Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Day 24 - The World Cup Final!!!
OMG!!!! It is finally here! We decided to do nothing all day except for the final - even though it does not start until 8:30pm.
So we first started at the local mall - official shirt was over $100 and we are only passive Spain supporters so instead we bought lots of stuff from the other stores like a hat, flag, stickers etc... for $40 total for both us us. Much better.
We got to the stadium at 1pm, so still hours to go. We sit on the grass and wait and have our photo taken loads!!! Wonder if we will ever see it as this is worldwide media with 700 million people watching the final.
The gates open and we go to the staging area - really well done with the corporate sponsor booths giving you things to do for a few hours. Saw the new 3D Sony tv, virtual penalty kicks which I scored 3/3!, and even a double decker party bus....
The main thing was the party bus was for the Netherland fans and there was no such thing for Spain. The Dutch fans were fantastic on their costumes and support so we joined in, met much resistance but they took pity on our need to sing and dance.
Entered the stadium at 5 for the 6:30 ending ceremony. It was really well dine with an impressive light show and special effects. Shakira doing the waka waka song was the big name for me but many other singers included.
85,000 people in the stadium- wow!!
Felt exhausted by the kick off!! Watched 2 early fan / protesters try and het on pitch...and then watched a good march between Spain and Netherlands. Not big scores for goals and too many cards but Spain proved triumphant in the extra time at 116' to have Iniesta finish it off for Spain.
Congrats to South Africa for a really great world cup hosting. The quality of the infrastructure (stadiums, roads, airports) have been above expectations and the people have been proud and excited to share their country with the world.
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So we first started at the local mall - official shirt was over $100 and we are only passive Spain supporters so instead we bought lots of stuff from the other stores like a hat, flag, stickers etc... for $40 total for both us us. Much better.
We got to the stadium at 1pm, so still hours to go. We sit on the grass and wait and have our photo taken loads!!! Wonder if we will ever see it as this is worldwide media with 700 million people watching the final.
The gates open and we go to the staging area - really well done with the corporate sponsor booths giving you things to do for a few hours. Saw the new 3D Sony tv, virtual penalty kicks which I scored 3/3!, and even a double decker party bus....
The main thing was the party bus was for the Netherland fans and there was no such thing for Spain. The Dutch fans were fantastic on their costumes and support so we joined in, met much resistance but they took pity on our need to sing and dance.
Entered the stadium at 5 for the 6:30 ending ceremony. It was really well dine with an impressive light show and special effects. Shakira doing the waka waka song was the big name for me but many other singers included.
85,000 people in the stadium- wow!!
Felt exhausted by the kick off!! Watched 2 early fan / protesters try and het on pitch...and then watched a good march between Spain and Netherlands. Not big scores for goals and too many cards but Spain proved triumphant in the extra time at 116' to have Iniesta finish it off for Spain.
Congrats to South Africa for a really great world cup hosting. The quality of the infrastructure (stadiums, roads, airports) have been above expectations and the people have been proud and excited to share their country with the world.
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Day 23 - back to south Africa
The nature vacation ends and it is back to the travel schedule.
One car to the border, swap cars to the airport, then the wonderful check in and security process of Zimbabwe (this country REALLY needs investment), a flight, then another car to the hotel.
Phew, tired just thinking about it.
I'm upset because my coat is now officially dirty!! I have to make it work for another few days...
Did meet a funny Canadian family (originally from guatamala) with the dad attending the past 8 world cups! Brought the whole family along for this one...all girls!! The best match in all that time was the England v Argentina match 8 years ago...man how I remember that one with the shame of Beckham kicking up his leg. Oooouch!
They taught us a little chant for Spain at the match...so we can join in the sing song! Ole!
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One car to the border, swap cars to the airport, then the wonderful check in and security process of Zimbabwe (this country REALLY needs investment), a flight, then another car to the hotel.
Phew, tired just thinking about it.
I'm upset because my coat is now officially dirty!! I have to make it work for another few days...
