Monthly Archives: September 2012

  • A View for Days!

    September 14, 2012

    3 Comments

    Cape Town, South Africa…I have travelled the world and I have never been amazed by a city like this one! It’s blend of stunning natural beauty and cosmopolitan urban cool that is so inviting…the beach, the vistas, and the waterfront set a perfect backdrop for an array of delicious restaurants, a happening night scene, and beautiful fun loving people.

    I treated myself to more of Cape Town’s natural beauty today with a day long trip down the peninsula to Cape Point and back! Stunning cliffs, impressive flora, and mesmerizing sea views could be seen all along the way…

    Starting out in the fishing village of Hout Bay then down to the Cape of Good Hope until finally reaching Cape Point! The point is a lighthouse topped place where two different seas meet…one cold and one warm. This spot at the tip of the peninsula overwhelms you with it’s beauty as well as it’s display of mother nature at her fiercest! The churning seas crashing ashore and the strong gale force winds that almost knock you over give you a sense of the Hell the seas can hold yet the jaw dropping views beyond the horizon seem to give you a glimpse of Heaven!

    What I witnessed today was not made by human engineered nor dreamed up by modern technology…it is one of nature’s great displays of grandeur!

    Sometimes words cannot capture the awesome experience that feeling it with all your senses can!

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  • Wild Kingdom!

    September 14, 2012

    1 Comment

    Cape Town, South Africa…I set out today to further explore on a day trip to Cape Point outside of Cape Town. Along the way, the day unexpectedly turned into a zoo of sorts!

    I encountered some of the famous and adorable wildlife of South Africa! I started the day with a boat ride from Hout Bay to Duiker Island, better known as Seal Island…This island showcases a large colony of Cape Fur Seals! They are so cute to watch as they play and knock each other off the rocks into the sea and then warm themselves under the African sun.

    A further drive out of town and I stopped at an Ostrich Farm…they look harmless but supposedly they can be dangerous! But they frolicked and posed for my camera. Later, I even spotted a wild Ostrich feeding along a beautiful stretch of coastline…

    On the way to Cape Point, the van was besieged by aggressive Baboons looking for food! They crawled on cars and stubbornly stopped traffic by blocking the road. It’s hard to believe these clever yet funny looking creatures can really cause so much havoc!

    I was startled at the Cape of Good Hope by a creature that was so effectively camouflaged to the rocks that he snuck up on me, almost causing me to tumble off into the sea in total shock! I still don’t know what this opossum looking animal is…

    Finally, a stop at Boulders Beach to see the African Penguins! They are a unique breed of Penguins because they make a donkey like sound that has earned them the nickname “jackass penguins”. They mate for life and are monogamous, and they can usually be seen in pairs!

    Nature is an incredible thing…both the beautiful vistas and unique species of all kinds that make up this wonderful world!

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  • Dark Moments in History!

    September 13, 2012

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    Cape Town, South Africa…I have been enthralled by the natural beauty around this city, but no one can visit South Africa without paying respect to it’s tumultuous history.

    Remnants of Apartheid and the country’s history with racism are all around. It is not something Capetonians want to forget, there are museums, monuments, and memorials to this part of their history throughout the city. I was chilled by some of these sights, especially knowing some of these racist policies were going on in my lifetime!

    District Six, the neighborhood forcibly depopulated by the Apartheid government has remained a barren grass filled memorial. The Iziko Slave Lodge Museum is the oldest surviving slave building that was originally built by the Dutch East India Company in 1679. And the building that once housed the Race Classification Board and it’s poignant race designated benches are still part of downtown Cape Town.

    Growing up in the United States, we are guilty of being very insulated to some important events in world history. We all know who Nelson Mandela is, but many of us fail to understand what he went through and what went on here during Apartheid! Visiting his prison cell on Robben Island is sobering. I am deeply moved by the struggles of South Africa and I am proud my travels have opened my eyes to pay witness to this history!

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  • Grape Nuts!

    September 12, 2012

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    Cape Town, South Africa…I took off today to the famous vineyards of South Africa. This region is known for it’s many fine wines, so I thought, if anything, it would be a beautiful outing into the countryside!

    I am not a wine connoisseur, well honestly I don’t drink it at all…but it’s an experience! So let’s try it!

    It’s an absolutely stunning area filled with grand estates set amidst rolling fields that slope up the mountainside. The blue skies make a perfect backdrop for this verdant area of wineries! It is early Spring, so the grapes are just beginning their season’s growth hence the barren branches.

    We arrive at the vineyard estate of Groot Constantia…this historical wine farm was founded in the late 1600’s! Originally, the grapes were brought over from Dutch vineyards and over the centuries this has become a world class wine region.

    Part of the stop is a wine tasting of their award winning vintages…oh boy, 7-8 glasses of wine and a few crackers to balance it! I am gonna need a burger to counteract all this alcohol!

    I sample all the different flavors and I am educated by my pourer on the subtle flavors and harmonies…I taste Groot Constantia’s famous Sauvignon Blanc amongst many others!

    I am totally drunk and in my stupor I am totally enamored by the underwater diving duck…now I am seeing things? Do ducks really submerge themselves head first? Hmmm…I took a pick just to make sure I wasn’t imagining…

    We arrive at another winery, Eagles Nest, and I decide I better sit this one out! For now I’ll just take in the stunning scenery and work off this drunken feeling…20120912-152149.jpg20120912-152246.jpg20120912-152342.jpg20120912-152424.jpg20120912-152446.jpg20120912-152601.jpg

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  • I’m on Top of the World!

    September 11, 2012

    3 Comments

    Cape Town, South Africa…I wanted to take advantage of this perfect weather! It’s 65 degrees, clear, and sunny…the epitome of a textbook Spring day. Since I am now in the southern hemisphere, seasons are reversed…so back home it is exiting summer, down here it’s slowly heading into summer!

