Slano, Croatia

Beautiful!

Last Day in Dubai

Last night we went to ART Dubai opening, then to Dubai Mall for dinner outside, and watched the amazing fountain. Everything here is the biggest, tallest, longest, or richest!! The fountain has the brightest lights on earth and can be seen from space. The fountain is outside Dubai Mall - the largest mall in the world with over 1,200 shops AND the largest aquarium! The fountain and mall is at the base of the world's tallest building in the richest country in the world. When the metro is completed (still under construction) it will be the longest in the world. Because Dubai prides itself on everything being sparkling new and cutting edge, all buildings in the new part of the city must be either re-faced or torn down and newly rebuilt EVERY 25 YEARS!!

Dubai Day 2

Today we took a city tour. Thankfully we saw the buildings on a sunny day last week, because we are in the worst conditions in a decade for the sand. The visibility has been extremely bad for a week, and will last several more days. So disappointing not to see the fabulous architecture. We went to the spice souk (market) and gold souk.  Jamai bought a beautiful topaz ring! We rode an abra (boat taxi) across the Creek, and saw the dhows. The window washers were out today cleaning the skyscrapers and the HUGE screen at the Meydan racetrack. We will go out this evening to see the fountain and laser lights - the brightest lights on earth and can be seen from outer space! I'll wave to the astronauts!

Dubai

We arrived in Dubai at 5:15am. Went to the spectacular Meydan Hotel. Our rooms have a balcony overlooking the Meydan Racetrack. Everything in the hotel is absolutely state of the art - touch screens command everything, including the keyless entry, toilet functions, drapes, lights. The glass elevators have crystal LED color lights changing around the handrail, and you look like you float to the floors. The elevators are noiseless and fast! The visibility was very poor today with sand. We couldn't see any of the architectural skyscrapers Dubai is so well known for, but we were lucky to have a quick drive thru Dubai last week en route to Cape Town.
This afternoon we went on a desert safari. We thought 4-wheeling meant on dune buggies, but we were strapped in air conditioned 4-wheel drive vehicles and driven in caravan style thru the desert to a camp where we rode a camel, took picture in the sand, watched a belly-dancer, and had an Arabian dinner. It was fun, but I am suffering from an allergy headache due to all the sand in the air. Hopefully will feel better tomorrow.

Travel day

I have to say I am a big fan of Emirates airline. We have been very fortunate with our upgrades, but really, the attendants and staff have all been very helpful and pleasant. This trip should be on a "bucket list" for almost everyone, even though it really wasn't on mine until we started planning it! I never dreamed it would be so "over the top"! We left Johannesberg last night and arrived in Dubai this morning around 6:00 am. The sand is thick in the air - by our standards - but everyone here seems to think it is not much. We are going on a desert safari this afternoon, and are taking the opportunity to rest some. The Maydan hotel is opulent, being THE hotel of the race track. All the rooms have balconies that overlook the track where the richest horse race in the world will be run on March 31. The purse is $10million. Ok, I'm not sure if that is $ or the dirham (Dhs), but still really big! The wifi included with the room is also much appreciated after being without it in the bush!

Animals on Safari

Just two pics Margaret took on Saturday morning.

Last Night in South Africa

We have had a wonderful time at the Ivory Tree Lodge, but this is our last night in S. Africa.  We get our 5AM wake-up call and have time for a cup of coffee before loading into our jeep and heading out to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve - still in darkness.  As the sun comes up in the cool mornings we have been able to see lots of animals - this morning even a big lion who crossed right in front of our jeep!  Our guide, Becca, has been great!  We return to the lodge around 8am, have breakfast, and then usually a nap!  Lunch at 1pm, then spa or nap, tea at 4pm, then load into the jeeps again for our afternoon safari.  Today we went on top of the mountain for a sunset drink and a glorious view of the area.  Fantastic!!  We have seen wildebeest, warthogs, impala, lions, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, zebras, elephants, and lots, lots more.  There was even an elephant right ouside our room!!!  Unfortunately, we have not seen water buffalo or leopards - but we have one more safari in the morning!  We have seen 3 out of the Big 5.  After lunch tomorrow we will take the 3 hr. drive back to Johannesberg and fly to Dubai for our NEXT adventure!!

Morning safari

We went for our morning safari - very cool at 5:30 AM! But we were rewarded with a very close encounter and spotting of a lion. We were very near a lioness and her 2 cubs, but unable to get a visual. She was teaching them how to kill a warthog. We could the the shrubs shaking, hear the noises, see the warmth come from the kill, but no visual. We also saw elephants and rhinos - so 3 of the big Five before breakfast!!

Seafood for dinner (again!)

Tonight we went to dinner at a campy restaurant on the commercial wharf. It had a huge tank with live lobsters, crab, and abalone and you could choose your meal. Since Cape Town is on the coast, we have certainly enjoyed some great seafood. Tomorrow our menu changes to wild game!!! We leave this beautiful city tomorrow morning, and I wish I had at least 3 more days here. Too bad it is soooo far from home; I would love a vacation home here! Everyone is packing, getting ready to go. We will have our last breakfast here tomorrow morning. The breakfast is included with our room, and it is spectacular! I had eggs Benedict two mornings!! We absolutely could not ask for a better hotel.

Shopping day in Cape Town

We slept late this morning. Margaret and Lou Ann joined a walking tour of the downtown area while Pat and Jamai went to the exercise area. Last night we all went to the steam room and whirlpool before having dinner in our room while wearing robes! Thought about playing cards, but we were all too tired! The hotel is quite over-the-top luxurious: in-house spa, with both dry and wet saunas, lap pool, exercise room, etc. We were able to see the luxury Presidential suite on the top floor, with outside patio looking onto Table Mountain, quite a bargain at $6000 US per night!?
The outdoor food market was right outside our hotel doors today, so we purchased street food and sat under the trees for lunch. Seating was bales of hay - zipped into a plastic bag for comfort! The we went to Green Market for afternoon shopping - quite fun bargaining for our purchases. Every afternoon we come to Twankey's Bar to get free Internet and post on the blog. We get 30 min free per day in-room, but unlimited at the bar. Quite convenient!

Wine Country

We left the hotel at 10am this morning with a driver to go to the wine country. It was a beautiful, warm day. We visited 4 wineries and the college town of Stellenbosch. We had an absolutely wonderful, most creative lunch I have ever had. Pat had Trout Baked Alaska: trout with salmon ice creme with meringue on top!!!! Unbelievable!! For those who know me well, you know I was in Heaven! Also, the first winery had a cooking school and bakery, so I bought French Meringues!! We are having a great time and going to the max! We got back around 6:30pm. Pay and I went to the bar to get free WiFi, check email, and post blogs. Such an unbelievable experience, and we have another week!!

Cape Town, S Africa 3/13/12

OMG we are having such a good time!! We are SOOO lucky so far: up-graded to Business Class on Emirates Airline, room upgrade at Taj Hotel Cape Town, food has been fabulous! Can't ask for more!! Watched sunset atop Table Mountain in Cape Town. Lunch at the beach today, transport is in Jaguar from hotel!

Almost Ready to Go!!

I rode the Heartland Flyer from OKC to Gainesville this morning, on the first leg of my trip to Dubai and Cape Town, S.Africa!!!  Jamai and I reviewed our packing and are both ready to head to Dallas tomorrow!