Did meet a funny Canadian family (originally from guatamala) with the dad attending the past 8 world cups! Brought the whole family along for this one...all girls!! The best match in all that time was the England v Argentina match 8 years ago...man how I remember that one with the shame of Beckham kicking up his leg. Oooouch!
They taught us a little chant for Spain at the match...so we can join in the sing song! Ole!
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Day 22 - a true 'vacation' day
I believe true vacation days are when you sit on a lounger and read a book all day and nothing else.
Today was one of those days...the first on this vacation adventure this far.
We had a few drinks and the buffet food served 3 times a day.
I'm on my 5th book now so feeling quite chilled.
Lovely!
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Today was one of those days...the first on this vacation adventure this far.
We had a few drinks and the buffet food served 3 times a day.
I'm on my 5th book now so feeling quite chilled.
Lovely!
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Day 21 - Customer Service ...and Fishing!
Still being well fed at the Mowana lodge in Botswana. Wish I could say the same about the overall customer service and staff...
It is in the issues that happen that you see the true customer focus of a company.
Errors occur in business, in this case a booking mix up from the hotel staff. All parties want their money and are blaming eachother....with us as the customers scratching our heads. As the Mowana starts to blame us for their mistakes...that is NOT ON and does not for a relaxing vacation make.
The afternoon was a 5 hour fishing trip on the Chobe river. Check out this photo for the beauty of it.
I had a hard time switching from adreniline American to slow relaxed tourist, but it was wonderful to just sit in the sun and listen to the water, with a hippo watching us closely across the channel!!
The fisherman lived up to the staff of the Mowana - unprofessional!!! They ignored us, put a fishing rid in our hand (I had not fished and was hoping for at least a 5 minute how to and am intro on the river and the fish). The guides switched on their cell phones talking to friends, smoked cigarettes, did not come prepared with bait!!, and then ordered delivery take out on the river (cool idea) for just the 2 of them and ate in front of us! Lovely!
We did not catch anything except a couple of tiddlywinks, but did have some tug of wars and stories of "the big ones that got away" but I guess that is what they all say?!
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It is in the issues that happen that you see the true customer focus of a company.
Errors occur in business, in this case a booking mix up from the hotel staff. All parties want their money and are blaming eachother....with us as the customers scratching our heads. As the Mowana starts to blame us for their mistakes...that is NOT ON and does not for a relaxing vacation make.
The afternoon was a 5 hour fishing trip on the Chobe river. Check out this photo for the beauty of it.
I had a hard time switching from adreniline American to slow relaxed tourist, but it was wonderful to just sit in the sun and listen to the water, with a hippo watching us closely across the channel!!
The fisherman lived up to the staff of the Mowana - unprofessional!!! They ignored us, put a fishing rid in our hand (I had not fished and was hoping for at least a 5 minute how to and am intro on the river and the fish). The guides switched on their cell phones talking to friends, smoked cigarettes, did not come prepared with bait!!, and then ordered delivery take out on the river (cool idea) for just the 2 of them and ate in front of us! Lovely!
We did not catch anything except a couple of tiddlywinks, but did have some tug of wars and stories of "the big ones that got away" but I guess that is what they all say?!
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Friday, July 9, 2010
Day 20 - Game Drives in Botswana
Up early this morning before sunrise to catch the big cats on a game drive. And we saw an amazing sight!!
Lions had killed a buffalo the day before and were coming in to eat the kill. We arrived to see 2 lioness eating it...the sift of the blood on their face, the smell of the flesh, the noise of the cracking of the bones and ripping of skin....it was made very real that these are wild animals.
On the other side...there were very quickly 10 game drive vehicles at the site all surrounding this view...it made a "nature" experience back into the "Disneyland tourist attraction" feel again. And this is low season, so I wonder what it is like in high season?!
Returned for breakfast (pancakes and toast) followed by a delightful nap by the pool. Now this feels like vacation!
