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Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Park Ave
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Sunday, March 30, 2008
I was planning on going to the Guggenheim, but ended up sleeping in instead. It was supposed to rain today, but it was quite sunny w/ a bit of a chill, but still nice. So I decided to go hang out in Central Park. It is only 2 blocks from where I am staying. I put on my unfashionable tennis shoes, and headed out. I went to ice rink, the carousal, and the boat house. The boat house was too crowed for lunch so I went back to the crepe stand and got a crepe and coffee and sat by the fountain and watched people row their boat in the pond. Central Park is a very interesting place to people watch. In addition, you hear so many different languages being spoken. It is very interesting.
There were these guys putting on a show not far away. I couldn't really see or hear them too well, but they were getting quite the applause from the crowd. I went up the hill to watch since I could not get close. They were very funny and talented. http://www.ticandtac.com/
After several hours in the park, my tired feet and I headed back the hotel. I went to the Burger Bar which is supposed to have some of thee best burgers in town. They were pretty good, but was even better was the chocolate shake! YUMMMMM!
There were these guys putting on a show not far away. I couldn't really see or hear them too well, but they were getting quite the applause from the crowd. I went up the hill to watch since I could not get close. They were very funny and talented. http://www.ticandtac.com/
After several hours in the park, my tired feet and I headed back the hotel. I went to the Burger Bar which is supposed to have some of thee best burgers in town. They were pretty good, but was even better was the chocolate shake! YUMMMMM!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
NYC
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Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Friday, December 21, 2007
Well I didn't think we would get to Boston yesterday. There were major flight delays in Boston Thursday. After several delays we finally landed in Boston around 4am. Then after several wrong turns out of the airport and many recalculations on our GPS we pull into Amesbury @ 6am.
Why Chrissy and Paul could not have stayed in Hawaii is beyond me. There is a ton of snow and it is cold. BRRRR.... Amesbury is a very cute historic town. There alot of nice old houses that are all decorated for Xmas. Driving around, you feel like your are driving through one of those Xmas cards. We just needed a sleigh instead of an Impala.
We went to have lunch @ Phat Cats this afternoon (after driving several circles around a bunch of roundabouts). The place is in an old brick building,but it has alot of character. They have decorated very nice. It is very cozy. Well of course the food is great!! Paul whipped up a nice seafood soup w/ a lobster stock and a very tasty chicken soup.
I took a few pics. They are posted at http://picasaweb.google.com/jaraeho/PhatCatsBistro I will add more over the weekend.
Why Chrissy and Paul could not have stayed in Hawaii is beyond me. There is a ton of snow and it is cold. BRRRR.... Amesbury is a very cute historic town. There alot of nice old houses that are all decorated for Xmas. Driving around, you feel like your are driving through one of those Xmas cards. We just needed a sleigh instead of an Impala.
We went to have lunch @ Phat Cats this afternoon (after driving several circles around a bunch of roundabouts). The place is in an old brick building,but it has alot of character. They have decorated very nice. It is very cozy. Well of course the food is great!! Paul whipped up a nice seafood soup w/ a lobster stock and a very tasty chicken soup.
I took a few pics. They are posted at http://picasaweb.google.com/jaraeho/PhatCatsBistro I will add more over the weekend.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Well I was awake for just about 30 hours in order to get home, and I believe that have slept about 24 hours since Friday night. After not seeing a Starbucks for 3 1/2 weeks, I have visited them quite a few time since being home. It is not that I really missed their coffee per se, just the convience of it really.
All pics are posted now. We have 1567 pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/jaraeho Enjoy!
All pics are posted now. We have 1567 pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/jaraeho Enjoy!
Friday, August 10, 2007
We are home
I am happy to report that Kyle and are home. Kyle arrived Fri am and I waiting for my ride at the airport. It is good to be home
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Thursday, August 09, 2007
Then there was one. Kyle left Jo'burg around 2ish on Thursday bound for Brazil. He then flies to Houston and then home Friday afternoon. I had a couple more hours to hang out at the hotel before my flight. I entertained myself by watching non-stop music videos on VH-1. Go figure...they actually show videos and not reality tv. I saw some good classics from the 80's that haven't seen since MTV actually showed videos.
