Most people could pay off their bonds or student loans with the amount they've spent on parking tickets.

Tip the car guards
and be friendly to them

Cape Town was built for horse-and-cart and parking, especially in Observatory, is imaginary. One little piece of advice: stay buddy buddy with the car guards. If you regularly park in a certain area, give them your hard-saved 50c, especially if your registration isn't a CA one. I don't want to point fingers, but this may just ensure your little left-hand window is there when you return to your car.

• Yellow lines
• Red lines!
  
• Handicapped bays
  
• Any 'drop off and go' bays. Warning - airport!
  
• Look out for no stopping and no parking signs.
  
• Tow away zones! (Please take it from personal experience.)
  
• Reserved bays (you may not get a fine but perhaps you'll find your tires let out or a light smashed)
  
• Also, look out for faded paint, or lines that used to be red or yellow before a Cape Town winter. Or get yourself a Doctor's Car sticker like mine.

Provided you're not in any of the spaces listed above, park where the space is big enough. Kiss the ground when you get out, withy your car unbruised, that is. Face your car the right way. An easy way of knowing is seeing what directions all the other cars are facing.