Tag Archives: Travel

Share Your World Monday 11 November 2024

Here are my answers to this week’s questions from Pensitivity101

1. If reincarnation exists, would you like to return as a domestic pet or a wild animal?
I would choose to come back as an elephant. Elephants are a matriarchal society and I identify with that. Also, you and you can eat and drink as much as you like and nobody cares how fat you are! Elephants command respect even from the king of the jungle the lion!

2. Do you think Zoos are a good idea?
I do not like zoos. I know some good ones can be educational, but I prefer to see wild animals in their natural habitat. I dislike the idea of polar bears being in a zoo in a tropical climate!

3. Have you ever been to a safari park?
While safari parks are generally better than traditional zoos, the animals are still kept in captivity and are fed by the rangers. I believe that animals should not be removed from their natural habitats, but we do not live in a perfect world. These parks can be educational and provide people with the opportunity to see wild animals without having to spend a fortune on an actual safari holiday. To answer the question directly: No, I have never been to a safari park. However, I am fortunate enough to have visited several game reserves where animals live in the wild without human intervention.

4. Have you visited an oceanarium?
Indeed I have. Similar to zoos and safari parks, they provide education, conservation, and awareness. The animals are well cared for, yet one might wonder if they would be better off in the vast, wild ocean.

Grandpa explaining the mysteries of the ocean to his fascinated grandsons

Gratitude:

II am thankful for all the wildlife holidays I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. I’m also thankful for the birds in my garden, especially for the beautiful Klaas’s Cuckoo that posed for me a few days ago. I often hear him but rarely see him.

Gecko Road Trip 2024 – Cathy’s Story

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Cathy and Alec joined us as travel companions on our latest road trip, and I’ve invited Cathy to share her perspective in a guest post.

Note: To view the group of photographs, click on the first one to enlarge it. Use the arrows to navigate the slideshow. Press ‘escape’ to return to the blog post. On your phone, swipe to view each photo and tap the ‘x’ to return to the blog post. You may also need to tap the information icon to view the captions.

Bright and early on Monday, October 14th, Alec and I teamed up with Helen and Earl in Bredasdorp to start another two-week journey through some of South Africa’s most beautiful national parks. Monday was mainly a travel day, so we enjoyed a leisurely drive through the stunning Tradouw Pass to Barrydale, where we were welcomed with coffee and breakfast at the Country Pumpkin. We took our time along the R62, admiring the vast Karoo landscapes and dramatic passes like Huisrivier just outside Calitzdorp until we reached our overnight stop at the Kleinplaas Resort in Oudtshoorn.

We were excited to get going the next day and headed out through the magnificent Meiringspoort pass. Driving along the N12, you’ll enter Meiringspoort, about 11km from De Rust. As the Groot River gnawed its path through the enormous Swartberg Mountains, it created this breathtaking gorge, resulting in a remarkable natural gateway that links the Klein and Groot Karoo.

Besides its colossal rock walls and spectacular scenery, Meiringspoort is best known for its 25 drifts. Throughout the 25km drive, the road criss-crosses the river 25 times by means of these drifts, each individually named and with an interesting story behind every name. Various stops along the poort give visitors the opportunity to pull over and take some time to enjoy the magnificent scenic beauty, the sheer rock walls, and their mind-bending formations. Restroom facilities (kept neat & clean) and shaded picnic spots are dotted along the way.

Since we left early, we arrived at Karoo National Park near Beaufort West with plenty of time to settle into our two adjacent sites.

The campsite at Karoo National Park is very well laid out. The well-demarcated stands are arranged in a circle around the ablutions and kitchen, and most have a little shade. The ablutions are well maintained, spotlessly clean, and very user-friendly. The amenities are also well developed, with a small shop that carries all the necessities as well as curios and a restaurant that serves excellent value-for-money meals.

The next three days were spent exploring the park. This is not a park for critter-crazy folk. While there are many types of antelope, Mountain Zebras, and lions, the true value of this park is the awesome scenery. With a blue sky that stretches for miles, incredible rock-covered crags, and rocky, stubby bush-covered plains, this park enchants the eye on all sides. It is a place to relax, unwind, and allow the serenity of nature to calm your soul and uplift your spirit.