It is now Friday and I am now in Paris. Since my layover was several hours, I was hoping I might could get a taxi and go see the Eiffel Tower. It took me 2 hours just to find and get to my gate. Then a friend who is familiar w/ Paris said it was too far for a taxi, and to take the train. This required for me to take 3 trains. Since I haven't really slept in the past 24 hours that was too much for me to try to comprehend. I will just have to see it another time.
I am still in the process of posting pics. I will let you know when they are all posted. 18 or so hours I will be home!! Whoo-Hoo!!!
It is now Friday and I am now in Paris. Since my layover was several hours, I was hoping I might could get a taxi and go see the Eiffel Tower. It took me 2 hours just to find and get to my gate. Then a friend who is familiar w/ Paris said it was too far for a taxi, and to take the train. This required for me to take 3 trains. Since I haven't really slept in the past 24 hours that was too much for me to try to comprehend. I will just have to see it another time.
I am still in the process of posting pics. I will let you know when they are all posted. 18 or so hours I will be home!! Whoo-Hoo!!!
Aug 3rd
Today was a travel day. Third world airports are just as bad as the US, except on a smaller scale. They are crowded, disorganized, and people are annoying. You have to pay to get out of Zambia. We asked the porter where we paid, and he said once we go through the metal detector then they will tell us where to go. Once we get inside there are 3 checkin counters w/ no info above them, so of course we chooser the shortest line. Once we finally get to the front of the line, we are told we are at the wrong counter. She can only check us in for the 203 flight not the 205 flight that we are on. When I glance over to the counter they say we need to be at it is probably 10 people long. Since these people do not move very fast, I was like no way we are goin over there. I informed the the lady behind the counter that no one was around to inform us that we were to be in a specific line. Someone instructed her to assist go ahead and check us in. I received my first hand written boarding pass. As we proceed through customs we get to the guy who ensures you have paid your money before you exit the country. Well we had not, and thought we could pay him. OH NO! This should have been done before we had gone through the metal detector. So we have to go out and pay our $30. Then go back in and show him our receipt.
We have been flying Nationwide airlines while traveling within Africa. I have never heard of this airline before. However, I do not recommend traveling with them. Every flight we have flown with them has been late. When we flew to Zambia, there seemed to be plenty of people checking people in, but they kept yelling at one another, and running around with their heads cut off. We made it to the front of the line, because if we did not we have missed it. We had 3 people assisting us, and it still took forever. We finally make it to the gate, and the woman taking the tickets was one of the people in the front helping us check in. Then we have to take a bus to get to the plane. When we get there another girl that was helping us to check in was at the plane to greet people. No wonder they were all disorganized. They are all doing several jobs. I was surprised not to see one them as a flight attendant.
We finally got to Cape Town and our hotel around 9pm. We walk into our room, and it is just 1 double bed. This is not what I requested. I had to share a bed w/ Kyle at Zulu and all he did was kick me. Oddly enough I have several bruises up and down my leg, which I have no idea how I got. However, I am just gonna say it is because Kyle kicked me all nite. When we were in Zambia, we had our own bed, and it was so nice to sprawl out and sleep sideways across the bed like I normally do. All I had to deal with was Kyle snoring. Although he will say he does not snore, and I am making the whole thing up. So we went back down and got another room with 2 beds. Everyone is happy now.
Aug 4th – Cape Town
We had a Walk to Freedom tour scheduled for our first day. Our guide was Craig, and he was from Cape Town. His mother was from India, and father was black. Our first stop was the District Six area. He had a lot of insight on the area, because his family lived there, and was moved out when the whites moved the out to the Cape Flats. The whites decided this area should be just for whites. They moved everyone out, and completely demolished everything. This was back in the 1960’s. Since then nothing has been built except for a few homes. Apparently, the land is very expensive, and not very people can afford to build there. What is interesting about apartheid is just wasn’t the whites being prejudice against the blacks, they were prejudiced about anyone against anyone that was not white. Even if whites dated or married outside their race they were discriminated against as well. We then went to the District Six museum, http://www.districtsix.co.za/frames.htm which gives you a history of the area and the people that lived there.
