On Safari–Part 1

August 2026
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On Safari--Part 1

Here we are at Thanda Game Reserve to go on a Safari. Thanda is our “base camp” in the same way the Ritz-Carlton is a base camp. The place is just spectacular. (See the photo below of our villa).

Our Villa in Thanda Game Reserve

After we arrived we got settled in and went for our first game drive, lasting from 4:30 until 7:30 PM. The drive consists of boarding an open jeep that holds 9 plus a driver and tracker, and then heading out to the African bush in search of lions, elephants, hyenas, cheetahs, buffalo, rhinos, hippos and whatever else materializes.

We were not disappointed. It wasn’t too long before we saw some buffaloes, gazelles, a giraffe and a wildebeest or two. Most important, we discovered sundowners. As the sun begins to set, around 6:00 PM or so, it’s time to stop the jeep, pile out, look out over the African plains and have a glass of wine or a gin and tonic before venturing out into the bush again. If you are going to be devoured by a hungry lion, you might as well be fortified by a G&T, I suppose.

Anyway, this is just a very brief hint of how spectacular a Safari can be. More in the coming days.

Some photos of a small sample of the animals and scenery we saw on the first of many game drives below.

JFB

Lioness opens her mouth and shows her teeth. Taken from about 15 yards away.

Zebras and Gazelles by a watering hole.

An African Buffalo

Sundown

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Mossel Bay & Port Elizabeth

We have left Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth and are now sailing in the Indian Ocean, headed for Durban. From Durban we will head inland to the Thanda Game Reserve in the heart of the Zulu homelands where we will go on Safari, tracking (and hopefully photographing) the “Big 5”–Elephants, Lions, Cape buffalo, Black rhinos and African Leopard.

The parts of Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth we saw were largely resort areas. We didn’t get to see much more than that, so it’s hard to put into context what we saw. We were told by one of the destination lecturerers that South Africa is by far the most Anglicized / Westernized part of Africa, and that most of the native population lives inland. In some sense a lot of what we have seen is like looking at Hong Kong and thinking you’ve seen China.

Anyway, here are some photos from this most recent foray.

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Cape Town, South Africa

We spent a few days tooling around Cape Town, South Africa after beating the East coast storm by a day. 17 hours in the air is a lot of flight time, but it was well worth it. Cape Town is hopping in our neighborhood but once you get outside the upmarket areas, it’s a bit of a different story. Anyway, we got a chance to visit and have lunch at an excellent vineyard in the Stellenbosch region. We also went to the top of the Table Mountain—with the help of a cab—and went to see a colony of penguins on Boulders beach. We got a great view of the coastline, including the coast along the Cape of Good Hope.

We embark on the ship tomorrow and set sail Monday morning at 5:00 AM. Soon we will be on a photo Safari at the Thanda Game Preserve, where we hope to get photos of the Big 5 (Lions, Hippos, Rhinos and Giraffes). The Safari will be 2 nights in camp and 3 days tracking the animals.

Here below are a couple of shots from around Cape Town and its environs.

JFB

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Two Days in Lyon, France

We spent a quick—too quick—couple of days in Lyon, France’s second largest city. According to Journal des Arts it is the second city for culture in France, coming in just behind Paris. The capital of the Lyon Metropolitan region, the city is a festival of museums, restaurants, cafes and historic architecture. We stayed in Vieux Lyon—the Old City—where we had stunning views of the town and could easily make our through the old streets to do some sightseeing. A quick ride in a funicular and we arrived at the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere, which overlooked the city.

Lyon, the gastronomical capital of France, is positioned between the Rhone and Saone Rivers, making it extraordinarily picturesque. In addition, Lyon is a college town. It is home to many well-regarded universities, and is ranked 34^th in the world by students for desirability.

If you travel to France, it’s well worth a visit.

There are a few photos below of Lyon, taken in the Old City. Collections of photos taken in both Lyon and Paris are available in the galleries section. Licenses are available at www.evocativephotos.com

JFB

Lyon, France–November 6, 2017–Dwellings around the Old City section of Lyon. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere is at the top of the hill. Editorial Use Only.

Building on the bank of the Stone River in Lyon

Lyon, France — November 5, 2017 — People, cars and colorful buildings on the bank of the Saone River in Lyon, France. Editorial Use Only.

Lyon, France–November 6, 2017–Shops and Restaurants clustered in the Old City section of Lyon. Editorial Use Only.

Looking down the Saone River in Lyon, France, at dusk.

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Back from the City of Light

Paris, France—November 3 through November 8, 2017

We got the chance to take a quick trip over to Paris including a side trip to Lyon to celebrate the 21^st birthday of our niece who is studying in Lyon. Paris is as beautiful and cosmopolitan as ever, with its classic architecture, museums, cafes and restaurants. We stayed at the Brighton Hotel on the Rue de Rivoli where our room overlooked the Tuilerie Gardens. From our room we could see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night and the Tuileries in the morning as the sun came up.