Leaving the Karoo National Park, we drove up the N1 to a little past Three Sisters before turning onto the R63 and heading towards Graaff Reinet. The road surface was excellent, but as soon as we hit the Eastern Cape border, it deteriorated and became very bumpy, with patches on top of patches. The Western Cape certainly has some of the best-maintained roads in South Africa!

We were blown into Camdeboo National Park by a howling gale. It is a long time since we have stayed in this park and the campsite was a welcome sight. This campsite is reminiscent of Tsendze at Kruger, with each campsite carved out of the bush and relatively private. The ablutions showed their age a little, but they were spotlessly clean and user-friendly. With its proximity to Graaff Reinet, this camp has no shop or restaurant, but the gate closes at 10:00 pm, so you can eat in Graaff Reinet.

That first evening, with the wind howling, we could not risk a braai fire as the grass was dried and the risk of a bush fire was too high, so we resorted to Plan B and telephoned Domino’s Pizza. Indeed, they would deliver to the reception at Camdeboo, so we feasted on pizza while tucked away in our caravans for the evening. This is the only thing I don’t like about the Gecko – there is nowhere to sit inside when there is bad weather. Alec has fitted a small removable table that we can use for meals or to play cards (I trounced my hubby at Rummy!), but the space is minimal, and moving around is almost impossible.

The following day, we set out on a game drive around the camp, but there was nothing much to see apart from some birds. Admittedly, the weather could have been better with intermittent drizzle. A crossing over the Sundays River leads from one game section to another. Still, neither Alec nor Earl wanted to try the crossing, despite reception saying it was drivable, as the water level was rather deep.

That afternoon, we drove to the alternative entrance on the R63 and enjoyed a drive around the game area, seeing a few animals. The weather was still drizzly and cold, so we went into town for an early supper. Helen and Earl had previously enjoyed eating at Pioneers, so we refuelled, and they took us to the restaurant. It has since changed its name to Frontiers but serves the same excellent food, and we thoroughly enjoyed our lamb shanks.

The following day, we set off for the short drive to Mountain Zebra. This is one of our favourite parks, and arriving at the campground, we found two sites along the fence that we could enjoy. This campground is also well laid out, with the stands clearly demarcated, though the stands along the fence could be more level! The little Sherpa Tiny caravan next to us was precariously balanced on rocks to try and level it out!

This is the first time we have visited this park since the ablutions have been upgraded, and we were keen to see what all the fuss was about. I was amazed at the lovely tiles and mirrors that I saw when I went in to wash my hands. Sadly, this was where the amazement stopped, and the irritation started. These ablutions are more about flash than bang.

Why would you choose tiles that are slippery when wet for a public restroom? The floor is an accident waiting for its victims.

Then there are the showers, which are minuscule and very strangely placed. Two are across a corner with hooks hidden in nooks, and the others are so tiny that the cubicle width is a few millimetres wider than the cubicle door. The windows are placed high up and recessed so they are impossible to reach, resulting in condensation on the tiles and dampening everything. Then you have a positively dreadful three-panel sliding door to close. The gap left by opening the doors is tiny, and I am sure many people struggle to get through that gap and into the shower. Then, when you go, you must step back into the wet shower to open the cubicle door. Then, you must navigate slippery tiles with wet shoes. The whole thing is laughable. I suggest that Sanparks ask an organisation like Kampmal to assist when redesigning ablutions so campers design for campers!

Mountain Zebra is similar to the Karoo in that it is a park designed for scenery rather than animals, though many species exist to enjoy. The park is named after the Mountain Zebra, so there are many of those, along with large herds of Black Wildebeest, Springbok, Red Hartebeest, and Blesbok. There are also cheetahs, lions, and hyenas as predators, though judging by the numbers and large herds of antelope, there could be a lot more! It is very disappointing to arrive at the gate and see all the names on the register state that they are there for culling! It’s not exactly what you want to see at a National Park.