    Table Mountain is the symbol of Cape Town…Nelson Mandela proclaimed this was South Africa’s natural gift to the world! This majestic mountain that is flat on top (hence the name table mountain) is one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been…it’s even older than the Himalayas! This mountainside rises above the city and can be seen virtually from everywhere…

    Taking the circular cable car up the steep mountainside is not for the faint of heart! It’s circular shape allows it to go up or comes down while the inside rotates like a “lazy Susan” to offer everyone a 360 degree view. As if going up in this thing isn’t enough, they have to spin you around too?

    Well the top is a photographic dream! Views over all of Cape Town and coast…amazing terrain and foliage cover the top. A walk around this summit is quite easy. I am still pinching myself from the magnificence of the panorama… You feel like you are on top of the world!

    Wow, what a feeling!
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  • Amazing Cape Town!

    September 11, 2012

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    Cape Town, South Africa…it’s a gorgeous Spring day in Cape Town and I am already in love with this city at the southern tip of Africa!

    After a two day flight from France, I am ready to explore and my first stop is the V&A Waterfront! It’s just stunning with it’s quaint wharf and views for days! I am so excited to keep exploring this vibrant city! So much to see and feel…

    Stay tuned for much more from South Africa!20120911-120447.jpg

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  • In Transit!

    September 9, 2012

    2 Comments

    Au revoir France, hello Middle East! I left the beauty of the South of France and I am headed to Cape Town, South Africa! En route, I have an overnight layover in Doha, Qatar…it’s a long haul down to furthest tip of Africa, so breaking up the voyage makes it interesting! I always believe making travel a true adventure of discovery…so getting to see my transit point is cool.

    I love the Middle East…its so mysterious and different from other places. Some people are intimidated by the swarthy looks and natural aggressiveness, but I find it fascinating! The intricate decor, the bustling souks, the local dress…I marvel how out of a desert can rise this mirage of modern architecture! even the most modernist high rise still retains some connection to Arabic style…the Doha Tornado tower is a vision of a hip futuristic building!

    This is a quick stop but it’s fascinating to get a dose of the Middle East…amazing meze and a city creating a new history for itself!

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  • Understated Chic!

    September 8, 2012

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    St. Tropez, France…last day in this French playground! I decide to take a more laid back approach today to the beach in order to cap off my holiday on the Cote d’Azure…

    Instead of one of the swanky beach clubs, I choose Aqua Club. A simpler, less glitzy club along the same yacht filled beach. It’s situated next to yesterday’s Les Palmiers but it’s a world apart!

    I can sit on my lounger and watch people shuttled in from awaiting yachts on one side or I can view the nudist beach to my other side. But this club has no pretension, no class system, and no attitude! It’s a feet in the sand kind of place on the shore…

    Lunch is served simply…tables right on the beach. The list of daily specials sound great and I pick beef carpacio and fresh mussels, one of my favs! Of course, I don’t forget to accompany it with a heaping plate of French fries…I am holding out on my all time favorite, steak tartare for when I am in Paris later this month!
    Besides the laid back vibe, my day here costs half of what it did at the other chicer clubs.

    Its been a marvelous summer getting to spend time on all of Europe’s rivieras…each uniquely it’s own! This winter I’ll be itching for a trip to St Barths…it’s the closet thing we have to this riviera!

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  • Fabulous on a Budget!

    September 8, 2012

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    St. Tropez, France…this destination is beautiful but it can be harmful to your wallet! I have prided myself this trip on creating major wows on a fairly low budget! Usually, I live by a “Don’t worry, live it up…it’s vacation!” mentality when I travel. But when the trip is 4 months long, that policy needs to be re-examined!

    I knew the French Riviera would be my expense challenge! How can I play with the International elite without breaking the bank? Well, a lot of research and planning and I did very well by Cote d’Azure standards…

    The 5 star hotels like Hotel Sezz or Hotel Byblos start at $500 a night and more often hover around $1000 a night! I found a lovely French hotel, Hotel Mouillage, and by booking in advance secured a rate well under $200. I was worried, but it’s a lovely French style hotel…clean, air conditioned, and decorated in a Provencal style…I have an amazing room with large terrace overlooking their great pool and gardens! Plus, its walking distance to town which saves on overpriced taxis! A total Score!

    Now I needed to keep my spending in check…I decided to splurge on the beach clubs and lunch since that is the essence of life in St. Tropez! That splurge cost approx $150 a day between beach chairs and food! Of course, there are public parts of the beach which are free, but I am not a bare bones kind of guy! The hotel owner was so friendly and he matched me up daily with other guests so we could carpool together in a taxi to the beach! A huge savings…

    I stocked up on drinks and snacks at the grocery store and there are a plethora of take out places, gourmet shops, and little bakeries that have delicious delicacies for take out! I would do dinner on my private terrace for $10-15 and really have a lovely and relaxing time. Grazing on authentic cous-cous, rich salads, delicious sandwiches, or amazing French pizza!

    Then it was off to town nightly to enjoy the parade of yachts and the energy of the beautiful harbor!

    I wasn’t luxuriating on a yacht, rubbing elbows with celebrities, power shopping at Hermes, or indulging in bottles of champagne…but I created my own “lifestyles of the rich and famous” week in the home of Brigitte Bardot, St. Tropez!

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  • Designer Soda!

    September 7, 2012

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    You’ve got to love the importance of design in French culture!

    They even have designer soda! Diet Coke or Coca Cola light as they call it in Europe is now designed by infamous French designer Jean Paul Gaultier!

    Very cool! Another example of the mass appeal of fashion and how an everyday item can get a little hipper!

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