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Lions had killed a buffalo the day before and were coming in to eat the kill. We arrived to see 2 lioness eating it...the sift of the blood on their face, the smell of the flesh, the noise of the cracking of the bones and ripping of skin....it was made very real that these are wild animals.
On the other side...there were very quickly 10 game drive vehicles at the site all surrounding this view...it made a "nature" experience back into the "Disneyland tourist attraction" feel again. And this is low season, so I wonder what it is like in high season?!
Returned for breakfast (pancakes and toast) followed by a delightful nap by the pool. Now this feels like vacation!
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Day 19 - Off to Botswana
A travel day today - first checking out of Zimbabwe hotel seeing the inept staff try and settle a bill. They want you to come and spend money but as none of them actually have any - exchanging money is made difficult. Bank...nope. Hotel...nope. Lovely!
Drove to border in a bus where we exchanged one car for another and off we go.
Was a bit nervous about the Mowana hotel. It's a 4* but that dies not mean much in Africa. And we had just had sooo much bad food in Zimbabwe I had actually lost weight on vacation!!
But Botswana is light years ahead of Zimbabwe. The immigration office had computers and organization vs Zimbabwe which was a hut and lots of chatter.
The fields in Botswana were being tended, with crops such as maize and bananas available. The townships had small brick and concrete houses with schools available and open. Zimbabwe seemed to only have mud huts that needed repairs, and all the fields were long past being usable or tended for crops...
A sad sight to see such a difference between 2 neighboring countries from different political rule. I wonder why the people of Zimbabwe do not revolt against the leader...they do not seem happy with their current state.
Back to vacation...hotel turned out to be great. Food is great!!!! Yeah I can eat again. I had soup and salad and some chicken for lunch followed by custard. Yes the luxury of custard!!! Yummy!!
We then went on a sunset cruise in Chobe national park to see the animals - and boy did we see them!!! It was just the 2 of us so like a personal tour as well.
Hippos in the water - and had a close run in with a mother protecting her 3 month old baby.
Elephants galore - over 150,000 in the 11,000 km park so they are everywhere and always eating. The park has tried to move some to other places but not much success yet. Sending 10,000 to Angola but the landmines killed them all. Another reminder of the leftover impacts from war...
Birds, birds, birds - storks heron kingfisher egret data...you can get sooo close to them and they don't mind.
Crocodiles, monitar lizards, kudu, impala, giraffes, and buffalo!!
It was such a breathtaking afternoon to be in what I imagined "real Africa" to be with all the animals roaming and living freely. Finished off with a gorgeous sunset that was beyond the beauty a photo could take.
Welcome to Africa!
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Drove to border in a bus where we exchanged one car for another and off we go.
Was a bit nervous about the Mowana hotel. It's a 4* but that dies not mean much in Africa. And we had just had sooo much bad food in Zimbabwe I had actually lost weight on vacation!!
But Botswana is light years ahead of Zimbabwe. The immigration office had computers and organization vs Zimbabwe which was a hut and lots of chatter.
The fields in Botswana were being tended, with crops such as maize and bananas available. The townships had small brick and concrete houses with schools available and open. Zimbabwe seemed to only have mud huts that needed repairs, and all the fields were long past being usable or tended for crops...
A sad sight to see such a difference between 2 neighboring countries from different political rule. I wonder why the people of Zimbabwe do not revolt against the leader...they do not seem happy with their current state.
Back to vacation...hotel turned out to be great. Food is great!!!! Yeah I can eat again. I had soup and salad and some chicken for lunch followed by custard. Yes the luxury of custard!!! Yummy!!
We then went on a sunset cruise in Chobe national park to see the animals - and boy did we see them!!! It was just the 2 of us so like a personal tour as well.
Hippos in the water - and had a close run in with a mother protecting her 3 month old baby.
Elephants galore - over 150,000 in the 11,000 km park so they are everywhere and always eating. The park has tried to move some to other places but not much success yet. Sending 10,000 to Angola but the landmines killed them all. Another reminder of the leftover impacts from war...
