

Warren Weidemann · August 23, 2007, 09:34:07 AM

Hmmm - I remember that night.

Mike - That story also reminds me of the time we were strolling around at the top of Loop street one night in CT, I think there were four of us and you kept on warning us about the dangers of being in this part of town at this hour and how we need to be careful etc. I remember that you had us in such a state of paranoia that we ended up huddled together like a bunch of white mice in a snake pit.
I also remember that the street was basically deserted, when out of the gloom we spotted a shady character heading towards us with a purpose.
I recall a feeling of absolute panic gripped our little group as we eyed this potential mugger/murderer/serial killer suspisciously (bearing in mind that the odds were in our favour - four guys against one - but we had taken into account the panga blade and/or chainsaw this other guy was carrying). By the time the dark figure had reached us, the 'fight or flight' lever had been pressed firmly to the 'flight' side. It was then that the mysterious stranger called out in a blood curdling voice:
'Howsit okes!'

Resisting the urge to bolt screaming into the night, we peered closely at the person in front of us, who turned out to be none other than Andre Lankhaar out looking for party. ;D

Paul Alexander · August 23, 2007, 02:45:23 PM

Ja... I think Mikes the paranoid one... I question whether he's ever seen anything really dangerous in his whole life... I mean, what's this guys benchmark for danger????

Michael Alexander · August 23, 2007, 04:30:41 PM

Right You! Who said that? Did you hear that? They're coming for me again........! :-X

Stephen Brooke · September 27, 2007, 06:44:46 PM

I'm proud to say that I ate a lamb 'rotie' from Cadiz at 4 am in the 80'ies and lived to tell the tale....no salmonella!....Yep, every piece of 'meat' still had a purple stamp on it but at that time of the morning, hung over...who cares.

The bloke who ran it at night....looked like one of the ZZ Top band members....yellow nicotine stained beard and fingers....yep he was a wierd one.

Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard) · September 27, 2007, 06:57:36 PM

Hi Stephan,

I too remember stopping at Cadiz for a bite on the way home from either London town pub or club 604 or the Prince of Wales. Does anyone remember the "Spanish Gardens" in southern suburbs, I think it was off main road in Newlands? This is going back a bit!

Yvette

Michael Alexander · September 27, 2007, 07:00:00 PM

Wow, Prince of Wales, now there was a club I liked..... Remember the glass dancefloor....?
Club 604, was awesome also, ontop of the Heerengracht..... man those were the days... Across the road from my hostel was Trammps!

Man I miss those days....

And Naughtys in Rondebosch.......

8)

Stephen Brooke · September 27, 2007, 07:07:35 PM

Hi, Yvette!
Yep, even I sneaked into 604 once...Reeters/Rita's....ex Catacombs...an old haunt of mine...now I'm giving away my age. Remember 'Cats' ? Went to the 'Wine Barrel' once....never again! Got the shock of my life....yep saw some strange men there!

Here I am, 20 years later with the same woman (wife) I tried to impress with my somewhat spastic dancing at 'After Hours' ex Prince of Wales.....time flies...

Michael Alexander · September 27, 2007, 07:12:12 PM

Ha, Stephen we also went into the wine barrel one night, seeing that it was the 2nd closest pub to our hostel after the Firemans arms, yep got a fright, seeing we was all young lads looking for young ladies in those days,,, should have called it the Blue Oyster! heheheh, actually was'nt a bad pub, if you hhad an open mind and a girl on your arm.......

The Tudor hotel on Greemarket was another favorite haunt of mine, actually one of the best in it's days, manager was a chap called martin, lekker atmosphere!.... Man, whats the name of that bar on your way up to the gardens? the oldest pub in CT, something tavern?

???

Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard) · September 27, 2007, 07:13:43 PM

Yes Stephan, Rita's was also something. Cats, mmm, bit dicey! As for the Wine Barrel (you wouldve had to watch your back!) I have an idea I met your wife working at Debmarine in the early 90's?? Help, cant remember her name.

Yvette

Stephen Brooke · September 27, 2007, 07:17:15 PM

Michael....Pickwick Tavern!......eventually turned into a gay pup i think.
Let's not forget Charlie Parker's and that one below the Holiday Inn in Sea Point...Pasha's?

Yvette.....so It is you!....yep, I'm here in Holland with Brenda...now you remember!

Michael Alexander · September 27, 2007, 07:21:09 PM

Pickwick Tavern, thats the Tavern on the 2nd floor? In town.... I think, The oub I;m thinking of ..is up the road passed Caledon square, heading up to the gardens centre on your left..... Oh ...Nobody mentioned the Crow Bar, with The Fish and chip shop next door, Capt Doreigo's.... or Lusitania Fisheries....

???

Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard) · September 27, 2007, 07:22:42 PM

Yes of course. Hi Brenda, how r u? Do you remember Colleen, in Geology? Crazy character. Cant believe you guys are in Holland. Has the family extended since you left? On the subject of old jols, do you people remember the old Pig 'n Whistle and Abigail's?

Yvette

Michael Alexander · September 27, 2007, 07:26:42 PM

Went to the pig, got trashed in the yard outside, and Abigails was also on the 2nd floor on Rondebosch main road, the only problem going to these places, is i was always Dronk, only have vague memories.....The Helderberg Tavern with Josh Sithole was another of my late 80's places.......

;D

Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard) · September 27, 2007, 07:33:02 PM

I was just about to sign out. but omg have to comment on the Helderberg, Josh Sithole is a legend!!!! We would end up there on Saturdays for a pub lunch. the food was excellent! Eisbein, sour krout and hot eng mustard! I wonder where Josh Sithole is in the world? We used to follow him around CT. I remember him playing at the De Waal Hotel at one time. And down that way was Obs too. Those were the days. It was absolutely no problem to be in Sea Point for a jol and jump in the car head onto de waal drive and head for the Southern suburbs to the next jol. Holiday Inn, Newlands included here. Cant believe we were so wild! Kids dont follow my example!!!!! Go to bed.

Yvette