Milano, Italy

Continuing my love affair with all things Italian, it was great to spend three weeks working in Milan, Italy. Espresso, prosecco and proscuitto crudo topped my list, along with pasta from our local corner cafe. Bellisima!

Parternoster

Flying into Cape Town on a SAA Airbus full of European tourists for a long weekend rendevous, I was very glad to find Tristan and head out of the sirport up the Cape West Coast. The weekend was spent up at Paternoster, enjoying the desolate beaches, gorgeous fish restaurants on the beach and chilling. I did feel a touch like a tourist when I 'oohhed and ahhed' at the tortoises crossing the road and the ostriches running about in the West Coast National Park. Although the ostriches did make me think of biltong..

Highland Fling

Before Winter arrived in full force, Tristan and I headed to Edinburgh for a few days. Feeling well fed on William Wallace Burgers, we explored the cobbled streets of the Royal Mile, the Edinburgh castle and stopped off for some whishkee tasting. We also hopped on a day trip out to the Birks of Aberfeldy for a walk amongst the waterfalls and the Famous Grouse Distillery for a wee dram. YUM! As a result, we both had to pick up a bottle of single malt on our way out of the Highlands. The start of a small little collection.

Mint, Medinas & Mayhem in Marrakech

After finally finding a free week in our diaries, Roz and I headed out to tour Morocco for 8 days. We joined a group of 10 Southern hemisphere girls and one token chap and the tour took us on a whirlwind trip (although there was too much time in the bus) of Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Erfoud, Marrakech, Ouazzarate.. Lots of fun in the chaos and dust and way too much cous cous (and a sand storm in the Merzouga desert) later these are the pics:

Budapest is beckoning..

Yearning to see a bit more of Eastern Europe, Roz, Lana, Dave, Iain and I headed to Budapest in Hungary for the weekend (7-9 September), and let's just say that we were not disappointed. Ariving late on the Friday night, we headed to the hotel on the Buda side of the river. Far more lush, green and scenic than the Pest side, we were pleasantly surprised as we strolled through parks en route to the castle the next morning.

The Castle area, alive with the odd Korean tour group was festive and quaint. Festive as the annual Hungarian Wine Feast was on and quaint as the baroque architecure and cobbled streets definately gave it a charm of it's own. Stopping for a coffee in the Fisherman's bastion (a Unesco heitage site) overlooking the Danube, one really got to appreciate the magnificence of the Chain bridge (which first joined the two cities of Buda and Pest across the Danube) and the Parliament building.

After coffee, we headed inside the ornately adorned 'Our Lady' or Mattius church to eavesdrop on a tour group and glean some local knowledge before heading for the labyrinth underneath the city. The Labyrinth is where the locals took shelter from Mogol invasions and more recently in WW II. A windy maze of tunnels, complete with stone sculptures and cave drawings. The best surprises was an underground wine fountain and the labyrinth of courage. Courage was needed in the inky darkness as we bumped into one another, but luckily we had a smoker in tow as Dave whipped out his lighter to lead the way.

Emerging out into the daylight, we then headed down the funicular to walk over the chain bridge to Pest. In Pest, we strolled around, stopped for lunch a spot alongside the Danube, headed past parliment, up St Stephen's Chapel and into the State Opera House. Nearing dinner time, and with weary feet, we headed back up to the castle district and found a quaint Hungarian restaurt for some Goulash.. and yes, more Hungarian wine. Seranded by a violinist, the atmosphere was typical Hungarian (complete with a complete lack of tourists and only locals eating there). The next day, we took a long walk up to Margaret Island and strolled around the park, stopped for Hot chocolate before heading for some lunch. A horse ride and a last trip up to the castle completed our Hungarian trip, before we caught a cab to the airport. Definanately a place to revisit.

Takin' it easy at Tshukudu

Flying out of a rainy London Heathrow on my birthday was a very easy thing to do. Especially when I knew that sunshine, happiness and a laid back time at Tshukudu bush camp (near Hoedspruit) awaited me: gentle game walks; coffee and Ouma rusks around the fire; Game drives after an afternoon nap and beating an African drum around the boma fire after a braai and some good red wine.. what more does a girl need!