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charlesandmartine · 2 years ago

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Friday 17th February 2023

This and the previous property's water supply comes from the sky. Huge tanks in the garden harvest rainwater for drinking as well as all the other household requirements. These tanks here are running low, and if significant amounts of rain are not delivered soon, they will need topping up by truck at cost. This is not seen as being a popular pastime. Rains are forecast in 4 weeks time.

We had set targets for today that could be considered unrealistic. Our journey from Tuncurry to Yamba was to be something slightly less than 5 hour straight and 430kms up the fast A1 Pacific Highway, which is a long way for us in one day. Complicated of course because we wanted to stop on route to take a look at a couple of places. The first must see place had to be the lunch spot in Nambucca Heads, conveniently situated at the head of the Nambucca River but an absolutely delightful collection of sandbanks and natural harbour. Ham & egg sandwiches are an excellent match for the scenery on offer. What with the visit to the bakery added to the consumption time I think we are now talking overall 6 hours with less than halfway. Our next stop was to be Bellingen at the start of the Waterfall Drive. This unsurprisingly involved driving down a road surrounded by waterfalls and comes well recommended. Bellingen is a town that absolutely confirms everything we like about Australia! It is a comely mainstreet of old traditional shops with covered walkways, banks and cinema; balconies with delicate regency iron fretwork which adds a real charm to it. Apparently some town planners are keen to rip the lot down and replace it with modern stuff identical to everywhere else. Thankfully there is sufficient opposition to this viewpoint to hold this sacrilegious act at bay. But for how long we ask? The tourist information lady was very helpful when asked where best to sample the loveliest of her waterfalls and she immediately began scooping copious piles of leaflets, printouts, maps and instructions suitable for a fortnight stay. Another approach was proffered; if you could do just one of these places, which would it be? So that was how we ended up driving up the Dorrigo Mountain to see the Crystal Shower Falls Walk in the Dorrigo National Park Rainforest. This involved a 3km round trip along tall canopied forest paths winding steadily downwards passing palms and yellow cedars until we heard the sounds of running water. The Crystal Shower did not disappoint, especially the ability to clamber behind the falls to view the falling water from the other side. Fantastic and well worth the hike back up the winding forest path, although now making the overall journey time approach 8 hours.

Thus it was that we arrived in our superb Samsara Bush Retreat cabin just before dusk, tired and very hungry. We didn't fancy cooking at this point so we emptied the Nissan and set coordinates for what looked essentially the nearest thing to a fish and chips restaurant. This somewhat morphed into a hotel by the motorway bridge over the river. Dispell all cosy thoughts of country hotels straightaway. Think more in terms of cowboy town hotel, cattle rustlers and karaoke. Then combine this with trying to converse over a cacophony of country music (term loosely applied) with a Sheila, who's already had a tough day sheep wrestling, with an intention of ordering take away F&C. What did come across in clear dulcet tones was: 30 minutes, busy and that'll be 50 bucks! Waiting the required 'go out and catch fish, fillet and cook' time we investigated the possibility of a supply of SB. This was to romp in at 38 bucks a bottle! Well you have to crush the grapes, ferment etc, all costs I suppose. So we approached what must have been Sheila's sister behind the bar to enquire if she might possibly have a bottle of beer. What do want, what you got, no what do you want? This circular discussion continued a while until we suggested Four X. Then with a look, she disappeared out back somewhere (not the outback, although by the amount of time it took it could have been) she emerged with a cold one.

Our landlord suggested later this was the best place to go in this sugar mills district where clearly the entire town of millers come out on a Friday evening to let their hair down.

Hmm

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vishnupr · 10 months ago

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Discovering Wayanad's Enchanting Beauty: A Nature Lover's Paradise

The beautiful region of Wayanad, located in Kerala, India, is tucked away in the Western Ghats. It is a popular tourist destination because of its lush surroundings, mist-covered hills, and abundant wildlife. Wayanad, renowned for its verdant surroundings, tumbling waterfalls, and immaculate animal sanctuaries, is a paradise for both adventurers and environment lovers. Come along on a virtual tour with us as we explore this captivating region's ageless beauty.With its expansive plantations, meandering rivers, and deep forests, Wayanad is a veritable treasure trove of natural beauties. Travellers looking for peace in the embrace of nature can find a stunning setting in the district's lush valleys and rolling hills. Every area of Wayanad, from the tranquil beaches of Pookode Lake to the expansive views of Chembra Peak, possesses an enduring enchantment that enchants the senses.Wayanad offers a variety of tranquil hideaways surrounded by lush nature for those yearning for a getaway from the bustle of city life. As you relax in the cosy surroundings of eco-friendly resorts and homestays, picture yourself waking up to the pleasant sound of birds tweeting and trees rustling. Wayanad offers lodging alternatives that blend in perfectly with the surrounding natural beauty, whether it's a luxurious tent by the river or a rustic hamlet tucked away in the hills.Among the most striking features of Wayanad's terrain are its magnificent waterfalls, each of which presents a sight of tumbling water amid lush surroundings. These natural beauties, which range in height from the famous Meenmutty Falls, which plunges more than 300 metres, to the tranquil Soochipara Falls, where guests can engage in daring pursuits like rock climbing and river rafting, never cease to enthral with their unadulterated beauty and raw might.Numerous wildlife sanctuaries and reserves may be found in Wayanad, offering refuge to a wide variety of plants and animals. Take a safari into the thick forests of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, where you may be able to see tigers, leopards, and elephants among the verdant foliage.

A trip to the Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary provides birdwatchers with the chance to see a wide variety of birds in their native environment.Beyond its breathtaking natural beauty, Wayanad is surrounded by a rich cultural legacy and centuries-old customs. Discover the charming communities scattered across the terrain, where customs and ceremonies are reverently maintained and time appears to have stopped. Wayanad's rich history is apparent in every facet of its culture, from colourful harvest celebrations to historic temples and holy gardens.Enjoying Wayanad's delicious food, which is as varied as its surroundings, is a must-do during any vacation. Savour traditional Kerala dishes at neighbourhood restaurants and roadside stands, loaded with flavorful spices and fresh ingredients, all served with warm, traditional hospitality. Every dish, from fiery fish curry and crispy banana chips to creamy stew and steaming hot appams, narrates a tale of culinary artistry that has been passed down through the ages.Enjoying Wayanad's delicious food, which is as varied as its surroundings, is a must-do during any vacation. Savour traditional Kerala dishes at neighbourhood restaurants and roadside stands, loaded with flavorful spices and fresh ingredients, all served with warm, traditional hospitality. Every dish, from fiery fish curry and crispy banana chips to creamy stew and steaming hot appams, narrates a tale of culinary artistry that has been passed down through the ages.Wayanad is an experience that stays in the heart long after the voyage is over, not just a place to be visited. Every facet of Wayanad's splendour, from its lush scenery and tumbling waterfalls to its lively culture and mouthwatering cuisine, leaves a lasting impression on the spirit. So gather your belongings, set out on an exploratory voyage, and allow Wayanad's ageless beauty to seduce you in ways you never would have thought possible.Arayal Resort is a shining example of elegance and peace, providing visitors with an unrivalled escape into the embrace of nature. Arayal the best resort in wayand is a nestled amid the symphony of the nature and set against the beautiful scenery, delivers a refreshing escape for those seeking peace and tranquilly amidst the grandeur of Wayanad. The resort is surrounded by the untainted splendour of Wayanad's forest, provides countless chances for adventure and discovery among the wonders of nature. Go on guided nature walks through beautiful valleys and thick forests, find secret waterfalls tumbling through the emerald foliage, or on exhilarating wildlife safaris to see the variety of animals and plants that live in Wayanad.

