Nov 2, 2009 - Blue Jay Lodge, Hazyview SA

I am sure you have all been wondering what has happened to us?? We have not had the best of luck with Internet connections on this trip – so I know I am going to have to play BIG TIME catch up when we get back home.com"target="_blank">Blue Jay Lodge , which is on the outskirts of Kruger National Park. ... Tomorrow we move into the Kruger National Park to stay for almost 3 weeks. ...

Oct 28, 2009 - Cape Point, Whales and Penguins.

This was to be a very long but thoroughly enjoyable day. Betty & Jerry were totally awestruck with the beauty and as always it is such a pleasure touring the Americans to our magnificent Cape Town and surrounding areas. ... Back home in the evening we went to the Cattle Baron Steakhouse to celebrate my niece Michelle’s 30th birthday.This was to be a very long but thoroughly enjoyable day. Betty & Jerry were totally awestruck with the beauty and as always it is such a pleasure touring the Americans to our magnificent Cape Town and surrounding areas. ... Back home in the evening we went to the Cattle Baron Steakhouse to celebrate my niece Michelle’s 30th birthday....

Oct 27, 2009 - Cape Town and our American guests.

After dropping Mom & Dad plus all our luggage off at my sister’s B & B in Cape Town, we climbed back in behind the wheel and went into the center of the city (45 minutes away) to pick up our American friends who had arrived 2 days prior and were staying at the Holiday Inn. ... It was super seeing Betty and Jerry Berndt again! They had escaped the cold of upstate New York and we having escaped the humidity in Florida were all enjoying this spectacular warm sunny weather in Cape Town. ... We discovered that in the 2 days they had on their own in Cape Town prior to us picking them up - that they had already ridden the “hop on hop off double decker bus” and toured the city a couple of times, had visited the V @ A Waterfront and had also gone up table mountain in the cable car. ... As we only have one week with the Berndt’s in Cape Town this did free up our schedule quite a bit. ... We only have 2 more days left in Cape Town and then it’s on to our three week safari…. ...

Oct 27, 2009 - Family and Betty's Bay.

After a leisurely few days in Cape Town with our family playing “catch up”, we took off for Betty’s Bay with my Mom & Dad. ... 90 kms from Durbanville, the suburb of Cape Town where my sister lives. ... Our drive back to Cape Town on the road running alongside the ocean was just gorgeous and even the whales came out to say “bye” to us as we headed back to the city. ...

Oct 16, 2009 - African Moon - Johannesburg

Whew - glad that long flight is behind us. At lunchtime we stepped off the plane in Cape Town (a 2 hour flight) and were greeted my my sister, Cally and Michelle my niece. ... So here we are in Cape Town for 2 nights and then we will leave for Betty's Bay on Monday morning (Mom's 86th birthday) with my Mom and Dad for a 5 night stay at a beach house. ... Just the four of us.Whew - glad that long flight is behind us. At lunchtime we stepped off the plane in Cape Town (a 2 hour flight) and were greeted my my sister, Cally and Michelle my niece. ... So here we are in Cape Town for 2 nights and then we will leave for Betty's Bay on Monday morning (Mom's 86th birthday) with my Mom and Dad for a 5 night stay at a beach house. ... Just the four of us....

Oct 14, 2009 - Passage Home

Really sad to be leaving today, after some last min packing, it was time to make the journey home.(Z5 OKJ) Some 75 mins later and were were on our way down the runway, then increased delay was due to fact they had not got paperwork, and had had to be handwritten! a great journey back, and an excellent air steward in our section who kept everyone happy and we were then coming to a stand at Johannesburg Airport. ... I did not mind the delay as it cut down my waiting time extensive waiting time, so some food, and a cuppa and soon it was time for boarding for the next leg.Really sad to be leaving today, after some last min packing, it was time to make the journey home.(Z5 OKJ) Some 75 mins later and were were on our way down the runway, then increased delay was due to fact they had not got paperwork, and had had to be handwritten! a great journey back, and an excellent air steward in our section who kept everyone happy and we were then coming to a stand at Johannesburg Airport. ... I did not mind the delay as it cut down my waiting time extensive waiting time, so some food, and a cuppa and soon it was time for boarding for the next leg....

