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Nancy and Doug Trips
Nancy and Doug Trips

Nancy and Doug Trips

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
Our lifelong travel bug has given us our most prized ‘possessions’ - the many memories from business and especially family trips.
 “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” Weiterlesen🇨🇦British Columbia
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  • Nancy and Doug TripsCancun, New OrleansReisender
    Breakfast at French Toast: puff pancakes and lemon curd, hot sausage and French toast with berries
    Breakfast at French Toast: puff pancakes and lemon curd, hot sausage and French toast with berriesJackson Square and Saint Louis CathedralAndrew Jackson and St Louis Cathedral1The courtyard at our hotel: loved the location and renovation.The courtyard if our hotelTour guide Beth tells us about Gumbo1st stop for Gumbo: restaurant in the hotelHotel de la Poaste where our restaurant meet up wasCourtyard at the hotelCajun is french spicy, Creole other the others with tomato as a main ingredientFamous Antoine's, longest running restaurant in the USA with the 2nd biggest collection of wineLeah's pralines, loved the bacon ones!Catfish Po boy followed by a Muffaleta, a Sicilian handheld antipastoPo Boys...so named by two Irish sandwich shop founders to streetcar strikersBread Pudding: deep fried: not my faveNext stop Sazarac House: excellent free museum and tour including 3 mini cocktailsCharbroiled oysters and a shared shandy at Acme Oyster House: fun at the barCatfishCharbroiled oysters: similar to escargot where garlic and butter dominateOyster bar

    French Quarter Vieux CarHistory and Food

    4. Mai in den USA ☀️ 22 °C

    We had booked a history and food tour at 1 pm. Split a breakfast to start our day and had interesting pancake puffs which were quite good, like a moist cream puff without the cream. Culture, history and food were the intended main themes of our trip. The French founded Louisiana (for King Louis and his wife Anna) and New Orleans in 1718, after about sixty years Spain took it over, then France briefly before it had to sell it off to pay debts owed primarily due to its role in the American Revolution. We had a walk through Jackson Square where Arts were setting up their wares. Overall Nancy rated the tour a 6-7/10.Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsCancun, New OrleansReisender
    Breakfast at Ruby's Slipper at 7:30, yes Julia got up!
    Breakfast at Ruby's Slipper at 7:30, yes Julia got up!We split a Southern Breakfast: biscuit and gritsLevy to the rightFrench Catholic, Senegese, Carribean coloursCreole, built 1805, 30 timber house, built by enslaved people using African architetural methodsOne of 500 plantations growing sugar cane, 1200 acres,The pantry, the kitchen outside and close by do food could be plated hereOnce plated the food would be served in the dining roomInhabited until 1977Crawfish moundsLa maison de reprise, Babette's retirement homeOak Alley front parhThe plantations of River RoadWe waited quite awhile as this fellow took many pixsLive Oak; leaves stay on all year

    Laura Plantation

    3. Mai in den USA ☀️ 22 °C

    Our second tour was with Crescent Tours to Laura Plantation, about one hour's drive outside of New Orleans. Doug had visited years ago and bought a book by the same name. The author, Laura Gore Lacoul had written her recollections of growing up on the plantation so the history would not be lost to her grandchildren.

    We shared a quick breakfast at the diner Ruby Slipper, a chain and service was friendly and efficient. We arrived at the appointed pick up spot at 8 am to wait 30 minutes for our driver, a retransplant to the Mississipi from California where she had worked as a bus driver. She pointed out various landmarks along the way including an impressive city hospital abandoned since Hurricaine Katrina distroyed it in 2005 and it stood like a large empty ghost building. She asked whether we had seen the new Netflix movie on Katrina and pointed out the overpasses where people waited for two days to be rescued. Similar to our companions at lunch yesterday, there is an ongoing question about the priority of the officials who both neglected the levy that broken and the ones that decided to break another to save the French Quarter at the expense of an economically poorer area. Although some 1500 people were recorded as perished in the disaster, many remain unaccounted for including 10 in our driver's family. We passed sugar cane fields. Sugar can is a spiky plant that grows up to 18 inches tall. The USA is the world's fifth producer. Cotton will not grow here due to the wet soil so all plantations were based on the sugar cane industry.

    Our guide was a young woman who presented the history in a leisurely and comprehensive manner including commentary on the slave trade and abuses of the black population both before and after the Civil War.