Birds, birds, birds - storks heron kingfisher egret data...you can get sooo close to them and they don't mind.
Crocodiles, monitar lizards, kudu, impala, giraffes, and buffalo!!
It was such a breathtaking afternoon to be in what I imagined "real Africa" to be with all the animals roaming and living freely. Finished off with a gorgeous sunset that was beyond the beauty a photo could take.
Welcome to Africa!
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Boma dinner
Just reporting out on the Boma dinner - we arrived to be dressed in African dress and had our face painted.
Then you enter and are treated to some Zulu beer - horribly sour stuff :(
Appetizers of maize, sweet potato, and nuts that seem to be like chestnuts.
The dinner is a buffet dinner with a wide variety of options - ate crocodile, kudu, warthog, eland, and hubby even ate the Mopani worm! Ick!
overall left with the impression that nothing tasted that great. I have to think that it must be from the lack of resources in Zimbabwe - that the cooks are making do to get things out. For instance the orange juice at the hotel is actually 90% orange squash with a bit of juice mixed in. And the bread is all very sweet and stale rather than soft and yeasty.
I had put this all down to Africa until arriving in Botswana ...more to come.
After dinner we played the drums - a fun activity to get into. And I also had my fortune told by a witch doctor. An odd ritual to watch and a little cynical on my front but appreciative to watch a tradition.
My fortune? I am "strong like a man" with my wealth coming from my husband in 3 years, my career will be unsettled as i like to travel alot, family will have 4 kids including 2 strong boys, and a long healthy life seeing 5 grandkids grow up. Ah now he did say o would be pregant in 2 months and that I would be back to Victoria Falls at least 7 times...
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Then you enter and are treated to some Zulu beer - horribly sour stuff :(
Appetizers of maize, sweet potato, and nuts that seem to be like chestnuts.
The dinner is a buffet dinner with a wide variety of options - ate crocodile, kudu, warthog, eland, and hubby even ate the Mopani worm! Ick!
overall left with the impression that nothing tasted that great. I have to think that it must be from the lack of resources in Zimbabwe - that the cooks are making do to get things out. For instance the orange juice at the hotel is actually 90% orange squash with a bit of juice mixed in. And the bread is all very sweet and stale rather than soft and yeasty.
I had put this all down to Africa until arriving in Botswana ...more to come.
After dinner we played the drums - a fun activity to get into. And I also had my fortune told by a witch doctor. An odd ritual to watch and a little cynical on my front but appreciative to watch a tradition.
My fortune? I am "strong like a man" with my wealth coming from my husband in 3 years, my career will be unsettled as i like to travel alot, family will have 4 kids including 2 strong boys, and a long healthy life seeing 5 grandkids grow up. Ah now he did say o would be pregant in 2 months and that I would be back to Victoria Falls at least 7 times...
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Monday, July 5, 2010
Day 18 - Busy Zimbabwe!
We had a package deal with 2 choices of activities and packed them in today. We changed our minds many times (Barbara the Thompsons rep just Loved us!)
So we started the day with a helicoptor ride around Victoria Falls. My first time in a helicoptor and it was amazing!! Short at only 15 minutes - but memorable for the views you got of one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Then we got back for a quick lunch - which must say the Victoria Falls hotel redeemed itself with food in it's lunch brae (BBQ). Great fresh meat and salad made to order and not a canned buffet.
We then went for a Lion Walk. OMG!! One of the top experiences in my life!! You are actually walking with lions, touching them, seeing them play. One even nibbled the husband's leg!! Which of course scared the crap out of him but now he uses as a badge of honor with other tourists!
Dinner is still to come for a Boma dinner - traditional food and dance at a waterholes to welcome the animals. The delicacy for tourists is a worm...will we eat it???