We then went to the Langa township, http://www.capetown.at/heritage/city/langa.htm which is probably about 20 minutes outside of Cape Town. It is the oldest township in the Cape Town area. We visited what would we could call a community center. They teach people certain skills. They were making pottery in the back, and then they sell them at the center. There were various other artist there selling their goods. They get funding from various organizations, but not the government. Steffi Graff funds a dance program for the children of the township, http://www.stefanie-graf.de/sgm-en.html The Gates Foundation has also donated computers and internet access. Our guide then walked us through the neighborhoods, working class and upper class. Most houses were very small, and constructed of cement. Within the last 20 years electricity and indoor plumbing have reached the townships. Everyone now owns their houses. Some were nicer then others. They can add additions to their house if they want, and some people had done that. While other houses looked like no one had done anything to them in 20 years. We then reached the hostels, that just look like cheap apartments. They used to be men hostels because they would not let women or children live in the township. So the men lived there while they worked. Now families are allowed, and these rooms that were designed for 4 or so men, are now packed w/ families. Needless to say the rooms are cramped and do not have many modern conveniences. They are in the process of remodeling the hostels, which is half way done and so far as taken 5 years to complete this.
We then visited a primary school. The children sang and danced for us. No matter where we go where children are and no matter what age they are, they always want their pic taken and then they want to see it. They were all very cute.
At the people back of the township is shanty town. The people that live here cannot affor a house, and do not want to live in the cramped hostels. So they take any scrap of metal, cardboard, plastic. Wood and whatever else they can find and construct a shack of a house. The government finally put in toilets, but before that there was just a hole. We were able to go into 1 house. It was a portioned into 3 rooms, living room, kitchen, and bedroom. It housed a family 5, 3 children and 2 adults. Kyle looked around, but I felt like such an intruder. However, from what we have been told they are not ashames\d of their living conditions. This is their life. The government has built some new apartments in the area, and plan to build more. However, people can not afford to live in them. So they just move back to Shantytown, because it is free to live there. I can’t even imagine.
We drove through the center area of the township which was the shopping district. There were wood shacks all setup along the road with people selling food and goods. They are also chopping the heads off of chickens, plucking and cleaning them right there in the open. They then just sit out in the open waiting for someone to buy them. I guess salmonella is not in the African language? We did not eat lunch here!
August 6th
The weather was pretty crummy today. It poured rain and was really windy. Kyle wanted to go see The Simpsons, so we went to the movies. I wanted some chocolate, so I went to the concession stand. There were not huge bags of chocolate to be found in anywhere. When I asked if she had something like milk duds or m&m's the girl looked puzzeled. She opened up a cabilet and there were 2 boxes of m&m's. I said I would take 2 bags. She then walks over to another woman, and then returns and says she cannot sell them seperatly. I have to buy a kid combo. I had to buy a small popcorn and coke to get chocholate. Can you believe. The popcorn was horrible. Lesson learned, buy your chocolate before you go to a movie in South Africa.
Today was a travel day. Third world airports are just as bad as the US, except on a smaller scale. They are crowded, disorganized, and people are annoying. You have to pay to get out of Zambia. We asked the porter where we paid, and he said once we go through the metal detector then they will tell us where to go. Once we get inside there are 3 checkin counters w/ no info above them, so of course we chooser the shortest line. Once we finally get to the front of the line, we are told we are at the wrong counter. She can only check us in for the 203 flight not the 205 flight that we are on. When I glance over to the counter they say we need to be at it is probably 10 people long. Since these people do not move very fast, I was like no way we are goin over there. I informed the the lady behind the counter that no one was around to inform us that we were to be in a specific line. Someone instructed her to assist go ahead and check us in. I received my first hand written boarding pass. As we proceed through customs we get to the guy who ensures you have paid your money before you exit the country. Well we had not, and thought we could pay him. OH NO! This should have been done before we had gone through the metal detector. So we have to go out and pay our $30. Then go back in and show him our receipt.