    We then drove about 20 minutes to Oak Alley Plantation along River Road where there are many plantations. This one is the classic antebellum (pre Civil war) white Roman-Grecian pillar design and is known for the row of oaks lining the boulevard to the main entrance.

    Laura's grandparents had purchased the 400 acres and run it as a sugar plantation.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsCancun, New OrleansReisender
    Waiting for the shuttle direct to the racetrack
    Waiting for the shuttle direct to the racetrackSteamship NatchezSome bring lawn chairs and wear gumboots, we were lucky that the weather was perfect and dryArrival!Cochin de lait and crab cakesJames McCloskey Rhythm BandTuxedo Brass BandCongo Zline of umbrellasBlues tentSnow cone, ours was defective and melted quickly 😞Jabez GospelTeddy Swims...standing too long was not possible 🥵Sold out of posters st $149+; they are collectors itemsThe frozen eclair was 👎Earth Wind and FireEveryone had a good timeSunset ring as the crowd waits for the shuttle back

    Jazzfest

    3. Mai in den USA ☀️ 24 °C

    We had a civilized start as the earliest schuttle bus left at 10:30 am right across from our hotel where the steamship tour leaves. Jazzfest was huge and did offer tented areas with seating although the two big acts Teddy Swims and Earth Wind and Fire were in the open area. Sampled local food, no opened drinks or food allowed into the venue. It was bigger than Nancy expected, overall a fun experience once in a lifetime for her is enough though.Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsCancun, New OrleansReisender
    Resting up for a Saturday night in the Big Easy
    Resting up for a Saturday night in the Big Easy1The fabled Mississippi River comes into viewLouis Armstrong International Airport202 Express from Louis Armstrong Airport, in good company! New route to near our hotel. $1.25First jazz jam on our walk to the hotelArrival: 6:30 pm!Arrival: 6:25 pm!Learning to drum on Bourbon StreetDinner at Mambos, loved the redfish, fried 🦐, skip the crawfish!View from the balcony at MambosBlackened RedfishPolice patrolling Burbon

    Arrival New Orleans

    2.–7. Mai in den USA ☀️ 22 °C

    We had a leisurely start to our travel day with a 9:30 shared shuttle via Thomas Moore from the Royal Cancun to Cancun International (54USD). We were dropped off at Terminal 4 for our Mom and Julia trip: 1415 hour departure to NOLA with Southwest Airlines. Dad went to Terminal 3 for his 1115 hr departure to Cleveland with United where he would connect with Air Canada to Toronto. J and Mom shared a club sandwich and reviewed plans for NOLA. First decision: getting from the airport to hotel ? Taxi $36 USD vs express bus $1.25.Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsCancun, New OrleansReisender
    1Beth and Nancy hang out with a localOn the beachRoyal Sands from the lobby to poolIs the one with the orange beak from Finding Nemo?Beth walking the beach near Royal SandsSunset on the lagoon at Ilios Greek Restaurant1Laguna's Nichupte y BojotquezRed snapper at Ilios, very good!Beach Bum!Surf rake...the saegam seagrass moved in quickly late AprilSandal carrierOn the beachAmazing Mayan Coffee experienceWhat are they doing?Last night moon after dinner at the SandsNight view of La PalapaFrom the pierCaptain Hook boats retire for the night

    Royal Cancun Week 2

    25. Apr. – 2. Mai in Mexiko ☀️ 29 °C

    Saturday started off with a lovely sunrise then we had to move rooms for our second week before brunch and a day so you bvaking up the heat

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender

    Goodbye Africa

    4. August 2025 in Äthiopien ☁️ 15 °C

    Well, it's two hours in the Ethiopian Airlines lounge before boarding my flight to Rome and then Toronto, thus ending my marvelous trip of a lifetime to Africa.

    I think it is time to get home, the trip being just long enough to see a good sample of the place and I don't have any feeling I want to stay any longer. I think the flu/cold over the past few days plus a strained rib muscle show that the trip was tiring enough with the pace of safaris, etc.

    What a fantastic destination. I have seen so much and learned so much and met so many wonderful people. Of course, the scenery / landscape and the incredible wildlife just blows you away. It met or even exceeded expectations, and how many times does a travel destination actually live up to the hype? Africa does! I also just was so excited to have the chance to see the relics of human evolution. You get to see 2,000 year old history in Europe, but here, you get 4 million years of history!

