Durban’s Polite Potholes
Driving around Johannesburg, Cape Town and then Durban, we realized very quickly how astoundingly beautiful South Africa is. Each city has its unique charm, its own unmistakable landscape. Located on the eastern coast, Durban is the location of South Africa's busiest port. It enjoys a balmy, subtropical climate. [caption id="attachment_1143" align="aligncenter" width="600"] These trees are just so majestic[/caption] As we drove higher up the Drakensberg Mountains, we were enveloped by clouds. If Don, our driver and guide, was nervous, he didn't…
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Sani Pass: Would That be a 4-Wheel Drive or Donkey?
When I spoke with Kieron Audain, the student and author who contacted me from Durban, he asked if we’d be visiting the Drakensberg. I had no idea what he was talking about. All we had been thinking about for Durban was a visit to Shakaland, a tour of the city and Umhlanga Rocks, and finding some good Indian restaurants. It was going to be a leisurely two days. But when I Googled it, I knew we’d have to go. At…
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I am proof: Some Black people can’t dance! My attempt at Zulu dancing
I’m a free style dancer. I’ve been dancing all my life but no one’s ever taught me to dance. I dance by myself to the music I feel and abandon my body to the rhythm. I'm not bragging. I know I can dance and I dance very well. When I go to parties or clubs, I hardly sit down - I’ve been known to dance all night! The one thing I hate most is having someone teach me a dance…
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Shakaland, Home of the Zulus
I thought Shakaland would have been touristy and kitschy – it wasn’t. Located in a beautiful and tranquil area of rolling hills overlooking the Phobane Lake, Shakaland is an authentic Zulu kraal with beehive thatched huts built on the set where the movie, Shaka Zulu was filmed, the same land on which the Zulus fought many battles. That movie was, I believe, my first introduction to King Shaka, one of Africa’s famous warrior kings and the man credited with uniting…
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Durban Welcome
Almost everyone we spoke to before we left the U.S. said we’d love Durban, although they didn’t say why exactly. The largest city in KwaZulu Natal, Durban is also an important manufacturing hub and port. It boasts a sub-tropical climate and some of South Africa's best beaches. I didn’t know much about the city when I decided to plan that leg of our trip. And apart from a visit to Shakaland, a Zulu homestead near Durban, the only things we wanted…
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Cape Town Winelands: Everywhere a Vineyard
We saved our last full day in Cape Town for our trip to the winelands. Our first stop was at KWV Wines, a 90 year old brandy and wine emporium located in Paarl, one of the three popular wine regions - Stellenbosch and Franschhoek being the other two. We did a tour of the cellars followed by a wine tasting, then a brandy and chocolate tasting. I don’t like chocolate so that pairing was lost on me but Sandra and Judith enjoyed it.…
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Pelican Bar: We’re going there?!
A Musing Elephant and I exchanged a few comments about a recent post on her blog. When she mentioned that one of favorite places in Jamaica is Pelican Bar, I felt I had "met" a kindred spirit. Pelican Bar is one of my favorite places as well. Our exchanges took me back to my first trip to the bar and the memories I have which serve me now on this cold day in the north east. Pelican Bar is located…
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Statue of Liberty (via tonynewboult) and Coney Island
When I read my blogging buddy Tony's post about his visit to New York, I asked if he'd been to Coney Island, one of coolest places around. Since he missed it, I thought I'd share some of my photos. [caption id="attachment_957" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Coney Island Fireworks[/caption] I love going to Coney Island, especially in the summer when there are fireworks displays at 9:00 p.m. every Friday night. Once or twice a month, a few friends and I go out there for…
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Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
What is it about seeing the ultimate - highest, longest, deepest, farthest, etc. - that makes some people giddy? When we decided to add Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope to our list, I was excited. In fact, I was more excited about that than anything else. Well, almost. I was really, very excited about having a drink in the highest pub in Africa – but that’s for a later post. So after lunch at Simon's Town and…
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Lunch in Simon’s Town and Penguins at Boulders Beach
Thanks to Ian Reinders, our tour guide in Cape Town, we kept to our schedule, somewhat. Ian had our whole day laid out for us. Early start down the coast, lunch in Simon’s Town, see the penguins and head to Cape Point. But you know about the best laid plans, right? When they coined that phrase, they had us - three women with very Jamaican sensibilities -- in mind. I mean, we are on holiday, yah? So no need to…
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