04 September 2020

Kamieskroon is a small town just outside Springbok on the N7 national road. If you are travelling from Cape Town, your drive would be approximately 5 hours depending on how many stops you have along the way. This town is very dear to us, as it is my mother’s birthplace. Every year, without hesitation, she embarks on her journey to not only visit family but of course to see the flowers every Spring. Depending on the rainfall during winter, the flowers could start blooming anytime from mid-August. This year the rainfall was a bit later and as you can see from the picture below, the flowers were in full bloom in the first week in September. The Skilpad Wildflower Reserve should not be missed on your visit. White, yellow and orange daisies – Arctotis, Dimorphotheca, and Osteospermums – are annual stalwarts. But there are also beautiful small bulbous plants found in amongst the koppies and bushes that often go unnoticed – like Babiana and Mesembryanthemums, or Vygies as we know them. There is no shortage of accommodation in this area. In fact, COVID19 posed a huge threat to the socio-economic state of this region. The hospitality community of the small town is sometimes only employed at hotels when the flower season starts. Thankfully, level 2 inter-provisional tourism was permitted just in time. Have a look at the pictures to be inspired to visit the wonder of nature, carpets of colour, and experience a bit of the Namaqua culture. Contact me to develop an itinerary for your visit to the Northern Cape.

30 June 2020

Rome was not the main destination for our first international holiday as a family. We shopped around for the best airfare to Brussels and on Alitalia was by far the cheapest for our travel dates, considering it was peak season. The connecting times were perfect. But how can we merely transit this wonderful destination? Without hesitation, we decided to spend days in Rome which was one of my bucket list destinations. December in Europe is the start of the winter season. Wardrobe planning is critical as you would not want to pack too much ensuring you have some space in your suitcase for shopping. A few critical items for travelling this time of the year: • Coat/Warm Jacket- designed for the northern hemisphere winters • Warm, but comfortable shoes • Beanie/warm hat- and travel-size umbrella • Scarf • Gloves • Clothing- thin layers are recommended as the hotels, stores and restaurants have central heating On arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, we were welcomed by our driver. I suggest that a meet and greet transfer is arranged. They have pre-arranged parking which is a two-minute walk from the arrivals hall. Our flight arrived during peak hour traffic, so the drive to our apartment near the Vatican was approximately an hour. If you have a chatty driver like we had the drive does not seem so long. We met up with my family at the apartment, freshened up, and made our way to a café to have some brunch. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I could not wait to indulge in some Italian delights. It was time for Pizza. We found an amazing restaurant called Café Risorgimento, 500 metres from St Peters Basilica. The food, service, and location were so great that we had our dinner there as well. Artichokes were never a favourite vegetable until I ate it at this café. The pizzas, pasta, desserts, and cappuccino are so delicious. We had a few hours to see the important sights. The best way to do this is to purchase a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus. We managed to visit the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, and wander through the historic charms of this ancient city. Gelato, Cannolis, Limoncello, and cappuccinos were welcomed refreshments on our walk and drive through the city. Our second day was spent at the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peters Basilica. I would suggest that you book a guided tour to ensure you hear all the history and background of these iconic establishments. You have an option of a private guide or to be in a group of no more than 15 people. We started our tour in the Vatican Museum. Being surrounded by so much history in forms of paintings, sculptures and tapestries was surreal. The guide can give you detailed information about any piece in the Museum. We proceeded to the Sistine Chapel, the official residence of the Pope, and serves as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today, this site is used by the Papal conclave, which is the process by which a new Pope is selected. There should be absolute silence in the chapel, however, your guide will remind you before you enter. The Sistine Chapel is home to famous paintings. The one to look out for is The Creation of Adam. A staircase would then take you to the entrance of St Peter’s Basilica. To give you an idea about the size, the Statue of Liberty even on her foundation could fit into the Basilica. A sculpture that you would find in the Basilica is Michelangelo’s famous masterpiece ‘La Pieta’. When existing the Basilica, one would have a view of St Peter’s Square. After our tour, we went shopping for souvenirs. The further from the Vatican wall, the cheaper the items. Souvenirs are well priced and the shops all have a diverse variety. Being Catholic, I bought my Rosary at the souvenir shop at St Peter's Basilica as these have been blessed by the Pope. I would love to return to Rome and explore the city at a slower pace. I would suggest that you have at least 3 full days in this ancient city to become completely immersed in the Roman way. I am looking forward to planning your dream holiday to Rome.

28 October 2020

I was so excited to hear that Seychelles is welcoming South African tourists. This is definitely one of my favourite destinations to travel to. Travellers wanting to embark on island holidays often think that they need to be limited to one resort. This archipelago has so much more variety to offer. Air Seychelles is currently operating one flight a week departing Johannesburg on a Saturday and returning from Mahe, the main island on a Saturday, ensuring you have enough time to explore idyllic Seychelles. Consider starting your holiday on Praslin, a quick air hop from Mahe, or if you prefer there is an hour boat ride from the main island to Praslin. Your transfer will take you to your hotel of choice. My hotel of choice is the Constance Lemuria. A five-star resort with all the bells and whistles. The resort is so big that you don’t often see many guests at any given time. While you are on Praslin island, be sure to visit the Vallèe de Mai Nature Reserve which is a nature park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a well-preserved palm forest, has a few flagship species made up of the island endemic coco de mer. Consider a boat ride to the island of La Digue. It is known for its beaches, like Anse Source d’Argent, the most photographed beach. Don’t be fooled by how calm the beaches look. When the tide comes in, the waves wash you to shore like a piece of seaweed. While on the island, be sure to visit the Giant Tortoise Farm. For a rustic lunch experience, visit the Takamaka Café to enjoy some local cuisine as well as some local rum. All of this can be done in one day. You will definitely need to visit the main island, Mahe. There are so many accommodation options to chose from. Among these are Constance Ephelia (5 Star), Coral Strand (4 Star) and Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino (3 Star). These are just a few among many other resorts and hotels. Hotel groups like Hilton and Four Seasons are also represented on the island. Be sure to visit the local produce markets, Takamaka Rum Distillery, and the National Museum of History. The museum has two levels. Downstairs is an informative journey through the 300 years of Seychelles history whereas upstairs focuses on Creole culture. Should you be keen to visit Seychelles, please contact me.