Soon—beginning early in January—we are headed out to Cape Town South Africa, where we will board Crystal Cruise’s Symphony Cruise liner to go on an extended trip that will take us through South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Panama, St. Bart’s and from there, back to Florida. We will be posting all along the way, so stay tuned.

Joe

Paris, France — November 3, 2017 — The Obelisk of Luxor from across a pond in the Tuilerie Gardens. Editorial Use Only.

Overlooking Eiffel Tower and Tuilerie Gardens

From over the Tuilerie Gardens, a view of the Eiffel Tower on a clear Autumn Day

Paris, France — November 4, 2017 — Shoppers at a Parisan farmers market in Autumn. Editorial Use Only.

A path in the Tuileries in Paris in Autumn when the leaves turn color

The grounds of the Tuilery Gardens are covered with fallen leaves as the trees turn colors.

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Spring in Spring Lake

The Spring in Spring Lake includes 20 degree weather. Not the plan. So that provided time to collect a whole bunch of photos from the recent trip to Maui, where it was considerably warmer. They are displayed below. You can go to the light box display and roll a slide show by clicking on one of the photos below. The slide show will start automatically with the slides changing every 5 seconds. The slideshow can be frozen, stopped and restarted by using the navigation icons over the light box.

Joe

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On the West Side of Maui

Aloha

It’s getting close to the end of our trip so we decided to book into one of the resort hotels on the West side of the island for a couple of days. Needless to say, the views were spectacular. Among other things, we were able to sit on our deck and watch the whales go by and an occasional porpoise. The sunsets (and moonsets) were stunning as well. Not only that, we could watch the boats and Kayakers float by. Finally, we got to watch the divers leap off Black Rock into the waters below. Not something I would try.

We’ll be back soon to enjoy the springtime snow in New Jersey. Photos below (of Hawaii).

Mahalo

Joe

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Going to a Luau

Aloha

A trip to Hawaii necessarily means an outing to a Luau. We went to one in Lahaina complete with a pig roasted on a fire, native deserts and a Mai Tai or two. The highlight is a show with native dancers performing traditional rituals and dances, including the hula. Here are a couple of photos from the show.

Mahalo

Joe

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Sunset Cruise in Hawaii

We all decided to go on a sunset cruise sponsored by the Pacific Whale Foundation, of which Mary Anne and I are now members. The PWF has guides on the boat who act as spotters and teach everyone about how the whales live and behave. Not to mention that they serve cocktails and appetizers during the cruise. Nature never looked so good.

And—while we were on the sunset cruise, we bumped into some friends from the 2016 Crystal Serenity world cruise. Hello Beth! Great so see you. Who knows where we will meet again. Anyway, the pictures below are from the Maui sunset cruise.

Joe

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Gardens of Maui

Maui is an explosion of primary colors. At first, it looks like one of those planets that Kirk, Spock and McCoy get beamed onto where the plant life constantly and rapidly regenerates—except that there are not any devious Kling-on traps waiting for us.

There are gardens pretty much everywhere. It turns out that plants that are annuals elsewhere don’t grow in Maui because there really aren’t any seasons. Everything just grows all the time. So perennials aren’t suited for Maui.

Bob and Barbara and Mary Anne and I visited the Lavender Gardens Saturday after visiting a farmers market in Makawao. On Sunday, Mary Anne and I headed off for Kula on the side on the mountain overlooking the central valley. Some photos from those explorations are below.

JFB

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Sightseeing around Maui

After taking a day trip to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor, we spent the next few days sightseeing around Maui. From wide expanses of green farmland, to meadows and beaches, mountains and volcanoes there is no lack of stuff to see. Including Makawao, a town about 5 miles away that it is, believe it not, a bit of a cowboy town. And if you want to live in a place that never quite left the 1970s behind, you might want to visit a small town on Maui called Paia.

A final piece of very important news: we are close to a Whole Foods store that has excellent wines at very good prices.

Anyway, here are a bunch of photos from our sightseeing adventures.

Joe

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Haleakala

We went on a mildly terrifying drive up to the summit of Haleakala, a shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the island of Maui. The summit is about 10,000 feet high. The road leading to the summit winds around the side of the mountain, with no shortage of death-defying hairpin turns. (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration). Death defying or not, it is well worth the trip. Especially now that I have a Senior pass.

At the Summit is Red Hill. From there, at the crater’s edge, you can look down into the cone of the volcano, which is 2,600 feet deep. It is hard to describe the scale and beauty of it except to say that it is like looking through a crystal ball into the land that time forgot.

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Category: Travel

On Safari--Part 1

Mossel Bay & Port Elizabeth

Cape Town, South Africa

Two Days in Lyon, France

Back from the City of Light

Spring in Spring Lake

On the West Side of Maui

Going to a Luau

Sunset Cruise in Hawaii

Gardens of Maui

Sightseeing around Maui

Haleakala

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