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It Started As A 2 Week Cruise
  • Bron Plaskowski
  • Bron Plaskowski

It Started As A 2 Week Cruise

A 71-day adventure by Bron Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 28, 2024
    Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    They always seem so aware of what is going on around them.
    The bloke was a godsend getting us through immigration and to our transfer very efficiently.I felt guilty jumping the queue,If only all airports were this simple.Our room for the next 3 nights. Ingwe means leopard, hoping not to see any in the vicinityVery comfortable for what is classed out here as tented accommodation.Definitely glamping.Our outside shower.A pack of wild dogs resting up.A tawny eagle.A tree of vultures.I think these were ImpalaA blue wildebeest.So sweet.It's a tough life being a lion.3Obviously a zebra crossing.This evening's sunset.2

    A Very, Very Long Day

    December 28, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    At 8am we landed in Johannesburg after a 10.5 hour flight with very little sleep and perhaps a couple too many gin and tonics.

    On exiting the plane we were immediately met by a guy who fast tracked us through immigration, collected our luggage, took us to check in for our onward flight to Hoedspruit and dropped us off at the departure gate in plenty of time for our plane.

    The hour's flight brought us in to land at an airstrip in the middle of the bush close to the Kruger national park. The isolation and few amenities reminded me of the film Wild Geese, I was expecting Richard Burton and Richard Harris to pop up at any minute with an entourage of mercenaries.

    Instead we were taken to our safari camp arriving a full 22 hrs after leaving home. After high tea, we set off at 4pm for the first of six game drives over the next 3 days. We managed to see some lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, eagles, vultures and wild dogs and were back, just after dark, around 7:30pm, . It was an early night after dinner. Although there is no jetlag as it's only a 2hour time difference, I was really tired from the travelling and next to no sleep overnight on the plane.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    He was constantly looking round in case someone came to steal his meal.
    The adult zebras know they are too big for a cheetah, so they just stood there staring him out.He'd given up on the zebras and was now on the prowl.It was a long slow end.Our guides checking out leopard tracks, despite their best efforts this one got away.The spotter at the front of the vehicle.A kipping hippo, they don't like the sun so mainly graze during the dark.An Orb spider, I jumped back as I only noticed it when I was right on top of it, was a good 5 inchesFour older male buffalos.A duckling baby impalaA couple of warthogs, with an amazing mohicanLaying on their backs with their feet touching, not a bad life for some.Having a sniff, they later had a go at mating.2I was keeping a very close eye on him.A jackal, not sure if it was his day or not.2Mother and a month ish old calf.A dry river bed, though it does fill up with a few days of heavy rain.There is definitely something prehistoric about rhinos.Four old buffalo bulls, retired now and just doing their own thing.Never realised how quickly tortoises actually do move.I'm going to do a comparative photo with the tortoises on the Galapagos Islands.

    A Very Early Start

    December 29, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    It was up at 4:45am this morning to be ready for the 5:30am drive. Out here, the early bird catches the worm, translates into the early cheetah catches the baby wildebeest. Which is exactly what we witnessed after 45 mins or so. I always thought these things were quite quick, but it seems cheetahs actually strangle their prey, which in this instance took around 10 mins. I did feel really sorry for the wildebeest, though 3 hours later I was tucking into bacon and sausages for breakfast, so I suppose you do need to keep a sense of perspective.

    On leaving the room at just after 5am this morning there was a hyena on the path about 5 yards from our door. I think I was more intrigued than concerned, but it was probably just as well he soon made off, as I didn't really know what to do.

    We were back for breakfast by 9am and then spent a relaxing morning and afternoon, only interupted by lunch, until it was time to go out again just before 4pm.

    On this afternoon's drive we saw a couple of lounging lions who after a stroll got quite frisky. Then an elephant with a very young calf, a couple of rhinos and some old buffalos grazing away without a care in the world.