We had three fantastic days at Mountain Zebra, where we again revelled in the vast skies, beautiful vistas, and some tremendous sightings, the cream of which was the cheetah female with her cubs. On our last evening, we drove up one of the hills looking for the black rhino, and halfway up, we came across a lone buffalo bull standing in the middle of the road. There was a long drop-off on one side and a mountain on the other, so we needed somewhere for us or it to go. We pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the engine, and hoped he would simply walk past on the right. Rather than walk past, he walked right up to the bonnet of the Ford. We both sat silently while he stared, and we stared, and the birds were the only sound! I know how unpredictable dagga boys can be, so I had my heart in my mouth and taped the entire thing, so I had something to show the insurance company if need be! Another car came from the opposite direction, so he clambered over the rocks and got far enough off the road to allow both cars to pass.

A Rainbow tells us that the rain is past

All in all, it was a lovely, restful trip. Having enjoyed a large bowl of chicken soup for our souls, it was time to pack up once again and start our trek home. All too quickly, our two weeks away ended, and the reality of day-to-day living is again back!

Gecko Road Trip 2024 Mountain Zebra National Park

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22 October 2024 to 25 October 2024

The final game reserve we visited was Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock in the Eastern Cape. Upon signing in at the entrance gate, we were initially disappointed to hear that culling would occur during our visit. Later, we discovered that it was conducted at night, which did not affect our stay in any way.

Fortunately, the weather began to clear up, allowing us to set up camp just before the onset of rain. Since it wasn’t warm enough to cook outside and we are all getting too old to rough it, we opted for the convenience of eating at the lovely camp restaurant. Each day the weather got better until the last two were quite hot.

There was a spit and and a spot of rain on our second night but we simply had to cook our meat. Thanks to our intrepid braai masters

We’ve visited Mountain Zebra many times and have experienced most of their 4×4 trails. However, this time we opted not to take our car on these routes and instead adhered to the standard gravel and tarred roads.
The scenery in the park is stunning,

We were thrilled to discover an abundance of wildlife. At times, we encountered vast herds composed of various species mingling together. As avid birdwatchers, we paused for each bird, compiling a list of approximately 50 different species, though we captured fewer photographs.

Naturally, the first animal we encountered in the park was a Mountain Zebra, and these creatures kept us amused throughout our visit. At times we observed them alone, at other times in large herds, and occasionally alongside other animals.
South Africa has three different species of zebra namely Plains Zebra, Mountain Zebra, and Grevy’s Zebra. (Grevy’s not seen in South Africa – only East Africa – Thanks Anne for the correction.)
The Plains Zebra is the most common and is characterized by broad stripes that can run horizontally or vertically, often accompanied by shadow stripes.
The Grevy’s Zebra is significantly larger than the other species, with narrow pinstripes and a sturdier build.
The Mountain Zebra is smaller, distinguished by a dewlap and stripes that are narrower than the Plains’, and more distinct, particularly on the rump.
Each species has adapted to its environment, with the Mountain Zebra as its name suggests, favouring mountainous regions.
In the 1930s, the Mountain Zebra was considered a threatened species, which led to the establishment of the park for their protection. This initiative has proven to be successful, as there are now large herds of them thriving in the park.

Another species that is thriving well in this park is the Black Wildebeest/White-tailed Gnu.
Blue Wildebeest/Brindled Gnu/White-bearded Gnu prefer the savannah. They are larger and have horns that curve sideways out from the head.
Black Wildebeest/White-tailed Gnu are smaller, have horns facing forward, and have white tails.

Antelope species common in the park are Blesbok, Red Hartebeest, Gemsbok, Eland, Kudu, Springbok and a variety of others that we did not spot.

What are you staring at? Haven’t you seen a Gemsbok before? I’m also known as an Oryx

Other creatures that gave us entertainment were jackals, ground squirrels, and buffalo.

This was our only sighting of buffalo – crossing the road in front of us

In camp we were also delighted to have some smaller visitors.

This brave little striped mouse was not afraid at all.