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claireinnc · 1 year ago

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Yosemite

Our drive to Yosemite led us to a very different climate. Within about four hours, we had arrived our lodging for a couple of days -Yosemite View Lodge. It was a perfect place to stay- one of the closest hotels to the entrance to the park and a beautiful setting. Our room overlooked the river and we were fortunate to have a balcony to enjoy the view.

We enjoyed fish and chips at the hotel restaurant before retiring to our room to enjoy a glass of wine on the balcony. It was an early start the next morning in order to try and avoid the crowds at the park.

At 5.45, we were on the road heading to Yosemite. A 30 minute drive took us into the park. Once inside , the scenery just continued to increase in beauty. The sun was just rising and provided a warm glow to the cold early morning.

We were pleased to find a coffee stop and a cafe for breakfast before we went to hire bikes. The downside of visiting in the summer was definitely the queues: we waited about thirty minutes to get our bikes. Once on the saddle, we were off. The park has a twelve mile cycle path which weaves its way around the park past most of the main sights. This was just perfect for us.

Our first stop was to the start of Muir trail. This was going to be our main hike of the day to climb to see the dome.. The sun was starting to warm up the morning as we parked our bikes and set off. It was about to get hot!

The hike was steep in parts and as we ascended, there were times when I thought I'd have to turn round. I wasn't sure if it was the altitude or just the fact I had got up so early. Either way, I'm so glad we continued tot he top. We had prepared lunch and were able to perch on a slab and just enjoy the views.

In the afternoon, we cycled to Mirror Lake and enjoyed the cool water. There were several families taking a dip...braver than us! It was beautiful and would have been great for a swim to cool down, but with no swim wear, we weren't prepared to follow some of the others into the water fully clothed.

Our final stop in the park was Yosemite Falls. There are several waterfalls in the park, but some are harder to access than others. This was an easy cycle ride and short walk so a great way to end the day.

The park is just an awesome place to experience beauty and the great outdoors. We had a great day and wished we'd planned longer here.

In the evening, we enjoyed pizza on the balcony just taking in the sound of the river and reflecting on our day.

A brief swim in the pool in the morning refreshed us for the next part of our trip. We packed up and began our journey to Monterey.

The great thing about travel is often the small unassuming places you pass through. Mariposa was just one of these. Situated only about half an hour down the road, it is a small mountain town with a row of wooden buildings housing small individual shops. It provided us with our coffee stop and a moment to browse the local wares.

Our journey would take us through large open spaces, definitely through a range of temperatures and we'd take the occasional wrong turn. On one occasion this led us down an empty road - well more a rather bumpy track before we had to turn around in case the car suffered any permanent damage.

Eventually, we started to see signs for Monterey and before long, we realised we were heading into a mist that would cloud our views and wewould learn that this part of California is prone to this , especially during the summer.

#teachertravelsnc #california #yosemite national park #cycleyosemite

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travelingtheusa · 2 years ago

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IDAHO

2023 May 19 (Fri) – I spent most of the morning calling campgrounds and restaurants to confirm reservations for the caravan. When finished, we took our laundry into town to do the wash. While the clothes washed, we visited Idaho Joe’s again. We really like that place. While the clothes were in the dryer, we went to Fred Meyer for groceries and fuel. Everything is set for our move to Utah tomorrow.

I’ve never seen a place do so much watering. One area in the back of the fairground had sprinklers going for 5 days! After spending time in the desert and watching how desperate the situation is, I feel angered that they would waste water here. I guess when you have the resource, you don’t think about it. That’s probably what happened to Arizona, Nevada, and California over the years. Now they are in trouble. Idaho should take note.

2023 May 18 (Thu) – We drove into town for lunch today. We wanted an Irish pub and I was looking forward to shepherd’s pie. We found O’Dunken on Trip Advisor. When we arrived, we discovered it was more of a pub with a limited menu. There was no shepherd pie or fish & chips or any other Irish dish. I had a corned beef sandwich and Paul had an Italian hoagie. We got half a sandwich with salad (me) or soup (Paul). It was a disappointment.

We stopped at the liquor store on the way back to replenish our libations supply.

2023 May 17 (Wed) – We drove almost an hour to Shoshone this morning to tour the Ice Cave. As we pulled up, a woman came out and asked if we wanted to go on the tour. We said yes and she told us that a tour had just started and we could jump onto it. We agreed and joined the group. The guide was a young man, probably high school or college student. There were nine of us on the tour and we walked in a single file over lava rocks and down into the cave. I could not hear him in the back of the group. That was quite annoying. The ice cave was very interesting. We have been in many caves but this was different. The center of the cave had a perfectly formed dome ceiling. This was because there was a gas bubble in the lava. When it popped (or deflated), the round shape remained. Further into the tunnel, there was ice gathered on a pile of rocks in the center of the room. We walked across slushy ice water on boardwalks that were slippery with ice. The cave used to be solid ice but over the years, owners blew out the walls to put in additional entrances. The warm air coming into the cave caused the ice to melt. The openings were closed but the cave is not as sealed as it was when discovered in 1880. The walls glittered with ice crystals. It was cold down there.

After the tour, we drove back to Twin Falls and enjoyed a late lunch at Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant. We really enjoy that place! I had a chicken parmesan rigatoni dish and Paul enjoyed a lemon chicken dish. We also enjoyed coffee and tiramisu for dessert. Everything was delicious. We also ordered a lasagna meal to take home.

We had the most delightful time in Centennial Park back in Twin Falls this afternoon. We drove down to the bottom of the gorge where the Perrine Memorial Bridge spans the Snake River. There are two golf courses on either side of the river among the lava rocks and other awesome topography. The road doubled back on itself 3 times on the way down, the angle of descent sometimes reaching 21%. We stopped at one turn to explore a waterfall. It turned out that there was a trail that ran back behind a waterfall. We walked around behind the waterfall and marveled at the beauty of the grotto. Further down, there were two ramps to put boats in the water – one for motorized boats and one for non-motorized boats (paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc.). Back up top, we drove down the road to a restaurant sitting at the top of the gorge. We walked around the back and found a platform built on the edge that overlooked the gorge and river below. Wow! It was dizzying to stand at the top and look straight down to the bottom. Kind of weird to see birds flying below you.

2023 May 16 (Tue) – We went into town today so I could get a haircut. After that, we walked up and down main street in Twin Falls, admiring the stores and wandering in and out of a few. Then we had lunch at 2nd South Market. They claim that it is the oldest food hall in America. It was updated and looked very modern. It was a large open hall with food vendors around the perimeter of the room and tables in the middle as well as outdoors on a patio.

After lunch, we drove a half-hour to Jerome to tour the Minidoka National Historic Site. It was one of ten relocation camps for Japanese-American citizens in 1942. Over 33,000 people passed through the camp over a 4-year period. They had 36 barracks with additional buildings: community halls, dining halls, outhouses, administrative offices, medical facilities, etc. The camp ran for 3 years until the end of the war.

We drove back to Twin Falls and stopped in WalMart to pick up milk and wound up spending over $200. Ugh. We did need the stuff but it certainly was unplanned purchases.

2023 May 15 (Mon) – We drove into Twin Falls to do the laundry. The 2 washers and 2 dryers cost $1.50 each. They all worked fine and the clothes were all fully dry at the end of the dryer cycle.