    Then it was back in time for a quick beer round the campsite with the other guests before dinner and an early night. We were the last to head off to bed, at around 9:30pm. One thing they are quite strict on is that after dark everyone has to be escorted back to their rooms just in case of any encounters. Showering in our outdoor shower before bed always has my mind racing about what might be out there in the darkness. Never showered so fast in all my life!    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    The stop for tonight's sundowner.
    They seemed to be making a beeline straight for us.He looked enormous as he approached the vehicle, the guide on the front has some bottle.Was a little concerning at first.That is some termite hill. They are supposed to be 3 times as deep as they are high.A stepped eagle. Birds were generally a bit too far away to get a decent photo.A female leopard we came across in the morning.A lone elephant walking on the dry riverbed at our camp as we'd just finished our lunch.Buffalos in formation, with red oxpeckers for company.Was ok with them sat down, but as they got up and started walking around I got a little more nervousYou just want to take one of the little ones home.Daddy daycare.Perhaps he shouldn't bend over quite like that.Those teeth look like they could really do some damage. This was our afternoon leopard!Closest we got to seeing a leopard up a tree.She was actually very relaxed with us sitting watching her.Looks like she is riding a motorbike.So beautiful, as long as your not an impala of course.Trackers, guides and cocktail makers.You really could get used to this.The plunge pool looks inviting when you get back to camp, but it is pretty cold.The fire is purely for effect, it's still around 25 degrees at this time in the evening.

    Leopards Are Like Buses

    December 30, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    On the road again at 5:30am this morning with today's mission being to find the elusive leopard, the last of our big 5.

    However, it wasn't long before we saw a small group of elephants coming out of the bush, heading diagonally from our right and looking to cross the road. Although the group was small the elephants were anything but, they looked very intimidating. One of the group stopped to wave her trunk at us for 30 seconds until an even larger male came from the same direction.

    Then we finally found a female leopard, who at first wasn't too keen on our presence, so we swung around in a semicircular detour through the bush, taking us in the direction she was heading and waited for her. The video shows her pausing before coming out into the open towards us, but eventually strode right past us with only a muted growl.

    At 12:30 we had a really entertaining bush survival lesson from our tracker. Who showed us how to find water (including extracting water from fresh elephant dung), to make fire from wood and a stick, create a shelter, make string from a sisal leaf and make a snare to catch guinea fowl.

    Armed with our new found knowledge and the threat of them leaving us out there overnight we set off on our 4pm drive. First we visited a 16 strong pride of lions. Which felt fine while they were laying down but as they started walking off in ones or twos I couldn't stop looking round, just to be on the safe side.

    Shortly afterwards our tracker found some fresh leopard droppings on the road and within a few minutes of off-roading he spotted her. Despite being very well camouflaged in the undergrowth, it was literally a needle in a haystack, but they really knew what they were doing. We stayed with her for around 20 mins, she was totally relaxed and if anything seemed to be posing for the cameras. It really was the most magical experience.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Watching the fireworks from the water was so less crowded.
    Literally as we were leaving this chap came into camp to say goodbye.The perfect height for the vegetation.A moving feast for the predators.Those termites like to keep themselves busy.A walbeck eagleOne way of applying sun screen.Probably the one animal that paid absolutely no attention to us tourists at all.Was lovely spot for our finally morning coffee stop. Though I opted for hot chocolate with Amarula.The steenbok, a smaller relative of the springbok.Not the cutest of animals.A scops owl, just perched right by the camp's outdoor dining area.An electric fence where the first wire is 6ft high, designed to keep elephants out of the camp.This was yesterday's bush survival lesson, very entertaining.The somewhat basic departure lounge at Hoedspruit airport, minus any glass for the windows.Our carriage for the evening.Table mountain lit up to the right of the wheel, it looked like cloud to me.The scene after numerous proseccosIt was so loud and lively in the marina, was great though taking it in from the comfort of the boat.Was still busy closer to 1am

    A Day Of Two Halves

    December 31, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Our final 5:30am start this morning. We've done 6 drives of around 3.5 hours each, so in the last 3 day we've spent 21 hours in the vehicle. The time though has absolutely flown by, it's always been interesting, sometimes really exciting and once or twice scary,

    It was a fantastic trip, the accommodation and facilities in the middle of the bush were excellent, the free drink contributed to the ambiance but most of all the staff were so friendly, helpfully and entertaining.

    So after our final 3 course breakfast, it was back to the local airport for the 2.25 hour flight to Cape Town, arriving at our apartment at 5:30pm. So plenty of time to get ready for our evening boat trip.

    The solitude of our time on safari was blown away as we headed to the waterfront at 8pm, to find our boat. The whole area was banged out, people already taking up the best standing spots, every restaurant and bar looked full. It was a good job we had booked well in advance. There was loud music being relayed all around the marina, the place was really buzzing.

