Beauty and The Beasts

Enchanted. That’s what taking a safari in South Africa is - an absolutely magical wonderland that truly opens your eyes to the bounty of our world. I cannot overstate the beauty of the landscape, like northern and southern California rolled into one. Our time in “the bush” was like a second honeymoon for us, and we were overwhelmed by the rich experiences of each day.

Here are some of the highlights…

Yes, that’s me in the back under the hat. It’s wintertime in South Africa and we had to bundle up to keep warm. But well worth it; traveling in an open-top jeep brought us that much closer to everything.

This queen of the savannah is a beauty and a beast. Coming face to face with such a powerful predator made me very aware of my place in the food chain!

Strength in numbers. Zebras always stand two by two, as their stripes blend them together so they appear more formidable, warding off potential predators.

It was heaven! We saw so much in such a short time. It has taken us weeks to process it all and we will treasure our memories for a lifetime.  I couldn’t recommend South Africa more - the guides were tremendously educating, the people incredibly warm and the hotel amenities lacked for nothing. That is, with the blessed exception of TV. (But wouldn’t you know I had better cell reception on safari than at my beach house?)

Ngiyabonga, thank you, South Africa!

Love,

South Africa! It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I was fortunate enough to attend three World Cup games at Soccer City in Johannesburg, including the electrifying championship match between Spain and the Netherlands.  We were lucky enough to catch both the Germany vs. Uruguay and Germany vs. Argentina games too - all so exciting!  The Stadium was absolutely breathtaking.  It just engulfs you.  A huge congratulations to Spain for a thrilling win and to host country South Africa, too.  It was flawlessly organized and South Africa is the warmest, most welcoming place I have been in a long time.

[Soccer City Stadium in South Africa]

In addition to the World Cup events, we also spent time with friends.  We had a delicious meal at our friends Jan and Ian’s house.  They served a mouth-watering rack of lamb and I was delighted to be able to contribute my favorite bruschetta recipe - divine!

South Africa is simply the best.  If you ever have occasion to travel there - make it happen!

Everyone is so generous and loving there and it is spectacularly beautiful.

I will be back soon with more updates from our trip.  Wait until you see the pictures from our very first Safari!

Love,