While the clothes were washing, we went to Idaho Joes for lunch. I had a large baked potato and salad while Paul enjoyed a taco salad. The food was good and, again, they gave us a military discount of 10%. We returned to the laundromat to move the clothes from the washers to the dryers then drove to Fred Meyer Supermarket. I really like that grocery store! It is a WalMart on steroids. We picked up a rug for bedroom and a bathroom set of rugs. We then picked up groceries and checked out. We returned to the laundromat to get our clothes and stopped at U-Haul on the way back to get propane.

It sprinkled a little this morning then the day cleared up and got quite warm by late afternoon. All the other RVs that were here (and that wasn’t many) have gone. We are all alone. There were a group that came in with their horses this evening. I don’t know if it was a club or a class but they rode their horses around the small arena next the camping area.

2023 May 14 (Sun – Mother’s Day) – We spoke with Travis and his boys this morning. I sent both Miranda and Samantha some chocolates. Paul wished me a happy mother’s day (😊).

We went to the Magic Valley Mall where I bought two pairs of blue jeans and Paul got himself a pair of slippers. It was overcast and rainy all day.

We noticed an odd thing today. The vast majority of license plates around here start with 2T. We were musing about that, thinking that it might mean Twin Falls. It could mean the town but with the ponderance of license plates with those digits, it probably means Twin Falls County.

2023 May 13 (Sat) – We happened upon a horse event here at the fairgrounds. We saw youngsters taking a class on Thursday. Last night, there was the start of a high school rodeo. Today was a full day of rodeo activities. Junior and Senior high school students rode horses and roped calves. It was so interesting to see 13 and 14 year old children doing these grown-up things. We sat in the bleachers for about an hour, then left to have lunch.

After lunch, we went to the Twin Falls County Historical Society Museum. There was a small building that used to be a school that was now a museum. We wandered through the various rooms looking at collections of old stuff. Then we walked outside around the yard looking at old farming equipment; much of it old, rusted, and falling apart.

2023 May 12 (Fri) – We drove to Perrine Memorial Bridge in Twin Falls this morning. The bridge is 486’ above the Snake River and people base jump from it. There were several athletes doing just that. They jumped off the bridge with their parachutes and landed below 24 seconds later. Then they had to climb back up the steep bank. It looked really tough to do.

We stopped at Idaho Joe’s for lunch. I had a great sandwich and Paul had a baked potato with clam chowder and the biggest piece of cornbread I’ve ever seen. We both brought leftovers home.

Then we drove to Shoshone Falls. They are rated at medium flow. That was disappointing. I thought we would see more waterflow but apparently the spring thaw is over and the water is slowly dissipating. After admiring the area (which reminded me somehow of the Wisconsin Dells), we drove to Diekers Lake. It was nice with a designated swimming area. We walked around the floating boardwalk. It was wiggly and a little unsettling. Next stop was at Twin Falls. It turned out they built a hydroelectric plant at that point and there is now just one falls. During high water, they open a second vent and there might be two water spouts. Disappointing. There were several marmots running the area and we delighted in trying to catch sight of them.

2023 May 11 (Thu) – We drove into town to get groceries at Albertson’s. Breakfast was at the Buffalo Café. It was an interesting stop. They had a hunter breakfast which consisted of fried potatoes with onion and peppers and covered with gravy. It sounded intriguing so we both ordered the dish. It was quite good and very filling. We brought leftovers home.

We took a walk around the campground and came across a group that seemed to be getting ready for a function. There were bean bag games going on and some tables set up around the place. About six food trucks were parked around the outskirts, some open and some still setting up. We went back at 5 p.m. and discovered it was a fund raiser for breast cancer. The band was excellent. We got food and drinks, then sat at a picnic table and listened to the band for an hour. It started to get overcast and cool so we left.

When we got back to the rig, we saw horses gathering in a nearby arena. We made coffee then walked over so see what was going on. It turned out to be a class for children on how to handle their horses. We sat in the bleachers for a while but then left when it got cooler. They said there will be a show on Saturday. We’ll go to that.

2023 May 10 (Wed) – Packed up and left West Wendover, NV, at 10:25 a.m. It would have been about 3 hours to our next campground but we stopped to help a couple who broke down on the road. They had a blow out and the fender above the wheel was torn out. When we pulled up and stopped (for me to use the facility), we found a man trying to change the tire on his fifth wheel RV. The lug nut wrench didn’t fit some of the lug nuts. Two of the lug nuts were stripped. The nut holding the spare tire in place was rusted in place. Because the tire was shredded, the wheel just spun when he tried to get a lug nut off. Paul worked with the husband for an hour to get the tire changed. It was a bear but they finally got it. The couple – Claudia and Al Brimm from Washington (state) – were very thankful.

We arrived at Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho, around 2:30 p.m. We parked in a site then went to the office to pay. There are 4 rows of hookups with FHU usually. However, they are in the process of replacing the sewer pipes so we have no sewer hookup. We will have to go to paper plates and plastic silverware to minimize water usage so our tanks don’t fill up too much. Hopefully, they’ll be done in a week otherwise, we will have to make it work for 10 days.

We selected a site then parked longways across 3 sites. We are on grass. There are two other RVs parked in the campground. The fairground is very large with numerous buildings around the site. They are marked for different categories of livestock like horse barn, poultry, rabbits, 4H club, etc. There are two dirt arenas for horses. A few horse trailers are in one area. Don’t know if a show is coming or just finished.

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thisislizheather · 3 years ago

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2021 Resolutions Revisited

Making resolutions in 2021? What a concept. Even though we’re still in the middle of a global pandemic, I managed to do a couple of notable things last year. I started out the year in Canada since I tested positive and had to stay put, so I spent most of those days watching the snow fall and never missing an episode of Jeopardy with my Dad. I kept making my seasonal lists (spring, summer, autumn, winter). I did Nathan’s podcast eight times:

#1: “Internet Closed on Sundays”

#2: ”Great Companies”

#3: “Accountant Part Two“

#4: “Accountant Part Three“

#5: ”What’s A Rat King”

#6: “Are We Controlled By Companies“

#7: “Girl Guides For Life“

#8: “Ten Years in NYC“

I got fully vaccinated and got a booster too, I took Baby Dog to Coney Island, I worked as a hostess on the Upper East Side for a few months (where I seated Woody Allen and then quit the next day), I went strawberry picking in Connecticut and ended up eating at Mystic Pizza, I went to two beautiful summer weddings, Nathan & I celebrated twelve years together, I started working part time as a literary agent, I saw so many Broadway plays (Wicked, Aladdin, To Kill A Mockingbird, Dear Evan Hansen, Girl From The North Country), my niece Layla came to NYC for the first time, I started taking online classes to help make my site better, I went to Salem in October, I got fake nails four times and look how gorgeous.

I finally saw the pumpkin float in Central Park, I took tours of gorgeous old mansions upstate, we all dressed up for Halloween, Nathan drove my parents to Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia while they were visiting, I wrote about my very favourite Thanksgiving recipes, I went blonde, I compiled my favourites of 2021, my parents met Nathan’s mom for the first time, I spent Christmas with my whole family for the first time in two years, and I found my favourite photos of the year. My two biggest failures of the year? Trying to eat these A-Z foods and my attempt at wardrobe challenge. Here’s how my 2021 resolutions went.

1. Read at least one book per season.

Winter: The Answer Is… Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek

Spring: Enter Talking by Joan Rivers

Summer: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Archor and The 5 Buckets: A Framework For Living With Intention by Bobby Dysart

Autumn: Okay so here’s the thing, I was so bored by Charles Grodin’s book that I didn’t even think about reading for months. I blame the Grod.