On our second day in the park, our travelling companions, Alec and Cathy saw a mother cheetah and two cubs. I was thrilled for them but also a little jealous that we had missed this awesome sighting. The next day we set off to find them on the Ubejane Loop but were disappointed. They were nowhere to be seen.
It was our last full day in the park and the weather was stunning. “Let’s see if we can find those cheetahs today, ” I suggested to The Earl. “They’re probably long gone but let’s be positive.”
We made our way to the Ubejane turnoff. It was after nine o’clock and I felt that we should have left camp earlier. But we couldn’t have timed it better. A single white Toyota Land Cruiser was standing still a short way from the turnoff. The Earl drew up beside him and I nearly jumped out of the car when he said they were looking at a cheetah! But do you think we could locate her? We scanned the hillside and then turned to the guy for clearer instructions. How insane! We had looked too high and too far not believing she could be right there, under a bush, sitting up and literally waving at us!

“Where are the cubs?” The Earl was worried. After a few minutes, one appeared and came to sit with Mom. Soon a second came along and we breathed a sigh of relief that they were both safe.

And then another one appeared.

The first two cubs stuck close to Mom but the third was clearly the problem child of the family, always lagging behind, looking for his own adventures.

It was breakfast time and Mom needed to hunt. She instructed her cubs to stay put and set off to find food. For over an hour we watched her hunt but although she made two attempts her prey got away. I was glad for the poor bokkie but sorry that the family had to go hungry for a little longer.

The two obedient kittens came when called

But the naughty one lagged behind as usual

Cheetahs were successfully reintroduced to the Mountain Zebra National Park in 2007 and have thrived in the mountainous terrain. Having never spotted them on previous visits, I considered booking a guided game drive. However, I’m glad I refrained, as this self-discovered sighting became the highlight of our trip.

I have asked Cathy to write a ‘guest blog’ and her story will appear here soon.

Gecko Road Trip October 2024 Day 3,4 and 5 Karoo National Park

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Note: When viewing the groups of photographs click on first one to enlarge. Use arrows to see slide show. Press escape to return to the blog post. If you are on your phone you just need to swipe to see each photo and click on the x to return to the blog post. You might also need to click on the info icon to see the captions.

Wednesday 16 October 2024 to Friday, 18 October 2024

We spent three lovely days exploring the Karoo National Pak. On Wednesday, the weather started off cool but warmed up beautifully as the day progressed. Thursday, was very hot and we did not spend much time out. Today, Friday, started off quite cool but by the afternoon it was hot again.

On Tuesday we took the Klipspringer and Potlekkertjie Loop. We didn’t spot any klipspringers but we did encounter Grey Rhebok on the Potlekkertjie loop.
We stopped at the Doornhoek Picnic site for breakfast and a loo break.

Once again we were intrigued by the wonderland of ancient rock formations dating back to the Permian Period. Millions of years ago dinosaurs roamed these plains.

Below is a list of the creatures we encountered: the first group consists of mammals, and the second group comprises birds.

‘Mom who are those strange looking primates:” “Distant cousins, dear – pay them no attention – they’re the nasty side of the fmily’

We heard and saw a number of birds but of course, most of them did not stop to pose for their portraits. Thanks to those who indulged the Paparazzi. The Verreaux’s eagles were the highlight of the day. I spotted them when I stopped to look at pale-winged starlings. We got out at the viewpoint but could not see them from there so went back to just before that and got some reasonable shots.

Over the next two days, we saw much of the same, and I will let the photos below tell the story.

On Thursday, we popped in at Bulkraal Picnic Site near the gate and were impressed with the facilities. On Wednesday and Friday, we had our breakfast at Doornhoek Picnic Site, which is on the Potlettertjie Loop.

There is always some bird activity at picnic sites and Bulkraal did not disappoint.

Baboons are always so amusing and this morning as we were coming around the bend of we encountered a troop using the wall as a lookout. They were not impressed with us and one clung to the grooves in the wall hoping we would not spot him.

The birds were particularly active today but not all would pose for the Paparazzi. We had a stunning sighting of two secretary birds. One was in a tree and another flew in to say hi to him and then they scurried away at great speed making photography extremely difficult. The photos are simply too bad to be published! Below are the more obliging of the feathered friends.

Very common and very pretty – Cape Sparrow

These female ostriches camouflage so well. We wonder if they’re sitting on eggs?

The mammals also gave us some lovely Kodak Moments.

Mountain zebras are particularly photogenic

A Grey Rhebok surprised us on the road and leaped off into the bush but we still managed to get some shots of him.

