Posted: March 30th, 2013 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: travel | No Comments »
Apparently there was some decision made to declare a new Seven Natural Wonders of the World list. I had no idea. However, they seem to have done an okay job choosing their wonders, as Table Mountain is on the list. It’s definitely some sort of wonder.
It’s pretty much impossible to go anywhere in Cape Town and not see Table Mountain. So after a couple days in town, this visit to the top felt a bit like quenching a nagging curiosity. I’d been constantly loomed over by the mountain, and was going to finally get a chance to look down for a change.
We chose a hot, sunny day and took the cable car up in the evening. Ideally, with enough time to stroll around a bit, then catch a nice sunset. We’d originally considered hiking up, but by the afternoon we were a couple beers too many, and about ten degrees too hot. Next time though the hiking is going to be the way to go.
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Posted: March 25th, 2013 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: travel | 2 Comments »
It struck me as an unusual combination of activities, A game drive and wine tasting. Villiera was offering quite a deal though, so we gave it a whirl. Firstly, let me give you the spiel on Villiera,
Villiera is a family run winery in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. We are a pioneering quality wine company committed to preserving the environment.
Their environmental angle was the lure for us. We figured their game reserve would likely be handled well and be friendly toward the animals if they were so environmentally conscientious. It turns out we weren’t far off the mark. Here are my thoughts on our experience, plus a few photos from the game drive.
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Posted: March 21st, 2013 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: travel | No Comments »
Easily one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been in the world is the Cape Point National Park in South Africa. Which of course encompasses the Cape of Good Hope.
It was an amazing experience to be standing on the very same rocky promontory I’ve heard about all my life. One can’t make it very far in any history lesson or tale of the high seas without imagining how it must have been to round the Cape. Our world’s history changed forever as Bartolomeu Dias first accidentally sailed around the Cape in 1488.
As I stood at the Cape lighthouse, looking out over the Indian and Atlantic oceans*, it was very easy to imagine why it was originally called the Cape of Storms. We were there on a very serene day, and it still looked daunting for anyone who has to sail nearby.
It’s easily a full day worth of things to do in and around Cape Point. The coastal road leading to the park has Boulders Beach which is an area popular with African Penguins. Plus heaps of great beaches, coastal towns, and vistas which take you all the way back up to Cape Town.
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Posted: March 11th, 2013 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: travel | No Comments »
Less than 2 hours after landing in Johannesburg, we were already spotting cool wildlife. Which is certainly sooner than I’d expected. Motivated by an enticing coupon, we’d opted to make Mongena Game Lodge our first stop in South Africa. I personally had never been anywhere in Africa before, so I was very excited to see some of the iconic wildlife.
Mongena is a very simple drive from the Johannesburg airport. 80-something km in a simple straight shot. In no time at all, we were inside the Dinokeng Game Reserve, and checking in.
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Posted: March 7th, 2013 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: blah blah blah | No Comments »
Well, now that I’m safely on the ground, I’d like to provide the opinion I mentioned in my previous post. The question was of course whether or not my full day of flying with Delta was going to be horrible or if they’d rally and improve my poor opinion of them as an airline. Obviously they didn’t drop me in the Atlantic, so I’m grateful for that.
The answer unfortunately is a bit of both good and bad. There is a decided difference between domestic Delta and trans-continental Delta.
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Posted: March 1st, 2013 | Author: Shawn | Filed under: blah blah blah | No Comments »
In a few hours I have a full day (24 hours) worth of flights on Delta Airlines. In the past I’ve had very lame experiences on Delta. Which havesecured their status of being tied as my least favourite airline. Alongside US Airways. I’m sort of looking forward to this tie breaker round though. My expectations are rock bottom, so it’s only up from here. Ugh, I sure hope it can only be up from here. I have a low opinion of USA based airlines anyway. With their ghetto amenities and cattle car ambiance.
So come on, Delta, let’s rally the troops and pleasantly surprise a bitter old man who has been forced to fly through the USA. I believe in you! Sort of.
// Shawn
ps: In a month I again have to spend a full 24 hours on Delta, so really there will be two shots at redemption.