2. Juice at least five times a month.

I feel like I was a completely different person at the beginning of 2021 and all the prior years before that? Juicing is not the answer, honey. I did start out the year still doing them, but like, what a weird thing to track each time…? Eating disorder much? I’m not stating how many times it happened and I promise it won’t be on this year’s list. I’m sorry to anyone I’ve ever triggered any time I’ve talked about juicing.

3. Take Baby Dog on an adventure at least twice a season.

Winter: we took her to Canada for four months, so I think that counts for at least two adventures.

Spring: one trip to Central Park and one to Coney Island.

Summer: took her to New Jersey for a wedding and then to upstate New York for another wedding.

Autumn: took her to Canada for Thanksgiving & then to Central Park to see the fall foliage.

4. Get Nathan to take more photos of me.

Okay, I need to amend this one to include more people than just Nathan, especially since 99% of men I know have zero idea how to take a flattering photo.

5. Try at least one new restaurant each month.

January: Old Bagel House (woof, bagels should be illegal outside of New York, come at me)

February: <the whole month I either had COVID or was recovering>

March: Bar Primi (great spot, dim lighting, you can’t go wrong)

April: Bar Dalia (wonderful, intimate)

May: Dame (absolutely stellar fish and chips), Vicolina (oddly subpar, overpriced Italian)

June: dell'anima (very okay, but not worth the trek to 11th Avenue), Forsythia (one of my favourite new Italian places), Mystic Pizza (wildly average, but very cool to be there because of the movie)

July: Mimi Cheng’s (great dumplings), Spunto’s (great pizza), Marks Off Madison (crazy good turkey club sandwich)

August: Society Cafe (decent!), Ten Bells (very cute, even for Brooklyn), Vic’s (perfectly okay, but don’t think I’d return), Ruta (best new Mexican place I’ve tried in a long time)

September: Amylos Tavern (pretty good!)

October: Minton’s Playhouse (decent for a venue)

November: Red Hat on the River (incredible mussels), Di Fara’s (great but not worth the trek)

December: Carbone (thoughts over here), Via Carota (so so good), Dolly Varden (great food and cocktails)

6. Submit pieces to publications at least five times each month.

It’s better if I don’t tell you how little I did this. I didn’t do zero per month, but I definitely didn’t do five.

7. Save $50 every Monday to use for travel spending money.

I did this for the first half of the year and then lord only knows what happened.

8. Buy nothing from Amazon or Wal-Mart, or at least limit it to once per month.

All right so I went nuts with the Wal-Mart shopping anytime I was in Canada. And you don’t want to see my Amazon orders from November and December. I want to stop, but I guess I’ll just have to come to terms with being a terrible person.

9. Cook A-Z new things.

This one really fell off the rails. I’m not against finishing the list, but this feels more of a within-a-decade kind of goal…? Haha?

10. Stop being so afraid.

Truthfully, I’m still pretty afraid. But this is a baby steps kind of resolution. I’d never have even dreamed of dying my hair blonde even a year ago, so that’s big for me. I’m also getting better at communicating boundaries in my relationships, so that’s also big.

One thing that I’ve very pleased to have kept up with? My monthly roundup posts. They’re my favourite to write, so I’m grateful that anyone wants to read them. Here are the links to the last twelve months of them: December 2021, November 2021, October 2021, September 2021, August 2021, July 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, March 2021, February 2021 & January 2021.

And here are all the best tweets posts from 2021 as well: January tweets, February tweets, March tweets, April tweets, May (part one) tweets & May (part two) tweets, June (part one) tweets & June (part two) tweets, July (part one) tweets & July (part two) tweets, August (part one) tweets & August (part two) tweets, September (part one) tweets & September (part two) tweets, October (part one) tweets & October (part two) tweets, November (part one) tweets & November (part two) tweets, December (part one) tweets & December (part two) tweets.

2022 resolutions coming tomorrow!

#resolutions #resolutions revisited #2021 resolutions revisited #this is liz heather #Liz Heather

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englishprojectblog · 3 years ago

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Travel (Countries)

Hello again everyone!!!!! I’m so happy to see you in this new post!, I hope you well and you still taking care of the pandemic! All right guys, today we’re gonna talk about travels, countries we would like to travel to (visit), or where we would like to live in the future, where we would like to study, etc.

Anyway, we’ll start, I´m gonna share you all, my dream countries, the places I would like to travel or visit in the future. Good!! C’mon!

COLOMBIA:

What to see and do in Colombia?

1.Bogota, the perfect gateway Land in Bogota, one of the highest capitals in the world and be amazed by the Candelaria, its historic heart, full of colorful houses, street art and colonial buildings. 2. Colonial towns There are picturesque colonial villages scattered throughout Colombia. If you like the charm of rural tourism and diving into the country's past, you should include some of them in your itinerary. Villa de Leviya, one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia, surprises the traveler with its Plaza Mayor, one of the largest in the Americas. Or Barichara, a village built in stone where, according to legend, the Virgin appeared to a peasant. 3. Rosario Islands From Cartagena there are a thousand possibilities for excursions along the coast: you can sail to the Rosario Islands, visit a lake of pink waters in the salt flats of Galerazamba 70 km to the north, or go down to the south and continue discovering more islands. 4. La Guajira Another area that many people recommend is La Guajira, a remote peninsula that conquers the hearts of all who dare to reach it. Spending days on the shores of dune beaches, relaxing in hammocks reading a good book, exploring mangroves, spotting flamingos, floating down the Palomino River on a rubber boat, enjoying the night sky without light pollution.

England:

What to see and do in England?

1. Enjoy London London is one of the most attractive cities in Europe, where in the same day you can visit museums, stroll through hipster markets, watch the changing of the guard, take a selfie with the typical phone booth and eat a fish&chips on the second floor of a red bus under Big Ben.

2. Stroll along Hadrian's Wall It's hard to believe that this wall, which spans some 117 kilometers, was built around 122-133 A.D. on the orders of Emperor Hadrian himself. It is an amazing place, although more for its size than for its beauty. Along the wall there are old fortresses, towers and a few museums where you can document and be amazed even more.

3. Take a castle tour If there is something that is not missing in England, with the permission of Mr fish&chips, it is castles. There are hundreds and hundreds scattered throughout the territory, but if you do not have much time we suggest you choose between Windsor Castle, Warwick Castle, Dover Castle, Stokesay Castle, Alnwick Castle, Leeds Castle or the beautiful Arundel Castle.

Italy:

What to see and do in Italy?

1. Rome Rome is, without discussion, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and any trip to Italy should spend at least a few days there. It is known as the "Eternal City" for the history that each of its nooks and crannies encloses, but in Rome you can also enjoy avant-garde attractions such as haute cuisine restaurants and shopping streets that can only be found here. Visit the Colosseum, stroll through the magnificent Pantheon, lose yourself in the stalls of the Campo d' Fiori Market and dine out in a romantic restaurant in Trastevere to prove to all your senses that Rome is among the best in Italy.

2. Venice Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world and one of the places to visit in Italy at any time of the year. The city of canals exudes sensuality from every corner, especially in its big party, the Carnival. Traveling along the Grand Canal of Venice aboard the gondola can be one of the star Italian experiences of your trip and you will surely fall in love with it. Also, remember to stroll through its most famous square, St. Mark's Square, visit the famous Doge's Palace of Venice and cross the Rialto Bridge, the most famous bridge in the city.