We have been flying Nationwide airlines while traveling within Africa. I have never heard of this airline before. However, I do not recommend traveling with them. Every flight we have flown with them has been late. When we flew to Zambia, there seemed to be plenty of people checking people in, but they kept yelling at one another, and running around with their heads cut off. We made it to the front of the line, because if we did not we have missed it. We had 3 people assisting us, and it still took forever. We finally make it to the gate, and the woman taking the tickets was one of the people in the front helping us check in. Then we have to take a bus to get to the plane. When we get there another girl that was helping us to check in was at the plane to greet people. No wonder they were all disorganized. They are all doing several jobs. I was surprised not to see one them as a flight attendant.
We finally got to Cape Town and our hotel around 9pm. We walk into our room, and it is just 1 double bed. This is not what I requested. I had to share a bed w/ Kyle at Zulu and all he did was kick me. Oddly enough I have several bruises up and down my leg, which I have no idea how I got. However, I am just gonna say it is because Kyle kicked me all nite. When we were in Zambia, we had our own bed, and it was so nice to sprawl out and sleep sideways across the bed like I normally do. All I had to deal with was Kyle snoring. Although he will say he does not snore, and I am making the whole thing up. So we went back down and got another room with 2 beds. Everyone is happy now.
Aug 4th – Cape Town
We had a Walk to Freedom tour scheduled for our first day. Our guide was Craig, and he was from Cape Town. His mother was from India, and father was black. Our first stop was the District Six area. He had a lot of insight on the area, because his family lived there, and was moved out when the whites moved the out to the Cape Flats. The whites decided this area should be just for whites. They moved everyone out, and completely demolished everything. This was back in the 1960’s. Since then nothing has been built except for a few homes. Apparently, the land is very expensive, and not very people can afford to build there. What is interesting about apartheid is just wasn’t the whites being prejudice against the blacks, they were prejudiced about anyone against anyone that was not white. Even if whites dated or married outside their race they were discriminated against as well. We then went to the District Six museum, http://www.districtsix.co.za/frames.htm which gives you a history of the area and the people that lived there.
We then went to the Langa township, http://www.capetown.at/heritage/city/langa.htm which is probably about 20 minutes outside of Cape Town. It is the oldest township in the Cape Town area. We visited what would we could call a community center. They teach people certain skills. They were making pottery in the back, and then they sell them at the center. There were various other artist there selling their goods. They get funding from various organizations, but not the government. Steffi Graff funds a dance program for the children of the township, http://www.stefanie-graf.de/sgm-en.html The Gates Foundation has also donated computers and internet access. Our guide then walked us through the neighborhoods, working class and upper class. Most houses were very small, and constructed of cement. Within the last 20 years electricity and indoor plumbing have reached the townships. Everyone now owns their houses. Some were nicer then others. They can add additions to their house if they want, and some people had done that. While other houses looked like no one had done anything to them in 20 years. We then reached the hostels, that just look like cheap apartments. They used to be men hostels because they would not let women or children live in the township. So the men lived there while they worked. Now families are allowed, and these rooms that were designed for 4 or so men, are now packed w/ families. Needless to say the rooms are cramped and do not have many modern conveniences. They are in the process of remodeling the hostels, which is half way done and so far as taken 5 years to complete this.
We then visited a primary school. The children sang and danced for us. No matter where we go where children are and no matter what age they are, they always want their pic taken and then they want to see it. They were all very cute.