This afternoon, we packed as much as we could for our departure tomorrow. In the evening, we dined at the camp’s restaurant. Earl, Cathy, and Alec savored the oxtail potjie, while I indulged in the venison potjie—sorry, Bambi!

And it looks like this will be my last post on WordPress as I have run out of free space. I will have to think about what I am going to do – give up blogging or set up a paid space.

Gecko Roadtrip October 2024 – Day 2 Oudtschoorn to Karoo National Park

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We awoke to clear blue skies this morning, but it was still fairly chilly. I dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. We were all up by 7:30 and went to the Kleinplaas restaurant for breakfast. You could choose from a full buffet of cereals, yogurt, fruit, eggs, bacon, etc., or have a plated health breakfast of cereal, yogurt, fruit, or bacon and eggs. Earl and I had bacon and eggs while Cathy and Alec settled for the health.

At around 09:00 we left to make the two and a half hour drive to Karoo National Park. Once again we enjoyed another beautiful mountain pass. Swartberg Pass starts from the quaint village of De Rust. What an amazing feat of human engineerng this pass is. Imagine the Voortrekkers of old having to make their way across these majestic mountains in their ox wagons. What amazingly brave and tough people these men and women were.

Day 2 Journey – Oudtschoorn to Karoo National Park near Beaufort West

The road has dramatic twists and bends and the scenery is magnifcent. The sheer rock faces in hues of grey and red are interspersed with lush green pockets of vegetation that miraculously sprout from the dry, stony earth. Once over the pass the landscape becomes typically semi-desert with scattered trees and scrub and the lovely low flat topped mountains and koppies.

Although the skies were clear and blue there was a nip in the air and the wind was blowing. When we entered the park the gate guard told us that it was summer last week but now winter had returned!

I love the colour of the Karoo and the park displays the tapestry of ochres, rusty reds and deep orange in its rocks and soil. The vegetation is a show of different shades of mauves, pinks, browns, greens and yellows.

After checking in we found two lovely sites next each other and soon set up camp. The fascilities are stunning. Everything is neat and well maintained. There is a camp kitchen and a laundry and the ablution block is spotlessly clean.

We spent the afternoon in camp and enjoyed the birds and animals that don’t mind sharing their habitat with humans.

I strongly disapprove of feeding the wildlife but I am sure there are people wno do otherwise why would a beautiful kudu female feel so comfortable among us? She visited us today and it was extremely tempting to offer her a carrot or some cabbage but I would not allow The Earl to give in to his emotions. You can see from the photographs how tame this creature is. She visits the campsite often but is truly wild and goes to join her kudu friends once she’s greeted everyone in camp.

Share Your World Monday 1 July 2024

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from pensitivity101

1. Can you swim?

I learned to swim when I was seven years old. My BFF and I used to catch a train to the Kalk Bay Pool twice weekly. It was just three stations away. We would buy a single ticket then use the change to buy an ice lolly and then walk home afterwards. Those were the days! We both loved swimming and were allowed to go to the beach on our own and swim without adult supervision!

2. If so, do you prefer a pool, river or the sea? If not, will you paddle or dip your toes?

I used to love swimming in the sea. Even the pool I learned to swim in was a seawater pool. A freshwater pool was a novelty as very few homes where I resided had pools. Swimming in the country club pool was a real treat. I have swum in dams, lakes and rivers too. I swam regularly until quite recently. Now I usually only swim in pools.

3. Did you have outings to the beach as a child?

I grew up on a beach. It wasn’t an outing it was a lifestyle. I still live near a beach but not the one I grew up on. The house I spent my teenage years in is circled in blue.

Fish Hoek Beach – Western Cape, South Africa

4. Do you like cotton candy (candyfloss)?

It was a great treat as a kid as we could it at the beach kiosk.

Gratitude:

The best part about memories is making them.
(I don’t know who said that or where I read it, but it’s very true)

My happiest childhood memories were made on Fish Hoek beach. What a privilege to have been able to raise my children and grandchildren there too.

A Travel Adventure with Our Children – Istanbul

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This is the final report on our amazing holiday with our kids.