3. Florence Beautiful! We promise you that this will be the word that comes out of your mouth as soon as you arrive in Florence. This city is one of the best places to see in Italy thanks to its incomparable cultural richness. The historic center of Florence gathers incredible places such as the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery or the Ponte Vecchio.

And that’s all for today everyone!! I hope you liked it, and you enjoyed, thanks for reading and see you soon!!

#travels

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lovemesomesurveys · 3 years ago

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Thought I Couldn't Top It, Huh? OVER 2000 Questions! (Truly the Longest!) Created by distortedcognition

Part 4

.Favorites. Color: Pastels, rose gold, sea foam green, coral, yellow. Number: 8. Store: Boxlunch and Hot Topic. Book: I have way too many. Story: Uhh.

Magazine: None. Television program?: I have several of those, too. Movie: Those as well.

Series: I’ll tell you the authors of the several different book series I’ve been into/read the past couple of years, which are Willow Rose, AJ Rivers, Mary Stone, and Elle Gray. Apart from AJ Rivers, they each have a few different series and from what I’m read so far I’ve enjoyed them all. If you’re into the murder mystery and psychological thriller thing, you should check some of ‘em out. Poem: I don’t have one. Onomatopoeia: I don’t have one. Verb: Sleep.

Paradox: *shrug* Idiom: Noun: The beach. Adjective: Blah. Adverb: Bleh. Work of fantasy: Classic work: Contemporary work: Writer: The authors I listed previously are some of them. Fairy tale: Is Alice in Wonderland one? Dictionary brand: Webster is good. Summer scene: The beach. Winter scene: Snow. Spring scene: Rainy days. Fall scene: Orange, yellow, red, green leaves. Season: Fall and winter. Planet: Earth. Space feature: None. Thing about summer: Being able to go to the beach is like the only thing I like. Thing about winter: The weather and Christmastime! Thing about spring: The rain. Thing about fall: The weather, the smells, and ~spooky~ time. Mammal: Giraffes. Insect: NONE. Arachnid: NONEEEE. Fish: I don’t have one. Reptile: None. Amphibian: None. Science: Psychology. Thing to do during summer: Go to the beach. Type of weather: Fall and winter weather. Bird: I don’t have one. Thing to do during winter: Celebrate Christmas and enjoy the coziness. Thing to do during spring: Enjoy the rainy days. Thing to do during fall: Watch scary movies. Nature sound: Rain. Real location: The beach and Disneyland. City: San Francisco is one. Culture: Hmm. State: Out of the ones I’ve been to (California, Idaho, Arizona, Georgia) I’d choose California. There’s several states I’d like to visit that could possibly take that spot. Island: I don’t have one. Landscape: Beaches, mountains, lakes, streams. Place to go in your neighborhood: I don’t go anywhere in my neighborhood except for my house. Italian food: Pasta. Mexican: Burritos and quesadillas. Indian: None. Chinese: Chow mien, potstickers, egg rolls, chicken in foil. American: Chicken tenders and boneless wings. French: Some pastries. Snack: Chips and dip. Pasta: Pesto and spaghetti. Desert: Milkshakes, ice cream, donuts, muffins, cookies, cupcakes. Ice cream flavor: Strawberry, mint chocolate chip, birthday cake, cookies and cream. Soup: I’m a ramen gal. Salad: Caesar. Pancake: Blueberry. Restaurant: I don’t have one, unless Wingstop counts. Fruit: Bananas. Vegetable: Spinach, potatoes, broccoli, green onions. Dinner: Wingstop, spaghetti and meatballs, other pasta, salisbury steaks, pizza. Lunch: Chicken tenders, sandwiches, pasta salads, pizza. Breakfast: Over-easy eggs, waffles, eggs and country gravy, hash browns. Cereal: All the sugary yummy ones, basically. Pop tart: The frosted strawberry and brown cinnamon sugar. Candy: White chocolate. Artificial flavor: Banana and strawberry. Cookie: Sugar, shortbread, Oreos, peanut butter. Yogurt: None. Clothing store: Boxlunch and Hot Topic. Outfit: I like my graphic tees and leggings. Shoe: Adidas. Shirt design: Hmm. Brand name: Adidas. Top: All my graphic tees. Pants: My leggings. Skirt: None. Pair of socks: My Baby Yoda ones. Color [of clothing]: Black. Subject in school: English. Music: I like variety.

Tree: Pine. Flower: I don’t have one, but so many are pretty. Quote: I have many. Scent: I have a lot of those as well, like the smell of rain, coffee, the ocean/beach-y air, coconut, garlic, fruity scents, sweet scents, vanilla, cinnamon, pine, peppermint, sandalwood, cedar wood, patchouli, my favorite foods, desserts, autumnal scents from Bath & Body Works, that wood/fire smell during the fall... Adage: I couldn’t choose just one. Television channel: My TV is usually either on The Hallmark Channel, CMT, MTV, UPtv, or TV Land. Day of the week: They’re all pretty much the same for me. Perfume: I like ones with patchouli in it and some sweet ones. Radio station: I don’t listen to the radio anymore.

Cologne: Ones with sandalwood and cedar wood. Sound: The ocean waves crashing in and out, rain, fire crackling, various ASMR sounds, music. Feeling: ASMR, that first sip of coffee, that satisfying feeling from a good meal, the beachy air on my face, the feel of fall in the air. Emotion: I mean, feeling happy is a nice emotion. Haven’t truly felt that in a long time. :/ Song: I have a lot. Music artist: I like several. Month: October-December. Religious holiday: Christmas. Fun holiday: I think Christmas and Halloween are fun. Obscure holiday: Hmm. Videogame: Mario Bro games. Computer game: The Sims. Sport: None. Athlete: None. Instrument: Piano. Composer: I don’t have one. Singer: I have several. Website: YouTube and Tumblr. Word: Hmm.

Slogan: *shrug* Commercial: I don’t have one. Shampoo: I’m currently using Dove shampoo. Conditioner: I’m using the Dove conditioner as well. Body wash: I don’t use body wash, I use bar soap. Soap: Caress body soap. Lotion: My current favorite is Into the Night from Bath & Body Works.

#personal #text #survey #surveys #over 2000 questions survey series part 4 #favorites #about me #long survey

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vickisventures · 4 years ago

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Durango from 8,000 feet

We made our first trip to check out our seedlings the other day. We were thrilled to see them sitting in about 4 inches of SNOW! We knew we might not need to water our trees, but we wanted to check on things and make sure everything looked alright. All of the protective sleeves were still in place and everything looked really good so far. We ate our picnic lunch in the back of the truck and just enjoyed the peaceful setting for a bit before making the 3.5 hour trip back to Durango. Glad it’s a pretty drive since we’ll be making it a few more times in the next few months.

We’ve hiked a couple more trails since my last blog. The first was a bit more than I thought it was going to be but sooo worth it. It was a 6 mile, fairly rocky loop. The views of the Animas valley were to die for though and we saw a fair amount of wildflowers along the way. There are also some amazing views of town. You get up to around 8100 ft. elevation so that was what got me. I was having trouble breathing. The trek back down was a lot easier going and we made it in around 3:45 hours total. Then yesterday, we went to Vallecito and hiked the Creek Trail. It was another 6 mile hike. I think 6 miles is about all we can handle for now. Between the elevation and the terrain, it about kicks our butts. This hike was a nice one too. We hiked either above or along a river most of the time. The water was roaring so loud at times, we couldn’t even hear each other talk. The mosquitos were a bit bothersome so we will need to start bringing bug spray on our hikes. We had hoped to reach a bridge as our turn-around point, but we couldn’t cross the “creek” due to high waters (Actually, I was too chicken to try to cross it!) and stopped short of that landmark.