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So we started the day with a helicoptor ride around Victoria Falls. My first time in a helicoptor and it was amazing!! Short at only 15 minutes - but memorable for the views you got of one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Then we got back for a quick lunch - which must say the Victoria Falls hotel redeemed itself with food in it's lunch brae (BBQ). Great fresh meat and salad made to order and not a canned buffet.
We then went for a Lion Walk. OMG!! One of the top experiences in my life!! You are actually walking with lions, touching them, seeing them play. One even nibbled the husband's leg!! Which of course scared the crap out of him but now he uses as a badge of honor with other tourists!
Dinner is still to come for a Boma dinner - traditional food and dance at a waterholes to welcome the animals. The delicacy for tourists is a worm...will we eat it???
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Day 17 - Victoria Falls
We are staying at the beautiful Victoria Falls Hotel. It is Edwardian so ver British in it's look and feel.
Today we woke early planning to do rafting, but changed our mind last minute.
So we walked to Victorial Falls and rented a poncho, found a fee geocaches (hooray!!) and got soaking wet!!
There is a short walk from the hotel to the falls of which you ate bombarded by the local salesmen and their wares. It is a bit intimidating to me as sooo many and not willing to rake no for an answer. They play on you and say 'just need to feed kids' and willing to trade items like your shoes, shirts etc...
We bought the 10 Trillion dollar note along with others - but this is the largest note in the old currency and the treasure to find. Worth a grand old $0.60 so not retiring on this!
We finished the day with a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river - seeing crocodiles, elephants, and many hippos. Quite amazing to see all this nature.
Also managed to finish another book - the dragon tattoo - but it it part of a set of 3 so will I finish the rest before I return?? I rarely read leisurely at home - so it it a luxury I save for vacation.
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Today we woke early planning to do rafting, but changed our mind last minute.
So we walked to Victorial Falls and rented a poncho, found a fee geocaches (hooray!!) and got soaking wet!!
There is a short walk from the hotel to the falls of which you ate bombarded by the local salesmen and their wares. It is a bit intimidating to me as sooo many and not willing to rake no for an answer. They play on you and say 'just need to feed kids' and willing to trade items like your shoes, shirts etc...
We bought the 10 Trillion dollar note along with others - but this is the largest note in the old currency and the treasure to find. Worth a grand old $0.60 so not retiring on this!
We finished the day with a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river - seeing crocodiles, elephants, and many hippos. Quite amazing to see all this nature.
Also managed to finish another book - the dragon tattoo - but it it part of a set of 3 so will I finish the rest before I return?? I rarely read leisurely at home - so it it a luxury I save for vacation.
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Day 15 - cheetahs
A very early start waking up at 3pm to get to drive 3 hours to the airport, catch a 2 hour flight, then drive another 2 hours to De Wildt Cheetah park.
Are we crazy??!! I was not sure, but the afternoon turned out to be fantastic! A guided tour with hands on close up with cheetahs, wild dogs, ostriches, monkeys, impala...
)
Wow!! We then had to get a lift to the Cheetah lodge which is part of the same reserve but needs a car to really get there. It is a secluded farmhouse and we were the only guests. Quite an honor!!
Ww had dinner made for us special and it was THE BEST meal we have had so far in south Africa. Probably influenced by being sick for a week, but it was simple home cooked meals of local food. Perfect.
A fresh salad, a butternut squash soup, a bomboti (?) which is a sweet meat pie with a soufflé topping, and an apple tart for dinner.
As we were the only guests, we grabbed a bottle of wine and went to the guest tv room to watch the football. A brilliant defeat of Brazil to the Netherlands.
An eat start the next day with a breakfast that matched the reputation. Elloise is the manager of the lodge and is wonderful to welcome and tell the stories of the baby cheetahs that stayed on the lodge, or of Sebastian the dalmation dog that is addicted to biltong and can find it on bags!!
Stay here!!!!
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Are we crazy??!! I was not sure, but the afternoon turned out to be fantastic! A guided tour with hands on close up with cheetahs, wild dogs, ostriches, monkeys, impala...
