FISH HOEK, Cape Peninsula, South Africa, September 30, 2005 — I spent the whole day in Fish Hoek again. It was quite pleasant, too.

When I walked to the beach and out on the catwalk, I was treated to the sight of a whale. It would blow then dive showing the fluke. It must have done this a dozen times. It was so exciting to just go on a wander to the beach and see a whale. It was too far away for me to photograph but I enjoyed seeing it.

I went to a couple of stores just to get some

pocket Kleenex, a new pocket notebook and a postcard or two. And I wandered back to my friend's apartment.

The papers today are full of news about an industrialist who was murdered. A mining magnate with a corruption cloud hanging over him. The papers and TV will be full of this for days. [Ed. note: I found the story in one of the New York Times issues that awaited when I returned home. It was buried on the inside pages.]

We went to the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club in the evening for a drink. Sue and Brian were there as were a bunch of other people for a regular Friday social hour. I had a beer. Sue showed me a medal in the trophy case. Brian was given it for bravery in rescuing a woman from a shark.

We walked down the beach to a bistro after drinks and had dinner. Yes, this is a beautiful and pleasant place to live.