Tomorrow is the big day leading to Memorial Day weekend. We have around 39 arrivals. Might get a little crazy at times. Thankfully, we have 3 couples working in the afternoon. This work week we have 4 afternoons and 1 morning scheduled. Steve doesn’t care for the mixed schedule but I don’t mind. We found out one of the couples is leaving in 2 weeks. The girl, although as nice as can be, has not adjusted to working in the office and the computer systems and has made multiple mistakes costing the park money. I doubt the managers were super upset when they gave their 2 week notice. I’m hoping Susan will be able to find a replacement couple because I’m not too excited about being short a couple the whole peak season. I have wondered if this will be our break to getting to work the morning shift from here on out. If so, it couldn’t have come at a better time as we are starting to stay open until 8pm this weekend. I’m not sure what we’ll do about our days off and church…we may just continue to do online church so we can continue our mid-week days off. We have also been playing around with other ideas for the fall/winter. Steve is looking into driving again in North Dakota for the sugar beet season for maybe 6 weeks. Then we might try to get a park job where we only work 2 days a week for December-April. We are still unsure…a lot will ride on what Steve can work out with Transystems. I’ll keep you updated as I know more.

We have found more good places to eat. We tried Olde Tymers Cafe and had some amazing nachos and fish and chips. We also went to a place I’ve been anxious to check out that is about 15 miles to the north of Durango called James Ranch Grille that is a farm to table restaurant. The place has mostly outside seating and is a peaceful location. We went with our Texas co-workers and enjoyed sitting outside and visiting…until it started to get chilly. They have good burgers and the fries are REALLY yummy. They have a little market that had closed by the time we were ready to leave so I want to go back and check out the market sometime.

I don’t know that we have any outlandish stories yet…give me some time! We have had some guests hit these huge rocks that are around the property to keep people out of ditches and the water. Steve had a guy hit one the other day as he was leading him to his site. The guest was pretty new to RVing which may have been the main issue. Thankfully, he didn’t get really upset. We have the pool open and the putt-putt up and running. We’ll start having the pizza oven going and breakfast served starting Saturday. I think we’ll be ready for our days off come next week!

#workcamping #full time rving

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aswimmy · 6 years ago

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London, England to Chipping Campden England :: July 30, 2019

After being wide awake for four hours in the middle of the night (thank you jet lag), I woke up at 7:30am and Thomas and I got ready, ate breakfast and made travel preparations for the day.

We checked out of our hotel at 9:15 to catch a bus to Paddington Station. At the train station, we took a train from London, through Oxford, and to Moreton-in-Marsh. It started to rain in London when we got off the bus at the train station and continued the whole train ride. When we got off the train at Moreton-in-Marsh, it was raining hard. Luckily there was a bus stop with a little cover so we could stay dry-ish.

Thirty minutes later, the bus arrived and we boarded it, asking to be let off at Aston Road in Chipping Campden. Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden are only about four miles away, but the bus ride took about 45 minutes. The route went past the turn for Chipping Campden, did a loop, and then back to Chipping Campden. It was an unexpected way to see more of the Cotswolds than I thought we would see.

The Cotswolds Hills are an area of England that grew wealthy during the medieval times from the Wool industry. The best Wool on the world came from sheep in this area. The hills are dotted with quaint villages that prospered during the “Wool” times and then met economic disaster during the rise of cotton and the industrial revolution.

Reminders that wool built this town. A wool-stapler is someone who buys the wool fleece from the producer and sorts grades and sells the fleece.

There are also numerous trails through the countryside, and this through farm land. We are planning do to at least one of these walls tomorrow.

Arriving in Chipping Campden, we walked a very short while and arrived at our bed & breakfast, The Bramley House. We have the “garden suite” which is a garage converted into a bedroom, living room and bathroom. It’s really peaceful and over looks a wheat field.

Our host, Jane, met us and got us all settled in. She greeted us with tea, coffee and two slices of delicious cake. It was about 1:30/2pm by this time and we hadn’t had lunch yet, so the cake was more than welcomed!

After having tea and settling in for a few minutes, I took myself out into the rain and headed the half mile into the main street of Chipping Campden. I knew that if I sat around, I would end up falling asleep and then would be awake like last night. Thomas stayed at our b&b to get some r&r. On my way into town, even with a rain jacket I got SOAKED, but I eventually dried out and was just too excited to let the rain stop me. I stopped in the pharmacy and bought an umbrella which helped.

The Main Street is lined with 2-3 story building, most of them residences and some with shops or restaurants on the first floor. All the residences had names like “Saxon House,” “Amberley House,” and so on. So cool to have an official name for your home!

I went to a cafe called Huxleys for a late lunch of salad. After lunch I walked around more, admiring the adorableness of the village and taking in the buildings and my surroundings. I saw the Market Hall, Grevel House and the Silk Mill.

The Market Hall was built in 1627 and was an elegant shopping hall for townsfolk to buy their vegetables. See the old stone floor below.

The Grevel House was built in 1367 by William Grevel, a Wool tycoon. It was the first house in the village to sport chimneys instead of just holes in the roof.

The Silk Mill was powered by a small river since 1790. In 1902 Charles Robert Ashbee brought artisans and their families from London. The plaque above says it all. It seems like there’s been a similar movement recently in response as well.

The British are so polite. Instead of “public toilets” it’s “public convenience.”

I stopped at a small grocery store on my way back to the b&b to buy some snacks for Thomas. When I got back to our b&b, I knitted and worked on the blog. Then we went to The Eight Bells for dinner. It was built in the 14th century to house the stonemasons who built the local Catholic Church. It house the eight bells put into the church, and this where it got its name. It was rebuilt in the 17th century and retains that style currently.

Look how short this door is! I’m on the picture of scale. I’m 5’4” and I just fit. Old buildings means people were small in the 14th century!

Dinner was delicious! Chicken pie for me and fish and chips for Thomas with sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Because Thomas was resting earlier today when I visited the town, I gave him the wick walking tour before we headed back to the b&b.

Hopefully I’ll get some better sleep tonight! And hopefully it stops raining g since we are planning on doing at least one of the walking paths tomorrow.

Good night!

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vytraveldiary2 · 6 years ago

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Iceland Day 1 - Golden Circle

We were greeted by a small but very cute airport (with the most relaxed customs process that we have ever experienced). We waited for a long time in the cold Iceland winds to get picked up by the car rental shuttle, only to realize that the car rental place was just a 10-15 minute from the airport. Car keys obtained, we made ourselves comfortable, Vy set up her travel office in the passenger seat, and we were off to start our day.

The views were already incredible immediately as we started to drive. Our road trip will consist mainly of driving on Iceland’s main roads, which usually consist of two way single lane roads flanked by vast open fields, mountain ranges, and occasional farms. The fields flanking the road were very barren and devoid of life (other than grass, moss, and sometimes livestock), but beautiful in a deserted/different planet type of way. Our itinerary for the day consisted mainly of the Golden Circle, a popular triad of landmarks that Iceland tourists embark on to get a taste of South Iceland. On our way to our first stop, we caught glimpses of the outskirts of Reykjavík. We didn’t stop by since it was too early for shops and restaurants to be open, but will hopefully have some time to explore Iceland’s capital on our way back.