Wow!! We then had to get a lift to the Cheetah lodge which is part of the same reserve but needs a car to really get there. It is a secluded farmhouse and we were the only guests. Quite an honor!!
Ww had dinner made for us special and it was THE BEST meal we have had so far in south Africa. Probably influenced by being sick for a week, but it was simple home cooked meals of local food. Perfect.
A fresh salad, a butternut squash soup, a bomboti (?) which is a sweet meat pie with a soufflé topping, and an apple tart for dinner.
As we were the only guests, we grabbed a bottle of wine and went to the guest tv room to watch the football. A brilliant defeat of Brazil to the Netherlands.
An eat start the next day with a breakfast that matched the reputation. Elloise is the manager of the lodge and is wonderful to welcome and tell the stories of the baby cheetahs that stayed on the lodge, or of Sebastian the dalmation dog that is addicted to biltong and can find it on bags!!
Stay here!!!!
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Day 12, 13, 14 - driving in the Free State
No more football matches until the final so we rented a car and drove to the mountains in a town called Clarens.
Quite a nice drive - clean and well maintained freeway. One section where they are doing work that is completely unorganized and has a 20 minute wait, with the locals taking advantage to sell you their wares.
The hotel was nice, best of the little town. The food is terrible at every place we try. Perhaps just have 2 good places to eat instead of 20 terrible?
I've been sick on and off for 9 days now (wed-thu) and tired of it. It means food is very difficult to eat, let alone find something that will work. I've also puked up 2x as well. Started as food poison, then a cold, now think it's acid reflux. Our pharmacy spending has been the most exciting...
Feeling better after the latest fizzy stuff. Now off to de wildt to see cheetahs!!! Chirp chirp...
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Quite a nice drive - clean and well maintained freeway. One section where they are doing work that is completely unorganized and has a 20 minute wait, with the locals taking advantage to sell you their wares.
The hotel was nice, best of the little town. The food is terrible at every place we try. Perhaps just have 2 good places to eat instead of 20 terrible?
I've been sick on and off for 9 days now (wed-thu) and tired of it. It means food is very difficult to eat, let alone find something that will work. I've also puked up 2x as well. Started as food poison, then a cold, now think it's acid reflux. Our pharmacy spending has been the most exciting...
Feeling better after the latest fizzy stuff. Now off to de wildt to see cheetahs!!! Chirp chirp...
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Zimbabwe - Day 16 - Welcome to a 3rd world
We entered Zimbabwe today and definity noticed the difference to South Africa immediately.
The luggage was dragged out and placed in a heap in front of us.
The toilet was 1 room with a woman in it that had to hold the door shut, then has to manually flush from a bucket of water she had as there was 'no water today'.
Then going through the imigration line you needed a visa. There are no stated prices so the person looks at you and your passport and states a price. How can you really argue??
Entry fees
$70 British
$45 USA
R 750 Canadian
$30 Australian
Then we used to get a private transfer from the airport to out hotel. Now we get a crowded bus.
Driving to the hotel we saw baboons on the road, people selling their wares, and elephants crossing the road!!
Welcome to Zimbabwe!! It made me realize how far South Africa has come on their journey as a country...and again more appreciative of the modern luxuries I have in the USA.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The luggage was dragged out and placed in a heap in front of us.
The toilet was 1 room with a woman in it that had to hold the door shut, then has to manually flush from a bucket of water she had as there was 'no water today'.
Then going through the imigration line you needed a visa. There are no stated prices so the person looks at you and your passport and states a price. How can you really argue??
Entry fees
$70 British
$45 USA
R 750 Canadian
$30 Australian
Then we used to get a private transfer from the airport to out hotel. Now we get a crowded bus.
Driving to the hotel we saw baboons on the road, people selling their wares, and elephants crossing the road!!
Welcome to Zimbabwe!! It made me realize how far South Africa has come on their journey as a country...and again more appreciative of the modern luxuries I have in the USA.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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