    Finally, the culture. So much energy, colour and vitality. The people here are great, perhaps excluding Ethiopia. South Africans must be the happiest people on Earth, Zambians the warmest and Tanzanians the friendliest. I am not just thinking of hospitality service staff where every contact was Ritz-Carlton level, but cab drivers, store clerks, and just people in the street.

    I love this continent, and especially think South Africa has so much to offer for all kinds of vacations.

    Back in Canada with a layover in Toronto, so time to post this final footprint.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    National Museum looks nice from outside
    National Museum looks nice from outside4 sections? Only half openActual LucyAustralopithecus mother and child500 BC

    Addis Ababa

    3. August 2025 in Äthiopien ☁️ 19 °C

    My plan in Addis was to see two museums and do a day trip to the north, but I was still feeling unwell, and there was a regular succession of thunderstorms coming through. The reports of the road trip are that the roads ore torture with many trucks and the trip is up to 9 hours, so I just did the National Museum, which was very important to me, and rested, recovered and edited photos.

    At the National Museum, I was finally able to meet Lucy. They said they had just re-opened the museum after renovations, but in reality, only the bottom two levels were open, and the modern history of Ethiopia was still closed. These were quite good, and they did a nice job continuing to fill in my knowledge of evolution.

    The ancient history of Ethiopia at the time of the Pharaohs, etc, was also quite interesting..

    Addis Ababa itself is an interesting place. The streets in the centre around the main government buildings and parks are very good, and there is a lot of development with skyscrapers everywhere, and more under construction. But, just a half block off the main streets, the roads and sidewalks crumble, and the street life of marginal existence takes over. My hotel security guard basically denied me permission to walk out into the street due to crime concerns.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    The dining tent at Sero Camp
    The dining tent at Sero CampCheck in "counter"Arrival at ArushaThe Art Gallery at Cultural Heritage CentreArusha road side sellers

    Travel Day

    2. August 2025 in Tansania ☁️ 13 °C

    Travel can be hard, too.

    After the great viewing of the Mara River crossing, I was scheduled to see the herds from above by balloon on Aug 1st, but minutes before leaving at 04:30am, I was violently ill and scrubbed the whole day to recover in my tent. Manyama and I thought we could schedule on the 2nd (departure day), but for some reason, the office booked my flight from the Serengeti airstrip at 0830 despite my connecting flight was not until 7 in the evening.

    So on the 2nd, tummy is still bad and now with a head cold, planned to depart at 0630, but the gearbox on the truck was broken. I was very lucky one of the guides had not yet left on his game drive and was able to convince his guests to delay their day by over an hour, so Manyama arranged for him to drive me to the airport, but timing was now tight, so it was a wild and bumpy dash, but I made it on time. Short flight on the Cessna to Arusha, then the driver who was to pick me up wasn't there. Texted and called the office, and they got it sorted. It was still only 11 and if we went to Kilimanjaro airport right away, it would still be a six hour wait for my next flight (again, why did the tour company book the first leg so early??).

    So I asked we stop at the Cultural Heritage Centre to see a large collection (really a store) of arts and crafts. African arts and crafts is quite attractive. Even though I had no interest in buying anything, it would have been interesting to browse around this place as it is huge. However, I was feeling so sick I could not really spend time, and I just went on to JRO, where I had to sit for 2 hours before the check-in counter opened. Flight was then over an hour late, then my checked bag took an hour to arrive, and I could see it had been opened and rummaged through, although I had nothing of value in it, so nothing to lose there anyway.

    Finally, in my hotel in Addis at 11:30. I'm still sick as a dog.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    The crossing begins
    The crossing begins

    Main Mara River Crossing

    31. Juli 2025 in Tansania ☀️ 27 °C

    After over 3 hours of patience, the main event begins!

    We see the leading wildebeests coming from the right heading across and then climbing the bank. It was incredible how many crossed -- the crossing went on for 50 minutes and I calculate 10 to 20 thousand animals crossed in that time. My guide Manyama said it was the largest he had ever seen in 10 years, beating the 43 minute crossing he had seen before.

