http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/The-Steiners/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from The Steiners en-us Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:39:40 +0000 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:39:40 +0000 My first introduction to good South African wine was a Spier Reserve Pinotage 2006 I enjoyed in Virginia about a month ago so I have been looking forward since then to having some good wine. South Africa is no California France or Italy but its wines are quite good and most importantly still very affordable for good quality product. We focused on Stellenbosch and Franschhoek area for our wine http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Stellenbosch/blog-460484.html We are relaxing poolside today but the Arabella Western Cape Resort and Spa is a severe let down right down to the restaurant manager making up today's forecast yesterday so that the day is only passable for the pool.I have figured out the right location in the hotel to make the internet work so we want to wish everyone a Happy New Year 2010 before we drive off to Cape Town. We did not do anyth http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-460486.html We are back in South Africa and shockingly back in civilization. It's as if we came out of the jungle bewildered and to the posh sophisticates of Cape Town I am very sure we looked that way. The change from a few hundred kilometers up the coast is significant but in a way no different than if we tried to compare an experience in Boston with a small seaside town in the South.Cape Town is absolu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-of-Good-Hope/blog-460482.html We are to visit Walvis Bay today but I am not sure that will be ultimately achieved. I was just awakened by Jennifer with sad news that has got me a bit depressed. Matt will know right off what I'm talking about Urban Meyer is leaving college football and the Gators. I completely understand why he is doing it but I think that he and the people we have on the team these last few years are a g http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/Walvis-Bay/blog-460481.html Looks about the same except the sun sets on it from this side. We didn't really do any of the things we had planned to do today. We attempted to do them including driving out to the Quad Bike stop just north of Walvis Bay but Jennifer thought it was too touristy and there were definitely a ton of people and I was never all that hot on it so we took off. All of the tours are guided which is p http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/Swakopmund/blog-460480.html A LOT has happened in the last three days so one day flows into the next and into the next. We are already the 26th here in Swakopmund so a belated Merry Christmas to everyone we miss you but we have to admit that being the in the hot sweltering desert climbing massive red sand dunes and driving across moonscaped gravel roads makes you forget a little bit that it is Christmas A quick recap http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/Sossusvlei/blog-460479.html The internet is very slow right now probably a countrywide issue in Zimbabwe. We leave the hotel at 11AM on one of the combi vans to yet again cross the border and get to the international bus terminal in Livingstone. It will be a while before we post again. Probably not until we reach Sesriem in Namibia. When we arrive in Windhoek tomorrow morning most likely late I have to walk over to th http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/Windhoek/blog-460476.html Thoughts on Lions and AfricansWe did a Lion Walk this morning a tour organized by Wilderness Safaris which has an office in the hotel. We were picked up in one of the ubiquitous Toyota Combi Busses and driven west of town and down a rough road to The African Lion Environmental Research Trust's ALERT Walk with Lions enclave. This nonprofit group is working to rehabilitate the lion populatio http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zimbabwe/Victoria-Falls/blog-460474.html We have been told by enough people now that the Zimbabwean side is where it is at. Especially in the dry season as less water is coming over the falls and certain portions have no water coming over. It is a bit early but I paid for a 24 hour internet connection and I am not sure when I will be able to post again both from a time and connection standpoint. In 3 hours we will be off to the airpo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-460472.html We split the day between Kruger in the morning and Swaziland in the afternoon. Myths abound regarding Swaziland so I will place information on here that I think is the best characterization of how things are.There is just not much happening in Swaziland. It is a mountainous country at least in the west end. The country's real claim to fame is that at LEAST 30 of the population has HIV. At http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Swaziland/Mbabane/blog-460471.html Same answer as usual. The answer is of course yes but HOW deadly are they Not at all. We had lions within arms reach and a Leopard within leaping range of our heads.We are very much taking it easy today. We skipped the morning Game Drive with the intent of doing tomorrow's before we head to Swaziland. The intent was that we would sleep in but I punched out of bed before sunrise as the wild http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-460469.html So are the roads as deadly as they say they are As I said before ALL roads are deadly especially those that you take for granted. That said . . .AlexandraWe had what hopefully will be the most eventful episode of the trip this morning. Near Sandton is a township called Alexandra which is as rough as they come. We went a different way to the highway this time which got us lost in the middl http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-460467.html The first of our discovering South Africa series where we pose certain truthsmyths that exist out there. The answerNot for us. But we have only seen a very small and exclusive part of it. I would say it is generally safe but you just need to be very careful.We made it safely to the hotel I am writing at 230AM local time as we are both reasonably wide awake but having missed an entire night http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Gauteng/Johannesburg/blog-460465.html I am in at work today for a half day of wrapping things up though the phone calls will likely continue right into the flight to Jo'burg. Jennifer is sleeping in and wrapping up the usual program at the house.MusingsI've heard and read a variety of opinions on how southern Africa will be. Not entirely certain what to expect but despite the crime rate despite the disease despite the wild beast http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Georgia/Atlanta/blog-460464.html Intensive Planning OverWe are finally all set to go on the trip it was a far more laborious process than I would have liked.Last Minute Planning BeginsNow we scurry around for those things we may have missed. My only complaint is how bulky all of our camera and video equipment is but then that is the point. My Sony that Pat gifted me 5 years ago still takes amazing pictures especially when m http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Ohio/Columbus/blog-450303.html Waiting for the flight back to Columbus tonight at Denver International Airport at least it's a direct flight back but we'll be in close to midnight tonight. We had a great weekend but after yesterday we slept in relatively speaking and opened The Cheesecake Factory in Boulder for brunch. We walked Pearl Street a bit and after checking out from the hotel headed south.Western DenverWe went http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Denver/blog-442167.html First NightJennifer got in last night without a hitch even ahead of schedule. I decided to surprise her since I dropped dad off early and catch her coming out of the terminal. I had suspected she might start doing some intensive shopping in the concourse rather than come to the terminal so I waited for 30 minutes intently watching every tram load of passengers trying to find her . . . argh S http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Boulder/blog-441742.html We crossed the border into Flintstone MD where we fed the thirsty Ingrid some much needed gasoline. In the backcountry hills of Bedford one could easily run out of gasoline if not careful. Not much to see in Flintstone but it was a relatively important town to the Imes family simply because it was nearest significant junction on the National Pike. Cumberland FireworksWe drove on to Cumberland http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Maryland/blog-418341.html I organized what has turned out to be a relatively pricey but wellworthwhile trip to explore the roots of Jennifer's maternal grandparents. This was simple enough as it involves one county in Pennsylvania Bedford.Making I70 InterestingWe picnicked and enjoyed our Portuguese Vinho Verde from house wine in Worthington highly recommended in the wonderful State Park that is Lake Barkcamp in east http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Bedford-County/Bedford-Springs/blog-415222.html This one is a little late coming but thanks to Chris and Barbara for sending out the pictures so now at least there is something to post. Since it was Jennifer's birthday and CB live close to the airport in Hollywood.Since we are heading up to a still cold Ohio I wanted to do something on the waterfront so we Barbara and I ended up on Nikki Marina at the Westin Diplomat. The whole thing was http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Hollywood/blog-401851.html