Yesterday was a harrowing experience. Where to start. I will begin with the renting of the car, it was a nice car, a bit on the small side, but all of them are and for good reason, the roads are narrow. I had never driven on the left side of the road and the right side of the car, it was nerve racking! I was afraid the clutch, gas, and break were backwards too, but they were not. Good thing! I had to really concentrate on keeping myself in the middle of the road, at the center line and #2, and just as important, train myself to look both ways because traffic is coming in the opposite direction of what I am used to. You would not think small things effect your driving, but they do, for instance, your peripherals are trained to notice movement from a certain direction and driving on the opposite side changes that training and is a bit disconcerting. You are constently questioning your turns, your direction, everything about your driving. So that was the first thing of the day.
We decided to do two things for the day, first wine tasting in the Constantia region of the Cape Town or Western Cape and to visit Cape Point National Reserve. The wine tasting was fun and informative. There are several good stories to tell about the visit to the second winery, just ask us about "Oh Shame!". Alexis found out she likes white wine more than red wine.
After the 3 wineries we were off to the Cape! We drove down the coast through Simon's Town, the False Bay was beautiful, it was windy so it was also choppy. We stopped in Simon's Town for some shopping and stopped just outside to try and see some penguins. They are in nesting season and there were many penguins on the nest and we could get a lot of good pictures. After that we were off to the Cape.
On the way up we say signs that said "Beware of Baboons" and "Do Not Feed the Baboons". We were instantly wanting to see baboons. 4 km past the sign we say about 20, that was cool, especially when Shelly rolled down her window and leaned out to take it (keep that fact in mind, the window being down). After that we went into the park, up to point, we say ostrich, springbok, whales, and more baboons. We had lunch at the Two Oceans Restaurant and then headed down to the Cape of Good Hope.
The Baboon Attack!
Well, we will tell this story in person. But it did involve an injury, Shelly panicing a little, Lexi panicing a lot, and me jumping in the car with 2 baboons.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Well, it has been a few days since I have made a post. Getting out of Zimbabwe was not really a problem, except for the fact that the plane was an hour late and we thought we might miss our connection to Cape Town. But we had plenty of time, even for Shelly.
It was really an interesting experience being in Zimbabwe, as bad as we thought it was, those we talked to said it was 10 times better than a couple of years ago! That is so hard to imagine.
Cape Town is much like St. Louis or Denver or Providence, in that it feels like a modern big city, that happens to have roads that drive on the wrong side. We are renting a car today, that will be interesting, I am going to make sure that I stay in the middle of the road, if I do that we SHOULD be OK.
The last few days we have spent in the V&A Waterfront district, which is really cool. Lots of shops with everything from craft booths to up scale shopping (Tiffany you would really like this place with all the different kinds of shops!)
More later today, CYA!
It was really an interesting experience being in Zimbabwe, as bad as we thought it was, those we talked to said it was 10 times better than a couple of years ago! That is so hard to imagine.
Cape Town is much like St. Louis or Denver or Providence, in that it feels like a modern big city, that happens to have roads that drive on the wrong side. We are renting a car today, that will be interesting, I am going to make sure that I stay in the middle of the road, if I do that we SHOULD be OK.
The last few days we have spent in the V&A Waterfront district, which is really cool. Lots of shops with everything from craft booths to up scale shopping (Tiffany you would really like this place with all the different kinds of shops!)
More later today, CYA!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Just got in from viewing the sunrise over the Falls. I am just in awe at the beauty and power of this place. We see it every where, everyday, the power and beauty of God's creation, but there are special places that resonate to us, individually or as humans in general. Growing up around here I am sure that you would have to stop and make yourself really see the Falls for more than what you are used to seeing every day. But to come here and visit and see it for the first time and to witness each aspect for just a time or two, knowing you will only have memories to draw from in the future. You have to savour each moment, each connection has to be made vivid. At dawn just before the sun rose over the horizon, I heard the sprinklers tapping as they watered the grass. Down, just to the left of the Zambezi river about a 100 yards or so, I could hear the monkeys playing and screaming as the moved from tree to tree and scurried across the ground, the gorge magnifies the sound perfectly. Watching the mist rise 100's of feet into the air with the spreading light behind it's colors of gold and red from just to each side of the falls, in anticipation of the day, feels like seeing an old friend for the first time in a long time. When you first see them after great anticipation, there is a real surge of joy and excitement that does not last once you start your visiting, it is only when you first see them that you experience that intense moment. I can see the mist that results from the tremendous power of the water crashing down into the gorge, I can feel that power almost a mile away, I can hear it, and as the three senses converge to make this overwhelming memory, it is the early morning experience, the chill in the air that puts an emphatic touch of surreal on the moment that, with such poignancy, will last the rest of my life. It was a morning of beauty and significance.