After a little over an hour of driving, we reached Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site noteworthy for many different things:

1) Icelandic history - It was a central place for historical Icelandic governing bodies to meet and provided an area where cultural activities took place.

2) Geological history - This landmark offers incredible views of tectonic plates.

3) Modern history - This was one of the sites used by Game of Thrones, as an entrance to the Erie, Hound/Brienne scene, and wilding camp.

I was prepared to see a lot of geology when entering the park, but did not expect it to be so beautiful. Although there were many tour buses, we were able to enjoy the quiet and serene atmosphere as the land surrounding the tectonic plates and gorges were very vast, with streams and a lake with very clear waters scattered throughout. We loved the mossy soft grass and interesting lava fields. The park did an amazing job of building paths and bridges that made it easier for tourists to walk around that seamlessly blended into the natural beauty of the area and adding to its visual appeal. This was a great first taste of what Iceland has to offer.

We then stopped by a small town of Laugarvatn in hopes of getting lunch at Goodburger. However, when we arrived, we saw that the restaurant was closed and half of the store looked like an abandoned restaurant. We were not sure what was going on, but decided to stop by the convenience store next door to get lunch instead. The hotdogs were ridiculously priced, so we decided to split one hot dog since we were not that hungry. A very sad lunch!

After a failed attempt to nap in the car, we headed over to Bruarfoss. This was the waterfall that I was most excited to see, since all of the photos of it showed a very beautiful naturally blue waterfall. Unfortunately, this was a failed mission as we discovered that the parking area closest to the falls was now private property. The public parking area was a few miles away, and required a walk of over an hour each way to see the falls. This was doable, but we had a deadline of 6pm before the grocery store closed for the day with many more miles of driving to go. (Later on during our drive to our hotel, we were able to glimpse another small blue waterfall on the side of the road, so at least we got to partly satisfy this goal!)

We then headed off to see the Geysir, which located in Haukadalur Valley, an area where many hot springs and geysers were located. There were many warning signs indicating that the temperature of the water could reach 80-100oC. We had fun watching and waiting for little geysers and the famous Strokkur to erupt and blow out steaming water.

We then headed to Gullfoss (Golden Falls), an extremely famous waterfall in the Hvita river canyon. It was VERY windy, VERY wet with sprays from the waterfall, but VERY worth it! (Although the waterfall itself was not blue, the water pooling down was a pretty blue color).

Then we went to the Secret Lagoon Hot Spring. Although we did not swim there, we saw a bunch of tourists happily lazying around on pool noodles in the warm hot spring waters. We grabbed some fish n chips at the highly rated shop next door for dinner. Then our adventures of watching people swim continued as we headed over to Hrunilaugin, the cutest natural hot spring pool that we had ever seen. We really wanted to swim there, but we were running out of time and didn’t want to wait for people to leave the small pool in order to swim. We will definitely bookmark this for a future trip to Iceland!

We made the last leg of our long day of driving and arrived at Bonus, the grocery store in Iceland known for its prices compared to the competitors. We then arrived at Gesthus Selfoss, which reminded us of summer camp with its cute studio cabin complete with bunk beds and a mini kitchenette. There was also campgrounds for campers (although we felt bad for them due to the rain). This was the least inexpensive lodging of our trip to Iceland (but very expensive compared to any other country). We ended the long day of travels with a relaxing soak in the hot tub on their balcony (finally we get to relax in the water rather than watching other people float around)!

Although we didn’t get to do everything on our overambitious itinerary, we were very satisfied with the day and looking forward to catching up on sleep to fully be recharged for rest of our Ring Road tour.

#iceland2019

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maria0902fan-blog · 6 years ago

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African Safari for First Timers

Indulge yourself in the intimate sparkle of Southern Africa. Atmospheric Cape Town dazzles and charms, before offering a journey through penguin covered peninsulas and indulgent Winelands. Kruger National Park provides breathtaking safari experiences, before thundering Victoria Falls epitomizes the natural wonder of the continent. By offering an eclectic blend of favorite highlights, this is an ideal vacation for first timers to Africa.

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PLACES VISITED

Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Cape Winelands, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls

DEPARTURE DATES

Dates are flexible and customizable for private departures.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: International Flight to South Africa

Day 2: Welcome to Cape Town

Table Mountain welcomes you to the

Mother City

, a startling expanse of rock towering over the city and casting shadows into the Atlantic Ocean. Colorful streets zigzag below its vertical slopes, each offering an adventure through vibrant markets and quaint cafes. On the mountain's western side is the beach, an open expanse of sand stretching along the side of Africa, punctuated by the delights of the Waterfront and Cape Town Harbor. Go here for fresh seafood restaurants, glorious sunset views, yachts flickering on the breeze, and some of the best steak on the planet. Completing the iconic Cape Town skyline are two sister mountains, Lion's Head and Devil's Peak, forming an indelible imprint during your three days in this unforgettable city.You'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, before having an afternoon to take in some of the sights. Admire it all from above by taking the revolving cable car up Table Mountain. Or relive history by visiting the poignant Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his incarceration. For many, simply soaking up the relaxed and friendly atmosphere is enough to endear Cape Town for many a year. This is a very safe city and discovering the hidden sights is a great way to spend the afternoon; wander between the vivid terraced houses of Bo Kaap, tucked away Ethiopian cafes, thought provoking museums, and tropical gardens in the heart of the city. Acting like the locals is pretty easy. Just grab a beer or glass of local wine, sit on a terrace overlooking the ocean, and watch the sun burn red onto the horizon.

Day 3: Cape Peninsula Tour

Table Mountain acts as your compass, directing travelers through Cape Town with its definitive shape. On one side it rises vertically. But look behind it and a whole mountain chain stretches down to the very south western tip of Africa. You'll follow this dramatic chain on a full day Cape Peninsula Tour. It starts in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, nestled half way up the mountain and a haven for tropical birds and never-ending views. Now the road weaves and winds, clinging to the cliffside and often making you feel like you're driving on top of the ocean.Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the most spectacular in the world and every couple of miles there are look-out points. Some gaze down on deserted beaches, others take in sheltered bays and stunning rocky outcrops. Throughout it all the Atlantic shimmers blue on your right hand side. Savor it all and then stop in the charming village of Hout Bay, full of swaying wooden fishing boats and smells of barbecued crayfish. This is a great place to stop for lunch, in particular, for traditional fish and chips.The road gradually becomes more rural, opening out onto a rocky expanse that's home to magnificent yellow flowers and the odd mountain zebra. Keep going and a lonely lighthouse marks the edge of the continent. Gaze out from here and the next stop is Antarctica. As the road winds west there are some remarkable residents to discover. Jaskass penguins cover Boulders Beach, delighting everyone with their antics. Some dive and swim, others huddle together, and most do their comical waddle across the sand. If you're lucky you can even swim or sunbathe beside them. The penguins are everywhere, so expect a few bizarre sounds and the occasionally pungent whiff. Your Cape Peninsula tour makes a last stop in Simon's Town, one of the country's oldest settlements and one that is yet to relinquish its old colonial charm.