    You can see things in documentaries on TV, from St. Peter's to the Great Migration, but seeing an event like this in person just can't be beat. What an incredible day!    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    1Enthusiastic at first, but then wait a minute!

    Great Migration

    31. Juli 2025 in Tansania ⛅ 20 °C

    Soon after leaving camp, we broke the shock absorber again, but he was able to remove it so we could carry on. We drove through huge herds of wildebeests before getting to the river where many safari trucks were already lined up parked side by side in two rows like at a Walmart shopping centre. We drove a bit up stream to find a secluded spot in the trees with an excellent angled view of Crossing Spot #4.

    And Waited.

    There was a small herd on the opposite (Kenyan) side who had crossed earlier and some seemed to be interested in coming back to rejoin the main herd. The vultures and bodies of wildebeest on the opposite shore were testament to the dangers they faced on their first crossing, They kept approaching, then retreating over and over, and a few small groups and one lone wolf did come over. We were still waiting for the main herd on our side to go over. We could hear them mooing in the thousands, so we waited and watched the far side herd go back and forth not able to make up their minds.

    And Waited.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    Yes, that is one of the cheetahs under the tree

    Central Serengeti Game Drive

    30. Juli 2025 in Tansania ☀️ 12 °C

    Leaving the camp, we are immediately in the classic Serengeti plains landscape with short grasses ideal for the large numbers of the pretty little Thomson's gazelle. Manyama pointed out it was also the ideal terrain for cheetahs and sure enough we soon saw a pair stalking the gazelles but the they seemed to get active jumping on an animal too small to see in the grasses. They seemed to enjoy this appetizer judging by the blood around their mouths. They then got interested in the main course again, but the gazelles were having none of it and kept away, so we moved on. This sighting was quite a distance and was better appreciated through the monocular than the camera, sorry.

    We soon saw the first of several lion spottings for the day -- a male in the grass, then a female surveying the plains from a rock quite near to the road. There was also a family of six we saw resting under a tree, but to get closer would require going off-road against the rules, which Manyama would not do, although several other drivers did. The company called Leopard Tours was one, and we had noted they were very aggressive and indeed were involved in a scandal the previous week, blocking the animal's route to the Mara River.

    Bit more driving around, and we saw a leopard in a tree with a fresh Thompson's gazelle kill.

    Lots more to see of elephants, giraffes, various antelopes, and of course, zebras. Not large numbers per group, perhaps, as seen in Tarangire, but easy to find and see.. This part of Tanzania (in the Seronera area) is a spectacular game park for sure.

    We had lunch under a tree behind the drew quarters of a balloon outfit while the mount for the shock absorber was welded and headed up to the north, driving out of the park through some busy market towns and back into a smoky area where they are conducting controlled burns -- a constant activity in Tanzania to mitigate risk of larger fires, but also provide optimal grazing conditions, and especially shorter grass to improve viewing for safaris.

    We got to the Sero Tented Camp in Northern Serengeti, not too far from the Kogatende airstrip for a three night stay. This camp is a mobile camp, and it was still good, but a bit more basic. The staff, however, were fantastic.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    1
    1

    Olduvai Gorge Museum

    29. Juli 2025 in Tansania ☀️ 25 °C

    This is where the Leakey family worked for a half century and discovered Homo habilis, among many other important finds that have greatly expanded our understanding of human evolution. They discovered the Proconsul skull, an extinct ape which is now believed to be ancestral to humans, the robust Zinjanthropus, the earliest type of stone tools are called Olduwan technology after this site and the Laetoli footprints were found nearby.

    The very high-quality exhibits had a great deal of emphasis on HOW early humans lived -- social structure, hunting methods and tool use, etc. They introduced me to the discipline of taphonomy, which looks at marks left on bones to gain insight into these practices.

    The site looks out over the gorge, but we were a bit rushed and had not left enough time to drive down and visit the actual dig site which has not actually been worked since Mary Leakey's death in the 90s.