I am thankful to have been here to see and feel this great creation of Jehovah's. As with most people, the more I see, I can only be made to be humbled at my insignificance in the power of what God has done and continues to do.
I am thankful to have been here to see and feel this great creation of Jehovah's. As with most people, the more I see, I can only be made to be humbled at my insignificance in the power of what God has done and continues to do.
I just updated Picasa with some pictures.
After the elephant ride we came back to the hotel and walked down to the Falls. Where we were what some might view as being accosted, as we walked down to the Falls, by men who were selling their carvings and sculptures. For about 1/4 mile they tried hard to sell us what they had, but we said we would come back through and they could try at that time. I think we knew what we were getting into, but either way, they were there on the way back, waiting for us. I was absolutely blown away by the beauty, the power, the sheer magnitude of the Falls. First what I noticed was, we were definitely not in the states! No real barrier, just some sticks in the ground to show you, really suggest to you, where you should not go past. A couple of the spots you could walk right up to the edge and look straight down, only about 95m (311 ft.)! The mist was like rain. Just around the Falls it is like a tropical jungle, but about 100 yards away you are back to savanna. We walked the length of the Zimbabwean side of the Falls down to the bridge that separates Zambia and Zimbabwe. I remember watching the old Tarzan movies, the black and white ones, where Tarzan was yelling out his call, and I saw where he stood to do that on the other side of the Falls, that was pretty cool. We watched two women jump off the bridge with bungee cords, wow did they scream and that cord really makes you bounce! During the self-paced tour we saw a bush buck, we saw 2 wart hogs near the edge of the falls, and a little snake. I was just so impressed with those Falls. Of course I have done Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls, I suppose I have to at least think about doing the trifecta and visiting the Iguassu Falls between Argentina and Brazil.
As we exited the Falls park, the men were waiting for us across the road. One man was selling two African statues, beautiful statues. On the way down, he started at $65.00 US, "it is good deal" he said. On the way back up, he started with $50.00 US, "better deal". I said, among the 5 or 6 guys selling other carvings, one had two wart hogs, beautifully carved, one had a carving of 3 giraffes, one had a couple of stone hippos. But the man with the two statues was determined to make the sale. $50.00 US turned into "what is your best offer", my response was $10.00, that is all I had. For 1/4 mile he asked for $20.00 and for a 1/4 mile I replied with all I have is $10.00, among the other men trying to get the same $10.00. The man with the statues asked for my shoes and $10.00, he asked for my shirt and $10.00, he asked for the $10.00 and one statue, finally as we were getting closer to the hotel he said, both for $10.00. Funny thing was, although I like the statues, I would not have bought them if I just saw them on a shelf in a store. But the bargaining made it feel like I had to make the purchase, so in that respect he did do his job. As we were walking up to the hotel you had to go through the veranda to get the rooms. Some of the other guests, as I feared, started talking to us about the purchases. When I told them $10.00 for the two, they seemed to think it was a good deal. But we were hungry and we had one more visit to make to the open market and only a little bit more than an hour before we had to leave for our boat ride up the Zambezi river. You are not going to believe what happened when Shelly and I went back this time, I will just say as a teaser that they called me the professional and Shelly used chocolate for money, I will tell the whole story in the next post.