At the people back of the township is shanty town. The people that live here cannot affor a house, and do not want to live in the cramped hostels. So they take any scrap of metal, cardboard, plastic. Wood and whatever else they can find and construct a shack of a house. The government finally put in toilets, but before that there was just a hole. We were able to go into 1 house. It was a portioned into 3 rooms, living room, kitchen, and bedroom. It housed a family 5, 3 children and 2 adults. Kyle looked around, but I felt like such an intruder. However, from what we have been told they are not ashames\d of their living conditions. This is their life. The government has built some new apartments in the area, and plan to build more. However, people can not afford to live in them. So they just move back to Shantytown, because it is free to live there. I can’t even imagine.
We drove through the center area of the township which was the shopping district. There were wood shacks all setup along the road with people selling food and goods. They are also chopping the heads off of chickens, plucking and cleaning them right there in the open. They then just sit out in the open waiting for someone to buy them. I guess salmonella is not in the African language? We did not eat lunch here!
August 6th
The weather was pretty crummy today. It poured rain and was really windy. Kyle wanted to go see The Simpsons, so we went to the movies. I wanted some chocolate, so I went to the concession stand. There were not huge bags of chocolate to be found in anywhere. When I asked if she had something like milk duds or m&m's the girl looked puzzeled. She opened up a cabilet and there were 2 boxes of m&m's. I said I would take 2 bags. She then walks over to another woman, and then returns and says she cannot sell them seperatly. I have to buy a kid combo. I had to buy a small popcorn and coke to get chocholate. Can you believe. The popcorn was horrible. Lesson learned, buy your chocolate before you go to a movie in South Africa.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Dreaming in Africa
We are stuck in Africa for another day. We got to Jo'burg and found out our flight was cancelled. The rebooked us 3 hours earlier before we showed up on another flight. However, it would be nice if they called you to let you know!!! Well they at least set us up w/ a hotel that includes dinner and b-fast. So we took full advantage of dinner...well at least Kyle did. I'm sure he will have some colorful commentary on his blog.
Things I learned...
> I despise airlines
> They have no sympathy that you are stuck, and they will not pay for your alchohol
> I hope Cape Town expands their airport before the World Cup 2010, because that place is small and claustorphobic.
> Porters take off on national holidays
> I miss jet ways. I have had to take a shuttle bus to and from the airplane, and they are crowded.
We are stuck in Africa for another day. We got to Jo'burg and found out our flight was cancelled. The rebooked us 3 hours earlier before we showed up on another flight. However, it would be nice if they called you to let you know!!! Well they at least set us up w/ a hotel that includes dinner and b-fast. So we took full advantage of dinner...well at least Kyle did. I'm sure he will have some colorful commentary on his blog.
Things I learned...
> I despise airlines
> They have no sympathy that you are stuck, and they will not pay for your alchohol
> I hope Cape Town expands their airport before the World Cup 2010, because that place is small and claustorphobic.
> Porters take off on national holidays
> I miss jet ways. I have had to take a shuttle bus to and from the airplane, and they are crowded.
It is time to say goodbye to Africa.
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Kyle Here:
August 6-7
Jarae and I spent a leisurely morning at breakfast, then decided to walk around the waterfront. It was cold and rainy. I had planned on climbing Table Mountain, as this was our only full free day left, so we thought. I am glad I did not, as on this day, an American tourist died from a fall while climbing the mountain. It was very cold, the mountain was covered in clouds, and it was raining most of the day. The poor idiot fell, and it is only reasonable...the paper claimed he had climbing experience however, not much brains.
Jarae of course, went shopping as usual... and then we went to see "The Simpsons" movie.
After which we ate another huge meal of fried fish.
Went to a meeting, and met my original contact in SA. He can back to the hotel, and we talked for a couple of hours. He shared his experiences at meetings for the last three years... He is very active in getting tourists connected here.
We got up at 6:30 am this morning to go shark diving, but the weather cancelled the trip. I was not going to go since I don't like boats anyway, especially in rough seas.
We then just walked around today, and Jarae bought more trinkets and gifts.
Things I learned today:
You get to pick your seats at the point of purchase for the movies in SA.
Pancakes wrapped around squash are tasty.
I can drink coffee at any hour of the day.
South Africa meetings are loose, ... it is hard to explain. I think not many people have been around long.
