Good Times in Johannesburg

The weekend is upon us! For some good reading, especially for anyone who will be visiting South Africa, here's a great article on Johannesburg - where I grew up.

The next port of call on our recent South Africa trip was Johannesburg, or the City of Gold as it was once known; the design tour entered the vast, built up city with all eyes open. Miles apart from Cape Town in many ways, exciting pangs ran through us as we drove around taking it all in – you could describe Jo’burg as Cape Town’s cooler younger brother in terms of creativity, it’s much rawer; and Jozi folk take themselves much less seriously than their waterside cousins. 

Enjoy! And happy weekend!

New York Times loves Cape Town!

Great article in the New York Times today about biking, drinking and eating in the Constantia area, just outside of Cape Town. So if you're heading that way, any time soon, here are some great ideas...

Click here.

Speaking of Lions

Did you know that the number of lion in Africa has halved in the passed 20 years? I had no idea. 10 years ago, there were 200,000 lion in the wild - today, less than 25 000. And when you compare that to the number of rhino, which is an endangered species, there are fewer lion as there are over 26 000 rhino.

I read this startling fact on a great website, Getaway. It covers all angles on travel and wildlife in South Africa, so if you're interested, click here.   

I've come across some other interesting online reading focusing on Africa, if you're interested in more.

Here's a great news/ opinion/ magazine of sorts - Afritorial. They always have interesting stuff from all over the continent. My current favourite article is about the female mayor of Marrakech. Gosh, give me a couple years and a couple kids and I could be her.

Last but not least is Ranger Diaries - written by game rangers (you know, the guys who take you out on game drives), which is endlessly fascinating if you're in any way interesting in African wildlife. The joy of the website is that you get to enjoy the thrill of an African safari without leaving your desk (check out the latest report from the bush!)... although I doubt you could continually read it and not eventually simply get on a plane and get yourself out there to experience itself!

A special mention is the current featured game ranger - a friend of my brother's, Gavin. Looking good! Gavin operates a superb operation called Mammoth Safaris. I would give me eye teeth for a chance to go birding with Gavin - his experience is unparalleled. So if anyone reading this is looking for one of the best safari experiences in Africa, be sure to click here.

I'm going to add these links to my blogroll - they continue to update their websites with really interesting reads, so check them out!

Cape Town Culinary Tour

If anyone is heading to Cape Town any time soon and would like ideas on where to go for some good eats, check out this article in the New York Times. Tummy is grumbling just reading it!

Small Town Getaway

Another favourite of mine from the Perfect Hideaways website is one I first saw in a magazine (House & Leisure, May 2011): Whalesong. It's in Simonstown, which was probably my favourite spot when we visited the Cape Town area last December.

 

And some shots from the magazine spread...

Beach Getaway

After my triumphant welcoming of summer, we had a few good days and then BAM! We're back in spring weather - tons of rain, and cool temps. For the record, today we had the same temperatures in Boston as Johannesburg - and that city is experiencing winter. Ugh.

To help me dream of the warm days ahead (they say the weekend will be back to normal but I'll believe when I see it) I've been daydreaming over the beach houses for rent on Perfect Hideaways. My favourite? Scrimshaw in Churchhaven: perfectly laid back.

Tour South Africa: Cape Point

It's been a while since I shared some of my pics from my trip to South Africa in December. So it's Monday morning and we are all back at work... wah wah wah. Let's go back to get us inspired for the week ahead.


(To recap: I've been sharing some of my favourite things from my recent trip to South Africa. If you plan to visit South Africa I hope some of these posts can help you plan so you have an amazing trip. My homeland is beautiful, with abundant wildlife, warm people and amazing views just like... )

Cape Point. Where it's said that the Indian Ocean (on South Africa's Eastern shores) meets the Atlantic (on the Western side). The Indian travels down from the Equator, warm and fecund, and crashes against the cold Bengueal current roaring up from the South pole. The Western side of South Africa is desert.

 But this is not really true. Cape Point is the Westernmost tip of the continent - the oceans really meet at Cape Agulhas, which is the Southernmost tip. Luckily, none of this matters because the Point, and its surrounding nature reserve is unbelievably beautiful and can take your breath away. (As always, click on the image to make it bigger)

 

 

As you might be able to see in the picture above, there were birds and animals everywhere (there's a tiny bird in about the middle of the photo on the right). We watched seals frolick in the sea below

and cormorants fly in and out from the cliffs.

With lots of patience my Dad got this shot - a bit blurry, but he got it!

If you looked to your right, when standing at the Point, there was a beach to the left - with a message: Krimi, will you marry me?

We saw this little guy scurrying around

These flowers were all over the mountain

When we had our snack, a red-winged starling joined us, hopeful for a tidbit, and then later his wife showed up, too

On the way back to our car, we saw two ostriches just strolling along

And then, heading back towards the exit we stopped off at a protected beach, watching the bontebok in the distance, who seemed to be enjoying the sound of the waves as much as we were

 
A definite for anyone visiting the Cape area.

For full disclosure, all these images are not mine. The first iage of the Point, the message, the lizard, multiple flowers, the up-close cormorant, the ostriches and the group of Bontebok is my Dad's handiwork. My talented mother-in-law got the great pic of the

South Africa on Jeopardy

How fantastic tonight to watch Jeopardy, one of America's most iconic TV shows and see South Africa featured.



There was one segment that was all "South African Wildlife" questions and it seemed like the contestants were afraid to give it a go. Eventually they got there and the questions were not too bad. The one about giraffes' blood pressure got them, not surprisingly. If you interested in winning a trip to South Africa, click here. The South African Tourism Board is giving away a trip similar to the one that the presenters from Jeopardy went on.

I have two friends who've just come back from South Africa. A friend at work is has plans to again next year because she loved it so much, and she says it felt like she only scratched the surface of the wonderful places to go and great things to do in her two weeks there.

The other friend is a South African who lives in Boston, like me. He took his American wife and her family there for a holiday. His mom-in-law kept mentioning, before they went, about what a once-in-a-lifetime trip it would be. He said by the second night in Cape Town, playing cards out on the porch, sea crashing in the distance, she was already planning what she would be doing on her next trip.

South Africa is definitely a place worth a visit - for Americans, its a long way to go, and a bit pricey to get there but once you're there I think you'll find accommodation, food and entertainment well priced. And of course, the country itself is spectacular. If I do say so myself!

Beautiful Things

Here are just a few beautiful things I've seen on the web this week .... Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Xoxo

An amazing wedding - makes me want to throw another one (maybe for my tenth anniversary this year?)!



A gorgeous home



And here's some more Cape Town from an American perspective: from Court's blog, Breaking Down the Big Beige Box (here, here and here)

Cape Town Trip: Cape Town

One of the days we were in Cape Town, we took a drive into the city centre. One of our first stops as the beautiful Merchants on Long. The building is gorgeous.





And another spot I recognized from my internet wanderings was Truly Yours, an awesome little coffee shop.



We checked out the architecture...



and walked through the flea market and antiques market to the Company's Garden. "The Company" being the Dutch East India Company, who first colonised the Cape - so the gardens have a fair amount of history. I saw magnolia flowers the size of dinner plates.

Queen Vic still hangs out at the entrance.



And you'll walk by government buildings, and the National Library of South Africa.







You wander along,



past rubber plants,





plants that were gifts from other countries,





and plants that are water wise.



You keep going



say hi to Cecil John Rhodes



and then you are rewarded with the most beautiful view of the rose garden, crowned by Table Mountain, with the cable car as the cherry on top.