Hello my lovelies! Although this is completely irrelevant to the rest of this post, I feel the need to tell you about the weather here of late. Now, we all know that weather is a "safe topic" and something people are told to talk about when nothing else is left to say*. Fear not weather: this time, the limelight is all yours! As I'm sure you know, we are in the middle of winter here in South Africa. When I was in the Ithala Game Reserve, which is about five hours north of here, it was 2 degrees Celsius our first morning there. Yeah... Then! This past weekend, wait for it.... 90 degrees Fahrenheit; talk about a range! Too bad I don't have any shorts here anymore. It was sweltering?!**
As promised, below you will find the link to my Google+/Picasa web albums from my various excursions and adventures. It's been a long, fun ride and I feel lucky to have gotten to share it with so many people. I still can't believe it's almost at an end-- a begending! Ever picture in every album is captioned to give snippets of information about the location and what's going on. Hopefully, the viewing will be spectacular and you'll be able to see everything clearly. If not, let me know!
1. The Chateau
Thought it would be a good idea to start off with some mouth-wateringly good photographs of my favorite eatery in South Africa-- a patisserie of course!
2. V ZA
These are all pictures from around mid-May to mid-June when I was able to travel a bit further out towards Pietermaritzberg and the Midlands (the range of foothills below the famous Drakensberg Mountain Range) and then also a bit of traveling around Kloof with some friends and a visitor.
3. in&around KLOOF
Photos from the beginning of my cousin Jasmine's trip to South Africa, where we explored Kloof, Hillcrest, Durban, and all the fun ins and outs around the towns.
4. Kingdom Animala
Behold, the Ithala Game Reserve and Jasmine and I's five hour drive there and our eleven hour drive back again. The trip was full of thatched rooves, zebras, bushpigs, and giraffes who really didn't care (in a good way!).
5. Cape Town, Day One
Plane ride, Bo-Kaap, the Stadium Guest House, Signal Hill, the Two Oceans Aquarium at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, and a puppy!
6. Cape Town, Day Two
Exploring the V&A Waterfront, Robbin Island Museum, the Craft Market, the Redline Bus Tour, St. George's Cathedral, the South African Museum, Castle of Good Hope, Parliament, Company Gardens, and several bays, beaches and viewpoints.
7. Cape Town, Day Three
The Old Biscuit Mill, Oded's Kitchen, LOTS of food, a ritzy art shop, Canal Walk at Century City, more delicious food and sweets, Exclusive Books, Mug & Bean, Table View, beaches :]
8. Cape Town, Day Four
Butterfly World, Anura Vineyards, Franschhoek: town and winery, Franschhoek Cemetery, Boschendal Vineyards, Hillcrest Berry Farm, Spier Winery and grounds.
9. Cape Town, Day Five
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Groot Constantia Winery, Hout Bay, Simon's Town, Fishhoek, Kalk Bay, the Brass Bell, St. James, Muizenberg, Tribeca Cafe, Boulder Beach, Baboons, and Cape Point (where two oceans meet).
10. Cape Town, Day Six
The Plattekilp Gorge Trail to the summit of Table Mountain, "At the Top" Cafe (home of the world's worst coffee), Rock Dassies (Hyraxes), high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel, voted best high tea in the world by several respectable associations, and our last night in Cape Town :'[
* Mrs. Dashwood: Hush, please. That is enough, Margaret. If you cannot think of anything appropriate to say, you will please restrict your remarks to the weather!
[LATER]
Edward Ferrars: I trust I find you all well?
Marianne: Thank you, Edward, we are all very well.
...hella awkward pause...
Margaret: We've been enjoying very fine weather.
[Marianne nudges her]
Margaret: Well, we have!
Edward Ferrars: Well, I-I'm glad to hear it. The roads were very... dry.
**this is a new composer I've been following lately who is bloody brillant! Feel free to check out his website or the video I found him through which features puppies in high definition!