I don't want to stop being on vacation.
I want to buy property in South Africa.
August 6-7
Jarae and I spent a leisurely morning at breakfast, then decided to walk around the waterfront. It was cold and rainy. I had planned on climbing Table Mountain, as this was our only full free day left, so we thought. I am glad I did not, as on this day, an American tourist died from a fall while climbing the mountain. It was very cold, the mountain was covered in clouds, and it was raining most of the day. The poor idiot fell, and it is only reasonable...the paper claimed he had climbing experience however, not much brains.
Jarae of course, went shopping as usual... and then we went to see "The Simpsons" movie.
After which we ate another huge meal of fried fish.
Went to a meeting, and met my original contact in SA. He can back to the hotel, and we talked for a couple of hours. He shared his experiences at meetings for the last three years... He is very active in getting tourists connected here.
We got up at 6:30 am this morning to go shark diving, but the weather cancelled the trip. I was not going to go since I don't like boats anyway, especially in rough seas.
We then just walked around today, and Jarae bought more trinkets and gifts.
Things I learned today:
You get to pick your seats at the point of purchase for the movies in SA.
Pancakes wrapped around squash are tasty.
I can drink coffee at any hour of the day.
South Africa meetings are loose, ... it is hard to explain. I think not many people have been around long.
I don't want to stop being on vacation.
I want to buy property in South Africa.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Kyle Here:
August 5,07
So, today was outrageous...we took a 9 hour tour down the Cape Peninsula. It was amazing.
We went to Cape of Good Hope, I however did not feel the need to climb to the lighthouse.
We also went along the coast road, which was somewhat like Malibu, some very expensive homes. Once again, the disparity here seems much more prevelant, possibly since things are so close together, and you can see homes on the cliff over looking the sea, with shacks around them.
We took a boat to see some seals....which really stank. And as some of you are aware, my dislike of boats, which I am not driving is profound, and this boat was up and down, I almost threw up.
Next we drove to the Cape, as I said before. It was really cool. There was a point where I brought the two oceans, the Atlantic and Indian together, as you will be able to see in the photos.
There were two other couples on the tour with us....at lunch the Irish couple just talked really in depth about wine....really, in depth. I believe the phrase ' chocolatey finish' was spoken.
The KirstenBosch gardens were amazing. They are located near the homes of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. It was probably the most striking area in the Cape Town area I have seen so far. If I were to come to SA again, I would stay on that side of the Cape, and near Simon Town. The wineland area was very beautiful as well.
Jarae stayed in , and I went to the mall to eat. It was too late for a movie, but maybe tomorrow. Jarae wanted me to bring her some chocolate, and I almost brought back some 'sexy chocolate' but then thought better of it.
Might climb to the top of Table Mountain tomorrow.
Things I learned today:
I care nothing for discussion of wine characteristics.
There are Sunday drivers all over Cape Town.
I want to live on the Coast in Cape Town.
I will stay near Simon Town on my next trip here.
Muslims girls are kinda sexy.
I need fresh fruit daily.
There are many, many more places I want to see before I die.
August 5,07
So, today was outrageous...we took a 9 hour tour down the Cape Peninsula. It was amazing.
We went to Cape of Good Hope, I however did not feel the need to climb to the lighthouse.
We also went along the coast road, which was somewhat like Malibu, some very expensive homes. Once again, the disparity here seems much more prevelant, possibly since things are so close together, and you can see homes on the cliff over looking the sea, with shacks around them.
We took a boat to see some seals....which really stank. And as some of you are aware, my dislike of boats, which I am not driving is profound, and this boat was up and down, I almost threw up.
Next we drove to the Cape, as I said before. It was really cool. There was a point where I brought the two oceans, the Atlantic and Indian together, as you will be able to see in the photos.
There were two other couples on the tour with us....at lunch the Irish couple just talked really in depth about wine....really, in depth. I believe the phrase ' chocolatey finish' was spoken.