    The days of standing for four hours waiting for midnight and to watch the fireworks are long gone. So a boat in the harbour, food, drink, a seat and toilets to hand was the perfect way to see in the new year and watch the fireworks. A couple of drinks in an Irish bar after getting off the boat, meant it was just gone 3am by the time we got back to the apartment. I certainly slept well.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    The Time Ball Tower, the ball would drop at midday for ships to set their navigational clocks
    Bedroom suite was huge too.Was surprised how large the apartment was.2View of table mountain from the balcony.A pool with a view.The clock tower in the waterfront area.

    The Day After The Night Before

    January 1 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    The first lay in of the trip was nice but it was in name only as I was awake by 8am despite not getting to bed till gone 3am. There was nothing planned for this morning so I went for a 4 mile run and then cooled off in the rooftop pool at the apartment block.

    We did have a 1pm trip to Robben Island booked but when we arrived the sailings had been cancelled due to high winds. So will have to try and squeeze that in another day.

    Instead we thought we'd do a hop on hop off bus tour. Though, when we tried to buy the ticket from the driver she advised us not to!! Saying that as it was New Years day they were operating a restricted service in terms of route and finishing time. I really appreciated her honesty, so will have to try and reschedule that one as well.

    So instead we spent the afternoon exploring the waterfront area, with the odd refreshment stop thrown in. The pubs I've been in so far have all had lots of bar staff but service is painfully slow, almost as though they are doing you a favour and then they have the cheek to ASK for a tip.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Bo-Kaap, with its colourful houses.
    The colour reminded me of Carmelita in Buenos AiresCamps Bay, a very wealthy suburb of Cape Town.The view from Chapman's Peak Drive.It's says it all in the photo!The lighthouse at Cape point, London not only feels but actually is a long way away.The view from the Cape Point lighthouse to the Cape of Good Hope the other side of the beach.Boulders beach and the African penguins.Penguins nesting and looking after their young chicks.To be honest, if I was told they were all beef I would have believed it.Lunch at the aptly named Harbour View restaurant in Simon's Town.Simon's Town high street with its colonial style buildings.Our van with a burnt out clutch stuck in the middle of the road on the way to the cable car.2Doesn't look that big but hold 65 people and rotates slowly so everyone sees the best views.2View of the whole of Cape Town.2Approach to the cable car station at the top of table mountain.View over the Lions Head and Signal Hill.There were lots of trendy bars and restaurants in Kloof St, would have been rude not to pop in!Our Local, a restaurant recommended to us by a couple we met on safari.

    Full On Day

    January 2 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    Today we got picked up at 8am for an all day tour of Cape Town's suburbs and surrounding areas. The first stop was a Bo-Kaap a predominantly Muslim quarter famous for it's brightly coloured buildings.

    Then onto Camp Bay, a very swanky neighborhood with a beautiful beach and big houses. From there we drove along Chapman's Peak Drive, a road hugging and sometimes cut into the side of the mountain which had stunning coastal views.

    This took us to the Cape of Good Hope, the most South Westerly point on the African continent. I had thought it was the most southerly until a few days ago when I looked at a map. Then onto Cape Point lighthouse via a steep uphill 10 min walk, but with great views down to the Cape of Good Hope.

    Had lunch in Simon's Town, a place with attractive colonial buildings and covered pavements, protecting from the sun and also when it rains heavily. For lunch I went for a selection of bushmeat, zebra, impala and warthog. They all tasted great, but all very similar.

    Then our last stop, Table Mountain. We got three quarters of the way up the steep road to the cable car before the burning clutch on the minibus gave up the ghost. We'd been smelling it for several minutes before it gave finally packed up. Fortunately, it happened right outside the park and ride carpark, so within 3 minutes our guide had got us on a shuttle bus to the cable car, while they sent out a replacement.

    The cable car was great, really steep ascent but very stable. The views from the top were stunning, with the whole of Cape Town below nestled around the Lions Head and Signal Hill.

    Despite the long day, a 10hr 30min tour, we got off the tour bus near Kloof Street and had a few drinks and something to eat in this very trendy neighborhood, very much me!!    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    I was much better at kayaking before we got in the water.
    Very good name for a travel agency.Not sure if having 5 people on a supersized paddle board makes it easier or harder.Lutuli, Tutu, FW De Klerk and Mandela. South Africans who have all won the Nobel peace prize.The queue for the ferry to Robben Island, over 3 floors.Never seen a bus with 5 rows of seats.The island was originally used as a leper colony.Working with others in the quarry was better than being locked up in a small cell in your own.Looks a long swim back to Cape TownThe prison yardMandela's prison cell.In an attempt to sow division, different ethnic groups were given different amounts of food.Harbour seals.Never seen a 10 foot penguin before.Was so good to meet up with Christian and such a surprise he was over here.