After the elephant ride we came back to the hotel and walked down to the Falls. Where we were what some might view as being accosted, as we walked down to the Falls, by men who were selling their carvings and sculptures. For about 1/4 mile they tried hard to sell us what they had, but we said we would come back through and they could try at that time. I think we knew what we were getting into, but either way, they were there on the way back, waiting for us. I was absolutely blown away by the beauty, the power, the sheer magnitude of the Falls. First what I noticed was, we were definitely not in the states! No real barrier, just some sticks in the ground to show you, really suggest to you, where you should not go past. A couple of the spots you could walk right up to the edge and look straight down, only about 95m (311 ft.)! The mist was like rain. Just around the Falls it is like a tropical jungle, but about 100 yards away you are back to savanna. We walked the length of the Zimbabwean side of the Falls down to the bridge that separates Zambia and Zimbabwe. I remember watching the old Tarzan movies, the black and white ones, where Tarzan was yelling out his call, and I saw where he stood to do that on the other side of the Falls, that was pretty cool. We watched two women jump off the bridge with bungee cords, wow did they scream and that cord really makes you bounce! During the self-paced tour we saw a bush buck, we saw 2 wart hogs near the edge of the falls, and a little snake. I was just so impressed with those Falls. Of course I have done Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls, I suppose I have to at least think about doing the trifecta and visiting the Iguassu Falls between Argentina and Brazil.
As we exited the Falls park, the men were waiting for us across the road. One man was selling two African statues, beautiful statues. On the way down, he started at $65.00 US, "it is good deal" he said. On the way back up, he started with $50.00 US, "better deal". I said, among the 5 or 6 guys selling other carvings, one had two wart hogs, beautifully carved, one had a carving of 3 giraffes, one had a couple of stone hippos. But the man with the two statues was determined to make the sale. $50.00 US turned into "what is your best offer", my response was $10.00, that is all I had. For 1/4 mile he asked for $20.00 and for a 1/4 mile I replied with all I have is $10.00, among the other men trying to get the same $10.00. The man with the statues asked for my shoes and $10.00, he asked for my shirt and $10.00, he asked for the $10.00 and one statue, finally as we were getting closer to the hotel he said, both for $10.00. Funny thing was, although I like the statues, I would not have bought them if I just saw them on a shelf in a store. But the bargaining made it feel like I had to make the purchase, so in that respect he did do his job. As we were walking up to the hotel you had to go through the veranda to get the rooms. Some of the other guests, as I feared, started talking to us about the purchases. When I told them $10.00 for the two, they seemed to think it was a good deal. But we were hungry and we had one more visit to make to the open market and only a little bit more than an hour before we had to leave for our boat ride up the Zambezi river. You are not going to believe what happened when Shelly and I went back this time, I will just say as a teaser that they called me the professional and Shelly used chocolate for money, I will tell the whole story in the next post.
Today started early, up by 6 and off to breakfast (which was much better than dinner at the same place the night before). But as we were eating out on the veranda, the sun was just coming up through the mist of Victoria Falls. It was one of those moments that you just know is going to be a memory that you keep the rest of your life. It was one of the most beautiful natural scenes I have ever witnessed in my life.
We then caught a bus to our first excursion, an elephant ride (they call it a safari, we did see water buffalo and bush buck, but safari, I am not thinking so). It was really fun and a great experience. Alexis and Shelly shared an elephant, I was stuck (stuck in a good way) on Jock, the dominant male of the herd. For about an hour we rode through the bush, Jock stopped every so often to eat and push down a tree. It was really amazing to feel the power these animals have as the do what is so normal to them. When we were done we had breakfast and watched our video of the ride. We bought the video, an elephant foot print (Emily, the one Alexis and Shelly rode) and a butter pot. Do you know what a butter pot is, it is awesome, that is what it is. Then back on the bus to the hotel.
Part 2 of the day later.
We then caught a bus to our first excursion, an elephant ride (they call it a safari, we did see water buffalo and bush buck, but safari, I am not thinking so). It was really fun and a great experience. Alexis and Shelly shared an elephant, I was stuck (stuck in a good way) on Jock, the dominant male of the herd. For about an hour we rode through the bush, Jock stopped every so often to eat and push down a tree. It was really amazing to feel the power these animals have as the do what is so normal to them. When we were done we had breakfast and watched our video of the ride. We bought the video, an elephant foot print (Emily, the one Alexis and Shelly rode) and a butter pot. Do you know what a butter pot is, it is awesome, that is what it is. Then back on the bus to the hotel.
Part 2 of the day later.
We are uploading a few pictures at this link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/117492181230752501896/SouthAfrica2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCJmOmsfe357tKg&feat=content_notification#
Todd
http://picasaweb.google.com/117492181230752501896/SouthAfrica2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCJmOmsfe357tKg&feat=content_notification#
Todd
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