The KirstenBosch gardens were amazing. They are located near the homes of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. It was probably the most striking area in the Cape Town area I have seen so far. If I were to come to SA again, I would stay on that side of the Cape, and near Simon Town. The wineland area was very beautiful as well.
Jarae stayed in , and I went to the mall to eat. It was too late for a movie, but maybe tomorrow. Jarae wanted me to bring her some chocolate, and I almost brought back some 'sexy chocolate' but then thought better of it.
Might climb to the top of Table Mountain tomorrow.
Things I learned today:
I care nothing for discussion of wine characteristics.
There are Sunday drivers all over Cape Town.
I want to live on the Coast in Cape Town.
I will stay near Simon Town on my next trip here.
Muslims girls are kinda sexy.
I need fresh fruit daily.
There are many, many more places I want to see before I die.
August 1st
The day was pretty lazy. We then went on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. It runs between Zambia and Zimbabwe (which we got to see) We saw crocodiles and hippos on the ride. We met a South African family on the boat. The woman Annie is traveling with her parents. Her mom was pretty crazy. She kept singing. It was pretty amusing. Plus I believe she was quite interested in Kyle. It was nice to talking to Annie. She has traveled all over the world, but was very interested in the US.
August 2nd
Annie, whom I met the day before told of us a local market that we must go to. She said it was a very large market, and it was were the locals shopped. There was nothing touristy about it. So we were able to hire a driver, Eugene. It is kind of amusing that most of the people that work at the hotels their names are all common English names. We also discovered this when we went to the market by the Falls. I met, John, Jacob, George, William, and Lucky.
We arrive at the market which was just a little ways out of Livingstone. http://www.backpackzambia.com/pages/falls.htm This is not a tourist market. The market is big. The vendors are all crammed in together. It is constructed, and I might say not that well with wood and plastic. The front of the market was like some of the markets we had been to prior. Selling local craft items, etc. As we got farther back we started to see more of the local items, which ranged from clothing, blankets, nail polish, etc. The conditions got to be worse the further back we got. Kyle said this was nothing compared to Mexico, but I have never seen anything quite like this. Everyone was very nice that we encountered. Some just looked at us with a sort of puzzled look on their face. I don’t think they get a lot of tourists. We found the items that we wanted, and were going to start heading to the front. We then stumbled across the food section of the market. Which was just absolutely disgusting. All the food is laying out in the open, and there are flies over the food. Just about 50 feet away is a big dump with who knows what is in there, and I didn’t want to know. Still no matter where you go, if a kid sees you with a camera they want their picture taken, and then they want to see themselves.
Our driver then took us to another local market to get some copper bracelets. Copper is the main resources that is mined in Zambia. He then took us to a local store were they designed and sewn clothes. Zambians wear very bright colored fabrics. Everything was very beautiful. We met the designer and saw the shop where they made the clothes.
We headed back to the hotel, and decided to walk the falls. We were making fun of the tourists that were rain coats to walk the along the falls. So we trekked off without raincoats. Well by the end of the walk we were soaked, but it was well worth it, I can’t imagine that it is only running half of it’s normal capacity. If it was, I don’t think you could see anything, but mist. At least this way we could see the bottom.
I then went to the other hotel on the property, The Royal Livingstone. This is a 5 star hotel and as a British colonial theme to it. I got a massage and a pedicure. The massage was outside in a tent next to the Zambezi River. The tent just happen to be surrounded by zebras. Not something I normally see at the Aveda salon. The massage was just was what I needed. I then went to go get my pedicure. I felt like a whole new person. I walked out to the back to see the property, and there was a beautiful sunset. I didn’t need to go on the cruise the night before, I could have just sat on one of the swinging benches and watched it.
One last buffet dinner, and then I had to go back early so I could get everything back in the suitcase.
The day was pretty lazy. We then went on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. It runs between Zambia and Zimbabwe (which we got to see) We saw crocodiles and hippos on the ride. We met a South African family on the boat. The woman Annie is traveling with her parents. Her mom was pretty crazy. She kept singing. It was pretty amusing. Plus I believe she was quite interested in Kyle. It was nice to talking to Annie. She has traveled all over the world, but was very interested in the US.