    We then had a long drive to our lodgings, made longer by a shock absorber mount breaking, causing the thing to drag. We stopped at the park gate, where we got a local mechanic to remove the item. We got into the camp at 9:00, so I did not have much time to enjoy it. Thie Into The Wild Tented Camp was another tented camp and was even more luxurious than the last one. We did see a Mr. and Mrs. Lion walk across the road.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    Grant's GazelleCervalCervalLesser FlamingosLesser FlamingosBlacksmith Plover and Great CormorantRed-billed Oxpeckers cleaning ticks of battle-worn hippoGrant's GazelleGrant's and Thomson's GazellesThomson's GazellesSpotted HyenaMale Ostrich

    Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

    29. Juli 2025 in Tansania ⛅ 12 °C

    Ngorongoro is the remains of a huge volcano which erupted and collapsed, leaving this caldera. It is over 200 sq.km in area and 610 metres from floor to lip. You have to drive up a frightening single lane road at the edge of the cliff used as a two lane road before getting to a viewpoint, at the rim top, then go down an equally scary road to the crater floor.
    Once there, you find a dense population of wildlife. There are no giraffe's, impalas or crocs, but we will see large amounts of most other animals. There are a couple dozen of the rare black rhino and we spent a good time driving around there usual haunt, but no luck. It was interesting seeing a large troop of baboons on the barren floor in contrast to the ones we saw in the forest of Manyara yesterday.

    The large lake in the middle attracts aquatic animals like hippo and lesser flamingo.
    .
    Saw my first serval cat.

    Great spot. We had lunch ending at 2pm and had to move it to Olduvai Gorge.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    Yellow BaboonEgyptian GooseL-R Little Egret, Yellow Billed Stork, Great Egret, Juvenile StorkGreat Egret, Juvenile Yellow Billed StorkLittle EgretSecretarybird1 metre long Nile Monitor LizardThe happy familyCottage at Bougainvilla LodgeNo time to enjoy Bougainvilla Lodge

    Lake Manyara National Park Game Drive

    28. Juli 2025 in Tansania ☁️ 18 °C

    We left camp and went around to the entrance to the park by 10, after stopping at a mechanic to have a starter relay replaced as it caused us problems the day before.

    The park is a different ecosystem, being on the slopes of the Great Rift, it has a lot of year-round water. The forest is tropical or near tropical and thicker than the open landscape so the wildlife is more difficult to see, but the overall drive is very pleasant with shade trees, babbling brooks and a lot more green than brown.

    We saw mostly animals seen before, but with a few new water birds. There were more large troops of baboons than I have seen before.

    We stayed the might at the very lovely Bougainvilla Lodge in Karatu after some confusion as the tour office had listed a different hotel on the itinerary, but had to change it apparently.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    Vervet monkey groomingVervet monkeyWaterbuckPark picnic area

    Tarangire Park Game Drive Day 2

    27. Juli 2025 in Tansania ☁️ 13 °C

    Today is a full day drive in the park, returning to the same camp for a second night.

    Tarangire has a pretty and varied landscape with a resulting diversity of wildlife. We saw decent sized herds of the ubiquitous zebra, and elephants and giraffes in abundance as well. The river and other water features also provide extra viewing opportunities, and just having our picnic lunch in this landscape was a treat.

    Had a chance to see quite a variety of bird species too. We we lucky enough o catch two different lion sightings only 3 or 4 metres off the road. One of the lions had a GPS tracking collar on as part of the national government's conservation program. They were, like my sightings earlier in the trip, of cats laying under trees resting. A lion's day goes something like: Sleep 21 hours. Wake up. Kill something. Eat it. Go back to sleep. Hope to see some moving about.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender

    BaoBab Tented Camp

    26. Juli 2025 in Tansania 🌙 20 °C

    I will stay here for two nights. This remote wilderness permanent camp has 10 "tents" -- only in the sense they are made of canvas and doors and windows are zippers. In every other respect they are nicer than many hotel rooms. They are really spacious and have wooden floors, ensuite with a very well functioning showers. Electric is solar and there are not a lot of lights or electric power points, or any internet in the rooms. WiFi at the lounge is present, but not very fast, as I will find out through the next week.Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender

    Tarangire Park Game Drive Day 1

    26. Juli 2025 in Tansania ☀️ 21 °C

    Once in the park, we begin right away to see elephants, giraffe, zebras all of which are in great abundance. Not many antelopes and no cats so far.

    Got up to a termite mound and found they are rock hard. The termites colonize a tree stump, chewing the wood and mixing it with a secretion that solidifies the material.

    The landscape is different from previous parks -- a bit more open with individual acacia and baobab trees and less dense shrubs. The river makes a scenic valley.