Friday, 21 June 2024 – Last evening on MSC Splendida

The last evening on board was White Night where the suggested dress code was to wear something white. I had already packed our bags when I checked on the dress code but managed to find something white for both Earl and me. Neither Lollz nor Sasha had white so Lollz wore her pale gold and Sasha rebelled with black!

Saturday, 22 June 2024 – Istanbul

During the night strong headwinds slowed the ship’s speed so we only docked in Istanbul after 11:00. We should have docked at 10:00. We went up onto the fourteenth deck to see the ship enter the harbour. Istanbul is where East meets West.

It was after midday before we disembarked and it all went very smoothly. Sasha bade us goodbye as he would be flying to London while the rest of us had booked a hotel for the day. Our flight would leave at 01:40. We took a taxi to Villa Sofia which was very centrally situated.

The owners were very kind and friendly. The girls had a large en suite room with beds for three and enough chairs and couches to sit and relax. The Earl and I were shown to a smaller en suite room with a comfortable double bed and a chair. We were perfectly happy with this and Earl lay down immediately as he needed a nap. A few minutes later the receptionist knocked on the door and offered us a better room. “We want you to be more comfortable. I have a room upstairs for you. Don’t worry about stairs – there is a lift.” I told her there was no need to move us but she was insistent. I did not want to offend her so I went to look at the room. The aircon was working, there was space to sit and the bathroom was bigger. I accepted with alacrity!

The Earl was not feeling up to exploring the city and remained in the comfortable room, napping most of the time but later going up to the rooftop terrace for a drink and snack. The girls and I with directions from our hostess went to explore Istanbul!

I wanted to see inside Hagia Sofia but the queues were long and the girls wanted to see more so we contented ourselves with outside views of both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia.

The Blue Mosque is also called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It was built between 1609 and 1617 during the time of Sultan Ahmed I.

Haga Sofia was originally built as a Christian basilica by Byzantine Emperor Justinian 1 in 537 AD. It was the world’s greatest cathedral for nearly a thousand years. In 1453 following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque.

After admiring these beautiful buildings we continued to explore the streets of Istanbul. What a vibrant city it is. It was busy and noisy but the shops were delightful. I could have spent my kids’ entire inheritance on the beautiful jewelry, bags, clothes, shoes silks, cushions, herbs, spices, and confectionery on offer. There were also dozens of street salesmen begging us to view their wares and part with our money. We politely admired what they showed and then sorrowfully declined.

“Come into my shop,” a charming Turk called, “I have beautiful clothes, good prices.”
“It’s a beautiful shop,” I replied, shaking my head.
“Just like you!” he joked back.

There was no animosity, just friendliness so we did not feel harassed. We were just too poor to buy!

The Grand Bazaar, we were informed, was just a seven-minute walk away. Fifteen minutes later we found it. It is like an enormous mall but crammed with shops of every type. Once again we were encouraged to enter and browse but we were just there to look.

Yet another charming Turk greeted me and asked, “Where are you from?”
“South Africa,” I replied.
“Goie More!” he said.
“Goie More,” I replied
“Hoe gaan dit?”
“Goed dankie en met jou?”
He burst out laughing as he had run out of vocabulary. He told me he had attended his cousin’s wedding in South Africa. “He married a Zulu.” he said proudly.
I replied that I also had a cousin married to a Zulu.
“From Durban?” he asked.
“Indeed,” I replied.
He was thrilled we had this in common and put his arm around me and posed for a photograph.

Photo by Dominika – Lisa in the foreground. The Turk and me in the background

On our way back to the hotel we were amused to see a cat reclining on a Turkish carpet outside a shop. In the window were cat-shaped cushions. How cute!

Lisa loves cats so she stopped to pet this one and then noticed that the store had many different cat cushion covers. She saw one that resembled her cat, Bella, at home. At first, she resisted the temptation to buy it. I said she really should but she shook her head so I walked on. Then Dominika called to me, “We’re going shopping!” And Lisa bought a lovely cat cushion cover!

Lisa’s cushion in pride of place on her couch at home

When we got back it was almost 18:00. We asked the hostess where she suggested we go for a meal. She told us that all the restaurants were good but that the roof terrace also served dinner. If we ate there we would get a 15% discount.
“People have told us that our food is good,” she assured us.