August 2nd
Annie, whom I met the day before told of us a local market that we must go to. She said it was a very large market, and it was were the locals shopped. There was nothing touristy about it. So we were able to hire a driver, Eugene. It is kind of amusing that most of the people that work at the hotels their names are all common English names. We also discovered this when we went to the market by the Falls. I met, John, Jacob, George, William, and Lucky.
We arrive at the market which was just a little ways out of Livingstone. http://www.backpackzambia.com/pages/falls.htm This is not a tourist market. The market is big. The vendors are all crammed in together. It is constructed, and I might say not that well with wood and plastic. The front of the market was like some of the markets we had been to prior. Selling local craft items, etc. As we got farther back we started to see more of the local items, which ranged from clothing, blankets, nail polish, etc. The conditions got to be worse the further back we got. Kyle said this was nothing compared to Mexico, but I have never seen anything quite like this. Everyone was very nice that we encountered. Some just looked at us with a sort of puzzled look on their face. I don’t think they get a lot of tourists. We found the items that we wanted, and were going to start heading to the front. We then stumbled across the food section of the market. Which was just absolutely disgusting. All the food is laying out in the open, and there are flies over the food. Just about 50 feet away is a big dump with who knows what is in there, and I didn’t want to know. Still no matter where you go, if a kid sees you with a camera they want their picture taken, and then they want to see themselves.
Our driver then took us to another local market to get some copper bracelets. Copper is the main resources that is mined in Zambia. He then took us to a local store were they designed and sewn clothes. Zambians wear very bright colored fabrics. Everything was very beautiful. We met the designer and saw the shop where they made the clothes.
We headed back to the hotel, and decided to walk the falls. We were making fun of the tourists that were rain coats to walk the along the falls. So we trekked off without raincoats. Well by the end of the walk we were soaked, but it was well worth it, I can’t imagine that it is only running half of it’s normal capacity. If it was, I don’t think you could see anything, but mist. At least this way we could see the bottom.
I then went to the other hotel on the property, The Royal Livingstone. This is a 5 star hotel and as a British colonial theme to it. I got a massage and a pedicure. The massage was outside in a tent next to the Zambezi River. The tent just happen to be surrounded by zebras. Not something I normally see at the Aveda salon. The massage was just was what I needed. I then went to go get my pedicure. I felt like a whole new person. I walked out to the back to see the property, and there was a beautiful sunset. I didn’t need to go on the cruise the night before, I could have just sat on one of the swinging benches and watched it.
One last buffet dinner, and then I had to go back early so I could get everything back in the suitcase.
Today we went on a Cape Peninsula tour. We really lucked out because it turned out to be a beautiful day. One of our stops was the Cape of Good Hope. This is the most South-Western point of the African continent. Around this point is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. We saw some spectacular scenery. Above is a video from the lighthouse at Cape at Good Hope. http://www.capepoint.co.za/
We then drove to Simonstown http://www.go2africa.com/south-africa/western-cape/simons-town/ (if you scroll down there is a list of western Cape Town suburbs which most of these we drove through today) and had lunch at a great seafood restaurant which was right on the water. We then walked down to Boulders beach to see the African penguins. There are quite a few of them, and they are about as entertaining as the monkeys.
As we drove along the coast today, the scenery reminded me somewhat of coastal California and Italy. Houses down on the beach and then run up the mountainside. I can say I have seen the low of the low (Shanty Town) and the high of the high. There are some pretty magnificent homes along the Western Cape.
We finished up the tour of Kirstenbosch Gardens. I had hear you needed about a day to see the entire garden. Now I see why. This place is huge!! There are so many different plants, flowers and trees. It is absolutely stunning. I can just imagine what it looks like in the summer time.
On the way home we say the front gate of Nelson Mandela's house.
It is hard to believe that our trip is about to come to and end. We have had so many experiences, and the opportunity to see all walks of life.
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