Oct 13, 2009 - Last Day

Its quite sad today as this is my last full day in Cape Town, and tomorrow, I begin the journey home, ever the cautious one, I have allowed way too much time for connection so its taking a while longer to get back, but that's OK. ... Its been a lovely sunny day, and first point of call was coffee at the V&A, I was lucky to watch the re launch the ship I had seen last week in dry dock being put to sea, it was brilliant to watch the use of Men, Rope and Capstans, and how they then put the plug back into the dry dock.Its quite sad today as this is my last full day in Cape Town, and tomorrow, I begin the journey home, ever the cautious one, I have allowed way too much time for connection so its taking a while longer to get back, but that's OK. ... Its been a lovely sunny day, and first point of call was coffee at the V&A, I was lucky to watch the re launch the ship I had seen last week in dry dock being put to sea, it was brilliant to watch the use of Men, Rope and Capstans, and how they then put the plug back into the dry dock....

Oct 12, 2009 - Stellenbosch & Rain

A very wet start to the day, awoken at 4am by a huge storm, it was hitting the window for a good 2 hours, easing by dawn, but still damp. I decided that I should not stay in, so out in the car and headed east towards Stellenbosch, for all you wine drinkers you will will have heard of this place. ... The drive down was not nice, and despite it clearer in Cape Town, the cloud was struggling to lift here, I guess the mountains were having an effect.A very wet start to the day, awoken at 4am by a huge storm, it was hitting the window for a good 2 hours, easing by dawn, but still damp. I decided that I should not stay in, so out in the car and headed east towards Stellenbosch, for all you wine drinkers you will will have heard of this place. ... The drive down was not nice, and despite it clearer in Cape Town, the cloud was struggling to lift here, I guess the mountains were having an effect....

Oct 12, 2009 - Llandudno

I took a drive back west and ended up back via a fantastic drive through the hills, on the Atlantic sea board at Llandudno, a very posh town with a tiny beach.I took a drive back west and ended up back via a fantastic drive through the hills, on the Atlantic sea board at Llandudno, a very posh town with a tiny beach....

Oct 11, 2009 - Cape of Good Hope

After my breakfast I headed down the Atlantic coast, this drive is very dramatic, and the road is on the cliff edge. As well as Table Mountain, I could not come here and not visited the famous Cape of Good Hope. ... I had also pre planned to visit here, unfortunately so do other tourists, but it was not too bad, a fellow tourist kindly agreed to take my picture to prove I was here.After my breakfast I headed down the Atlantic coast, this drive is very dramatic, and the road is on the cliff edge. As well as Table Mountain, I could not come here and not visited the famous Cape of Good Hope. ... I had also pre planned to visit here, unfortunately so do other tourists, but it was not too bad, a fellow tourist kindly agreed to take my picture to prove I was here....

Oct 11, 2009 - Cape Town, part deux

My dear friends and family, Thank you for being so patient with me! I realize it has been almost a month since my last blog post, and so much has happened that I have been intimidated to write once more. But here I am to keep you updated on this wonderful African journey that I have been on! I must say that it is in this second half of my trip that I have truly started falling in love with Cape Town. ... I plan on seeing as much as I can before I leave, which I won’t be able to do just because of the infinite possibilities Cape Town has to offer. ... Luckily I grow closer to the people in my program, and I can already tell I am going to miss them all when I leave.My dear friends and family, Thank you for being so patient with me! I realize it has been almost a month since my last blog post, and so much has happened that I have been intimidated to write once more. But here I am to keep you updated on this wonderful African journey that I have been on! I must say that it is in this second half of my trip that I have truly started falling in love with Cape Town. ... I plan on seeing as much as I can before I leave, which I won’t be able to do just because of the infinite possibilities Cape Town has to offer. ... Luckily I grow closer to the people in my program, and I can already tell I am going to miss them all when I leave....

Oct 11, 2009 - Breakfast on The Table

Today was the 'Gun Run' a running race around Cape Town, and the start (first race 0700) and end being the lighthouse a few yards away. ... by the time the car left the car park was full, and coaches could be seen heading up from Cape Town. ... I guess every tourist that comes to Cape Town takes a trip up here, but are they as mad as me, and avoid the crowds and have a quiet breakfast, and writing this journal. ...