. . . because we've been on the road every day since leaving Cape Town last week (okay, that is my last dangling ellipse intro). It's been a bit of a blur, but it's been a blast! Cape Town proper was really fun and beautiful, and our time was filled with a hike up to Table Mountain (well, the fanicular, anyway), a stroll down to the Waterfront, a historical trip through the town's museums, and a brief sojourn into the music scene!
Our first stop out of Cape Town was Simon's Town, where we frolicked with penguins and I took five million photos - how can you not love penguins?!?! Then we headed to the town of Hermanus, a beautiful coastal town renowned for its whale watching (what a cool thing to see!).
Then it was off to Knysna, another beautiful beach town where we luxuriated in a sunset cruise around the harbor and later learned some key Xhosa and Afrikaans phrases . . . which we later forgot.
After Knysna we headed to the Addo Elephant National Park for a game drive through lions, elephants,ostrich, warthogs, kudu, and, my favorite, the common duiker. That night we slept with the animals (literally; our room bordered the reserve and we heard animal noise all night!) The next day we headed out for a horse ride through the park, seeing even more fantastic wildlife: zebra, cape buffalo . . . unfortunately, however, no elusive pileated dick sissel species.
From Addo we headed to Cintsa, another gorgeous coastal town, where we again luxuriated in the sand and surf!
The next day we drove to Mthatha, where we did nothing.
After Mthatha, we hit St. Lucia Estuary, where we are now, another gorgeous natural spot long South Africa's plentiful coast! Went out on a ride this morning to see hippos, and gators, then took a snorkeling trip to Cape Vidal this afternoon to see a little more aquatic life . . . then on the way home: a family of rhinos!!
Tomorrow we are headed to Kruger National Park for some more nature, then it is off to Johannesburg on Friday to catch our weekend flight to Tanzania. 2,300 kilometers and counting (hopefully our little Ford Fiesta is up to the rest of the challenge . . . )
-Dad
P.S. "Jim" is a tenured professor at UNO, possibly the head of the art department.
From: "Ramm, Rosalie" <rramm@bakerdonelson.com>
To: "Beth Brown" <BETHbrown@ochsner.org>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 14:57:20 -0500
Subject: Jim needs an art history teacher - isn't Rodi's son marrying one?
She needs to be able to teach modern and contemporary art - it's a tenture track position and they are desperate!
R
Rosalie Ramm