Day 4: Cape Winelands Tour

Today is dedicated to indulging in the splendor of South African wine. The undulating Cape Winelands have a gentle tranquility, lush landscapes dotted with enchanting stone farmhouses and empty country roads. Most exported South African wine comes from the vineyards around Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, the elevated hills perfect for cultivating both red and white. And what a selection there is to choose from! Decaying thatched cottages are filled with long wooden tables and some of the continent's most exclusive bottles. Lazy terraces are covered in people sampling the region's most popular exports, and open doorways take you into warehouses of stained oak barrels and familiar smells.You'll tour some of the region's finest estates, basking in the beauty of the Winelands and pampering yourself with many fine samples. Wine history also plays a part today, with stops at the Hugeunot Monument and the Museum in Franschhoek. After a few glasses the enchanting white streets of Stellanbosch are even more endearing, and the fine dining experiences found here are some of the best in the country. Return to Cape Town for a third night soaking up the city.

Day 5: The Safari Starts in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Kruger National Park is one of the largest in the world and the numbers are staggering. Over half the world's remaining rhinos live here, alongside

millions

of antelope, and the full smorgasbord of predators. There are no fences or boundaries, the wildlife roaming freely and unobstructed. Situated in the southwest corner of Kruger, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is one of finest safari destinations on the planet. It has all the wildlife and wonder of Kruger, but it's blissfully free of crowds and always provides the feeling of being alone with nature. You'll be transferred to Cape Town airport for a domestic flight to Mpumalanga. From here you'll be met and taken to your lodge in the Sabi Sands.The wildlife starts from your verandah. A

white rhino

wanders past, glancing up briefly before plodding its way through the trees. Impala and kudu are always skipping by, the omnipresent antelopes never far from your sight. In the Sabi Sands you're completely surrounded and it's common to spot wandering herds from the comfort of your own room. This is South African safari at its most luxurious and prestigious, and you'll have three days to revel in it all.

Days 6 – 7: Spectacular Safari in Sabi Sands

The open savannah is most active in the early mornings. Predators are out hunting before the searing afternoon sun sets in, ungulates are grazing in the dawn light, and the rhinos are drinking from the river. On a typical safari day you'll wake early and enjoy a light snack before exploring the park in a 4 x 4 open-topped safari truck. Many people have heard of the famed Big Five, and the Sabi Sands doesn't disappoint. Elephants plough a dramatic trail, uprooting trees and smashing through branches as they leave more than footprints on the iconic land. Spot a white rhino. Then drive a little further and discover that a dozen of them are hanging out together. Buffalos protect their young, standing guard and giving a ferocious stare to everyone who takes an interest – including you. They might not look that pretty, especially given their bizarre ears and curled horns, but their one ton frames aren't to be messed with.Now the safari truck goes deeper into the wilderness, enigmatic sights emerging from trees. Perhaps you will spot a playful baboon troop or a graceful herd of hartebeest. Turn another corner and there's a pair of giraffe wandering along just meters away. Zebra are everywhere, their black and white stripes as unique as your own fingerprints. Sights like this become second nature while on safari, the sheer abundance of wildlife meaning that you soon lose count of what's been spotted. It sometimes feels bizarre. A herd of zebra wander past and you've barely even raised an eyelid? In the Kruger there's so much to see that certain things just begin to blend into the landscape.But certain sights are always savored. Even when you've spotted 100 rhinos, the sight of these majestic mammals causes everyone to stop and admire. And this bountiful land is covered in big cats. Leopards drop into the grass, slowly stalking a small herd of impala, waiting patiently for a moment to pounce. Their elegant fur gives them an almost cuddly appearance, but lucid eyes and solemn footsteps symbolize their astonishing power – they can drag a carcass that's three times their weight up a tree. They're the most elusive of the Big Five, but Sabi Sands is arguably the easiest place to spot them in the whole of Southern Africa.After a three hour morning game drive you'll return for a hearty brunch and some free time. As the sun burns strongly the wildlife takes a rest. Rhinos are sleeping, lion prides are hidden beneath shady branches, and the heat ripples off the ground. You can also enjoy a midday siesta. Or take a dip in the pool and relax in the luxurious surroundings of your accommodation. Mid-afternoon tea, cakes, and savories are served, before you set off on another game drive. With the sun relinquishing its power the savannah comes alive again, and you'll have another action packed few hours exploring nature's wonder.Lion prides are more active now, the lionesses out on the prowl and searching for a filling dinner. They cross the path, just meters away, everyone holding their breath as the lions takes a momentary interest in the safari vehicle. Fur shimmers, eyes stare coldly, and the lionesses pick up a scent. In comparison, the males usually just sit back and wait, regal manes indicating their power and position as head of the pride. They have to fight each other, and the thrilling coming together of two males is one of the greatest safari scenes.As your safari adventure continues the lesser known sights begin to work their charms. Inquisitive hyenas, swamps covered with wading hippos, eland sprinting across the savannah; this will be a very intimate and personal experience, and the lingering memories are often those that only you witnessed. That could be a leopard casting you a furtive glance, but it's equally likely to be a pair of loved up zebras frolicking in the grass.

Day 8: Exploring Johannesburg

You'll fly from Mpumalanga to Johannesburg, where you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. South Africa's largest city doesn't really get the credit it deserves. Sure, it doesn’t have the mountain backdrop of Cape Town, but the sprawling suburbs and neighborhoods are some of the most dazzling and evocative on the whole continent. The center buzzes with energy and flashing lights, while outer suburbs reveal the city's remarkable emergence when gold was discovered in 1886. Officially, Soweto is the world's second largest slum, yet it's surprisingly developed and very safe if visited on a tour. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu both lived on the same street here and excellent museums recount their fight against apartheid. Having said that, a trip to Soweto is worth it just for the wonderfully colorful and welcoming locals.

Days 9 – 10: The Majestic Victoria Falls

Waterfalls around the world might be higher, or wider, but none are as powerful as

Victoria Falls

. You hear them before you see them, a mighty thunder continuing day and night and echoing across the surrounding bush. As you approach it becomes cacophonous, a mile wide sheet of water plunging 328 feet into a gaping chasm. Through the trees you glimpse the falls, rumbling, plummeting, and disappearing into the abyss. Now it's time to get wet, a series of towering rocky columns and narrow bridges takes you alongside the falls. Spray rises and falls, sailing above the lip and covering people in a nonstop shower. Don't try and avoid it. You will get wet. But that's all part of the Victoria Falls experience. After all, how else could you really feel the power of

Mosi-oa-Tunya

, the indigenous name for the falls which means “the smoke that thunders?”You'll fly from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and be transferred to your accommodation. Voted one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the falls take up at least a whole afternoon. After drying off from the unforgiving spray, take the steep path down and admire the valley from the riverside. Mist still howls from the abyss, but down here you can stay dry and watch it head skyward. If you're daring enough, cross into no-man’s land between Zimbabwe and Zambia (remember your passport), and look down on the Zambezi River below. Got a hint of vertigo? Probably. It's fun to watch the faces of bungee jumpers on Victoria Falls Bridge. Or you can plunge into a waiting rainbow and feel the adrenalin levels soar.There's more to Victoria Falls than falling water. Over these two days you'll have ample time to check out what else is on offer. Take a leisurely sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, passing crocodiles and hippos while sipping on cocktails. Or slip on a lifejacket and challenge the Zambezi, the lower section of the river offering some of the best commercial white water rafting in the world. Sound a little too hectic? It's easy to spend an afternoon wandering around the relaxed streets and checking out the local craft markets. And seen as you're here, it might be worth going for a second experience with

Mosi-oa-Tunya

Day 11: Farewell to Southern Africa

You'll be transferred to the airport for a connecting flight to Johannesburg. From here your international departure will take you home, filled with memories and bursting with desire to return to Southern Africa. If you want to add more to this South Africa adventure, be sure to read the South Africa traveler reviews. You may find some ideas and want to extend your dream trip to South Africa!