Greetings from the Jollyboy Backpackers Guesthouse. Long gone are the old days of backpacking - where amenities were basic and services on the light side. Here you have excellent Internet access (by sub Saharan Africa standards), a pool, full kitchen and a variety of falls and safari related activities to choose from. The backpackers lodge in Victoria Falls we stayed at even had several onsite masseuses! The "no man's zone" - the area between … [Read more...]
A Bicycle Built for Two
While I was house-sitting a 15th-century farmhouse in historical Gascony, with a backyard view of the snow-capped Pyrennees, I decided one bracing morning over a cafe du lait to hire a bike and make a pilgrimage to one of France's oddest pilgrimage sites: "NOTRE DAME DES CYCLISTES." Looking decidedly uncool in my fuzzy Patagonia jacket, Tintin T-shirt, Gap shorts, white athletic socks, and Rockport walking shoes, I pedaled like a madman, … [Read more...]
Enjoying Victoria Falls…as in the Waterfalls
Just like with the Iquazu Falls in South America where you can enjoy views from two countries (Brazil & Argentina), its the same here between Zimbabwe and Zambia. We entered the Falls National Park on the Zimbabwe side and surprisingly had the trails and viewpoints all to ourselves for the better part of 3 hours. These are among the world's greatest waterfalls - you can walk well over a kilometer to see their span. A highlight of a walk here … [Read more...]
Moon Cuba
Moon Cuba by Christopher P Baker is certainly one of the more exhaustive guides to Cuba with 775 pages chock full of detailed travel information. Start your browsing of this book with one of their several suggested itineraries including trips by bicycle, for beach lovers, for cigar and car lovers as well as a description of the most scenic drives. For those with at least 3 weeks, the 21-day "Best of Cuba" itinerary is a must read. Excellent maps … [Read more...]
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
We are loving the little town of Victoria Falls - US currency is the name of the game here - even the ATM's spit out US dollars. However, unlike the currency in the USA most of the bills here are blackened beyond believe - some bills are just tattered smears of smudge - even though they are only a few years old! One lady in a wheelchair told us to be very careful at night in regards to mosquitoes - she said she's had malaria so many times … [Read more...]
Spaniards in London
I've just come back from a short trip to London and I've been able to see the ravages of the crisis. And not precisely reflected in London city itself, but in the great amount of Spaniards that have left their apartments in Madrid, Barcelona or Cuenca and settled in the British capital, as in Spain the general outlook for youngsters is not very encouraging. Seriously, this made me reflect about whether one should leave their country to look … [Read more...]
Flight from Jo’burg to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
On BA operated Comair flight now from JO'berg to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. I asked FA what my choices were for lunch as the announcement as often is the case on these small aircraft was garbled and coupled with the flight noise was impossible to hear. Her answer was "they are delicious" - I asked again, "delicious" was the answer repeated. Oh boy - vegetarian lasagne was all I was given. Edible - that's all I will say. Certainly much better … [Read more...]
The Coolest Race on Earth
The Coolest Race on Earth by John Hanc his is the latest book by John Hanc, a contributing editor to Runner's World Magazine and contributing writer to Newsday. He describes his passion for running and ultimately how it takes him to Antarctica to run a full length 26.2 mile marathon in part to celebrate his 50th birthday. An unusual group of individuals join him down under including the first person to try and complete the marathon in a … [Read more...]
Huaraz, Peru
In every inspiring natural creation there is a realism that speaks to you. In every moment on a mountain you find it more and more. You discover yourself in ways not possible through other means. This stays with you and guides you for the rest of your life. May everyone have this chance at least once. ~ Dave Remember, the key to getting high is not "the herb", but rather time spent acclimatizing ~ Dave Huaraz (population … [Read more...]
Kruger National Park
If your looking for a Big Game Drive, look no further than the huge Kruger National Park in South Africa. Day visits are the cheapest way to see the park but there are a number of lodges within the park boundaries (more expensive then some of the nearby outside of the park accommodations). We took advantage of our early morning arrival time and drove on dirt roads all day on our own "big game drive". We came across three of the "Big Five" - Cape … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 393
- 394
- 395
- 396
- 397
- …
- 579
- Next Page »