    By six, it was time to get to our camp, which is actually inside the park,    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    Masai hutsRush hour at the park gates

    Through Masai Country

    26. Juli 2025 ⛅ 25 °C

    So I was picked up right on time at my hotel by Manyama who will be my guide and driver for the next 8 days. We have a LandCruiser all to myself so can ride in the front on the highway and in the second row under the pop top when looking for game.

    Drive through Arusha and outskirts was the typical chaotic African street scenes, more so as Saturday is Market Day.

    As we got to the countryside, we saw more and more of the Masai -- this is a real culture, not a tourist show. Herders wearing blankets with small and large flocks of cows and goats. Scattered here and there on the sparse pasture are the stick, grass and cow dung boma huts. Even Manyama says he does not totally understand why this specific tribe has been so able and willing to live this very hard life. A few days later, I met a couple of Masai around a fire and asked them and they say they don't feel it is hard -- it is all they know.

    A couple of hours of mostly highway driving to Tarangire main gate where we are met with a parking lot full of 100 or more safari trucks. Took about an hour for my guide to register, pay the park fees, and line up to get in, but to my relief, once in, and we all spread out over this 25,000 sq. km park, it was not crowded.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender

    Arusha Natural History Museum

    25. Juli 2025 in Tansania ☀️ 22 °C

    After lunch, I walked the 5 minutes to this quirky little museum. It was built in the old German colonial Boma (fort) and is a collection of individual exhibits.

    The natural history building has a number of animals and birds, but also covering the walls are many photos from an extremely good nature photographer (Dick Persson)

    The history of the Colony is notable for the usual stories of colonial oppression, but even more for how unsuccessful the colony was. They kept bringing in settlers who failed to adapt to local conditions so that by the time of the early 20th century, there were only a couple of hundred settlers.

    They had another human evolution exhibit. Every country seems to have one. This of course emphasizes the findings at Olduvai and the very important 3.2 million year old footprints of Australopithecus afarensis (e.g. Lucy) found at nearby Laetoli.

    Finally there is Tom the tortoise who might be 200 years old.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    Hotel's gardenInteresting tree with orange 'trumpet' flowers in my garden

    Morning Walk in Arusha

    25. Juli 2025 in Tansania ⛅ 18 °C

    I had one day in Arusha, mainly to be sure of meeting my safari, but found the city quite charming. There are some very nice avenues with lots of tropical or near tropical trees. Downtown is more finished and less gritty than Nairobi, for example, but still with that African vibe. The street leading to the main market becomes the usual wild market feel.

    The clock tower is said to be the halfway point between Cape Town and Cairo. A number of upscale hotels and resorts are here, too.

    The city is quite large at over a half million and is both a hub for the rich agricultural region (they grow everything from bananas to vegetables to grain, staple crop is maize), but especially a tourism hub from which most Serengeti and Kilimanjaro expeditions depart.    Weiterlesen

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  • Nancy and Doug TripsAfricaReisender
    Ginless G&T
    Ginless G&TPeople, bikes, tuktuks, cars and dustWelcome to Tanzania'OneStop' Border formalitiesMt Longido, not KilimanjaroMany cars, buses and trucks decorated with religious sayingsHave seen several large abandoned projects

    To Arusha, Tanzania

    24. Juli 2025 in Tansania ⛅ 22 °C

    After a trip that was more challenge then experience,I have arrived in a paradise.

    The shuttle bus trip was rather long. Boarded at 7:30 and got off at 14:30. it was very hot, bumpy, extremely cramped legroom and driven by a kamikaze driver. Scenery was typical very dry African sparse bush with the appearance of mountains near the end. It is interesting how chaotic and run down the road and the buildings along it were in the villages and towns. Also seeing the Masai in traditional garb, often barefoot, miles from anywhere, so not a show for tourists. Cattle, goats, and donkeys just loose, sometimes watched by a Masai herder, and several times we had to stop or gently force our way through a herd of animals on the road.

    Arusha then shows up as a tropical paradise with lots of trees and greenery and mostly well maintained streets and sidewalks.

    The Equator Hotel is another of these places from a bygone era with its own huge garden, restaurant with a terrace and very welcoming staff at every turn. What a change from Nairobi. The room is comfortable and spacious with a nice balcony. Will get a nice rest up here before the safari.    Weiterlesen

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