Barrelman’s Blog
Holly Joe Slovo Barrelman
Travel Log:
Getting to Cape Town was a ridiculously long journey. Met a man named Joe Slovo on the plane…turns out he is somebody. Table Mountain also does not suck either. So far, everything is cool, but everyone keeps asking me if I like and know of someone called Rodriguez.
Do you want to learn more about how and why I fell in love with this place? If so, I will tell my story here.
The Barrelman
Meeting Babalas “Just Now”
Travel Log:
My first morning in South Africa started with a coffee order gone wrong—whipped cream instead of cream. Later, I found myself in a tiny pub called De Stomme Jonge, where Simon introduced me to Pinotage, a local wine with a kick. After a few glasses, he mentioned a guy named Babalas I’d meet the next day.
The next morning, I got a call: “We’ll collect you just now.” I rushed to get ready, but hours later, I was still waiting. Turns out, “just now” in South Africa doesn’t mean what I thought.
The Barrelman
Great Whites and the Michelin Man: An American’s First Dive on the Skeleton Coast
Travel Log:
My first week in Cape Town was a bit dramatic. I met the folks who would become my best friends. I attempted to dive for crayfish and perlemoen, and successfully dodged Great Whites…all while defining wetsuit couture.
Curious about how a too-cool-for-school American survived his first South African diving experience? Stay tuned and share my story here.
The Barrelman
South African Cultural Adventures: Wine Barrel Uses and Finding Drunken Sorrow
Travel Log:
The night began innocently enough: Pinotage with Simon at The Stomme Jonge, a few jokes at the American’s expense, and the ever-persistent Brandy & Coke challenges. It ended, however, with me introducing myself to “Mr. Dronk-Verdriet”—drunken sorrow personified.
By morning, I was in a full negotiation with Babalas, wondering if Margot’s suggestion of a BP Pie had been the best idea. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
The Barrelman
Cape Point, A Whale, & The Best Kombi Ride Ever
Travel Log:
Travel Log:
Cape Point wasn’t just a destination; it was a journey filled with laughter, padkos, and Kombi-Chenin. From the Atlantic Seaboard to Chapman’s Peak, every turn of Victoria Road left me speechless. By the time we reached the lighthouse, I’d seen breathtaking views, a whale breaching the waves (fondly named “Big Sushi”), and learned why South Africans are so proud of this corner of the world.
If you want to hear how a kombi ride changed my perspective forever, read the full story here.
The Barrelman