We decided this would indeed be our best option. We weren’t disappointed. The view was amazing and the food excellent.

At 21:00 we used the hotel transfer service to take us to the airport, a 30-minute drive away.

Earl had assisted travel and was taken first in a wheelchair, then an electrified moving chair and then a buggy. Fortunately, I was given a seat in the buggy too. Last time I had to jog behind it! It was a long way to our gate. The girls had to wait until the board indicated the gate number at the last minute. The distance they had to walk took at least fifteen minutes! Dominika’s mum was meeting us after her connecting flight from Poland landed but she was nowhere to be seen. Dom reported this to the staff checking us onto the flight and they investigated, They discovered that her flight had been delayed and held our flight until she boarded. What a relief!

It was a 10-hour flight and we arrived at Cape Town International at 11:25. I called the transfer that we had landed and he gave me instructions on where to meet. By the time we’d been through passport control and collected our luggage, it was after midday. What a pleasure to have Steyn pick us up and drive us straight home to Struisbaai! We were home by 3 pm!

Thank you all for following along on our amazing journey.

A Travel Adventure with Our Children – Athens and Ephesus,

A Travel Adventure with Our Children – Olympia

A Travel Adventure with Our Children – Corfu

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Saturday, 15 June 2024

Yesterday we reported to housekeeping that a small section of the carpet near the entrance to the bathroom was slightly damp. It didn’t bother us but we thought they should know before the situation worsened. They responded immediately and sent somebody to investigate.

Later in the evening, the phone rang and someone from the Guest Service Team thanked me for the report and asked whether I’d like to change cabins. I declined, not wanting to move to a smaller cabin. I said we were satisfied with the cabin but just wanted to alert them that the carpet was wet and that it might become a worse problem if the leak wasn’t found and fixed.

This morning there was a knock on our cabin door. I thought it was the maid needing to start her chores. But no, there stood a waitress with a platter of pastries.

“Room service!” she said.
“But I didn’t order anything” I replied. “It’s complimentary,’ she smiled

Surprised, I took the platter and then opened the card. It was from the guest service team, apologising for the wet carpet and thanking me for reporting it! The pastries were a token of their appreciation! How amazing is that!

We’d already eaten three before I took the photo!

Oh, but those Greek genes run deep! Both Laurie and I are thrilled to have arrived in Greek waters. I woke up this morning and marvelled at the beauty of the Mediterranean as our ship made its way to Corfu Port.

Click on the first photograph to enlarge it then use arrows to view the slide show. Press escape to return to the blog.

The ship only docked at 13:00. We all went into Corfu Town together. The ship offered a bus service for MSC passengers but the return fare was 10 euros per person. One of the servers in the buffet told us that it was not far to walk so we decided that we preferred that option. But we were ushered to a free shuttle to the terminus, and from there we took a bus for 4 Euros per person return. The Earl was relieved as he is not up to a thirty-minute walk at 30 degrees C!

Corfu town is just what you’d expect of a Greek Island. We loved exploring the narrow streets, quart yards, and quaint shops. Of course, it’s touristy but lovely all the same. I did not intend to spend money, but could not resist a pair of Greek Key earrings. All the jewellery was stunning and I wanted to buy more and maybe I will at the next Greek stop.

The girls all wanted to look at the fabulous clothes. The Earl spotted a dress that he said I just had to have. There was a gold one and a turquoise one. He wanted me to have the gold but Lollz was already trying it on. I fancied the turquoise and tried it on and the Earl said that it was stunning – and yes I should get that one instead. So, of course, he bought it for me! Lollz got the gold one. She said we could swap from time to time!

After wandering around for a long while we went to a Greek coffee shop. I ordered Greek coffee which I haven’t had since I was a child. It tasted like home! We ordered dolmades and olives to share. There is nothing to beat Greek snacks!

At four o’clock, Earl and I left the others to continue exploring and took the bus back to the ship. We went to the pool for a swim and had a pina colada before dinner at 06:30. The kids all decided to have a late dinner so they did not rush back from Corfu Town.