Thursday, December 25, 2008

25 Dec 2008: Your questions about deck chairs answered


Camps Bay beach is divided into 6 sections by the City Council (we are in section 2 called CB 2). A series of fixed and roving trading licences are allotted on a social equity basis by the Council. There is a fixed trader licensed for deck chairs and cushions, and another one for the umbrellas (these used to be allotted to one trader but were split, to offer more jobs to more people). The general price in recent years is R25 each, for an umbrella, chair and cushion.

They open usually by 9am, and generally close at 6pm, sometimes earlier, even though the sun goes down at 8pm in peak season. Also the general rule of thumb is that your get umbrellas etc from the trader in that area, i.e. you can' t ask a chap in CB2 to give you umbrellas in CB4

Nevertheless, please be patient with the traders. Not all speak English well. Additionally, there are complex inner politics and cultural customs which you may not be familiar with that may result in strange behaviour too.
Whilst they may look like they have an easy time, make no mistake, they work genuinely long hours, in conditions of sometimes blistering heat and sandy wind, with many people often being unfriendly and impatient to them. They also don' t get paid much. So have a heart, whilst you are relaxing, suntanning, they are serving you, sweating, even on Xmas day

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