    A Long And Busy Day

    January 3 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    We had a kayak trip organised for 8am this morning. Though we were told yesterday that it was no longer running and were offered 6:30am or 11:30am. As we had something on in the afternoon we had to leave our apartment at 5:30am for a 6am meet up.

    I'd never been in a sea kayak before, they are larger, heavier and have a rudder, operated by your feet. So paddling and using your feet to steer in conjunction with each other is a bit like patting your head and rubbing you stomach in a circular motion at the same time!

    The sea swell was a bit of a challenge and our shoulders were feeling the strain, we were soon thinking we should have booked an hour instead of two. However, there were regular pauses to look at the dolphins and sunfish.

    After 2 hours of kayaking we jogged back to the apartment, and I then did a bit more to bump it up to 4 miles. My shorts, soaked from the kayaking were almost dry by the time I finished.

    In the afternoon we took our rescheduled trip to Robben Island. It was 50 mins on the boat, so needless to say no-one ever escaped during the apartheid era. The first part of the tour was a bus around the island explaining it's history. The second was within the prison itself and led by a former inmate. It was a very interesting insight into how he came to be there, prison life, how they spent their time, his release and his disappointment that 30+ years on, the freedom they had fought for hasn't delivered the expected benefits for ordinary people.

    On our return we went for a few drinks with Christian, a Norwegian guy I cycled with during last year's charity Tour de France ride I did. He arrived here today for work, it really is a small world. We met in the Irish pub we'd been in on New Year's Eve, watched Luke 'the nuke' Littler win the darts and somehow it was gone 1:30 am before I got to bed. Looking forward to catching up on my sleep on the boat.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Koi carp pool at Fairview.
    The poor fella on the right has had his tail bitten off by something or someone.It doesn't look like a lot of wine in the glass but after 8 of them in 45 mins you can feel it.Definitely loss leader pricing, 75 Rand is £3.19.The entrance to the Fairview winery.A little church in Franschhoek.Location for our lunch today.Inside the La Bri winery.Wine and chocolate pairing.Our final glass of the day, thankfully I survived.A pricier wine tasting at £5.32, it was probably the posh chocolates that bumped the price up.The street art in Stellenbosch.Not the sort of architecture I was expecting.Streets and streets of leafy cafe culture.

    Wine, Wine And More Wine

    January 4 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Today is our last full day in Cape Town, I don't know where the time has gone. Under protest from me we did an excursion to local wineries in Paarl and Franschhoek and then a stroll around Stellenbosch.

    The first stop was in Paarl at the Fairview winery, which had beautiful grounds, flower gardens and a koi carp pond. You were given six tasting glasses of wine paired with cheeses and a couple of bonus glasses thrown in. As we left 45 mins later I was buzzing, the cheese had done little to negate the effects of all the wine.

    Then it was on to Franschhoek and lunch with more wine at the Franschhoek Cellar Restaurant. We ate at The Platform dining room which as the name suggests was part of a station on the route of the wine train. A tram car really that travels up and down a single track rail line stopping at wineries along the way.

    The final tasting stop was also in Franschhoek at the La Bri winery. This tasting was three red wines paired with chocolate. I have to say the posh chocolates were better than the wines. There were a couple of bonus wines thrown in including a glass of sparkling, just to finish you off.

    On the way back we stopped off for a stroll around Stellenbosch town centre. A university town that has the feel of old world money. Founded in 1679, there was a real Georgian look to the architecture, with an outdoor cafe/bar culture and street art everywhere. Would be a lovely place to spend a few days.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    An old grain silo that has been turned into a 5 star hotel.
    This is a private security firm, not the police.1They don't mess about in South Africa.2Amidst the industrial scene a snippet of what's to come.Another 90 mins and we would have just strolled right through.2LoungeBed and bathroom2Got to get through these somehow in the next two weeks.

    The Reason For The Trip

    January 5 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Our 5 nights in Cape Town have flown by and I feel as though we've barely scratched the surface. So much to see and do, so many surprises and all the people we have met have been friendly and helpful. Despite really looking forward to moving onto the next phase of the trip, we are all a little sad to be leaving.

    Before checking out I went for a final 4 mile run. maybe the last few days have caught up with me but it felt really tough to start with but perseverance paid off. For 8am on a Sunday it was really busy on the sea front, with joggers, dog walkers and people out walking. Very much reminded me of Australia, I suppose the warm weather always helps.

    Then it was time for the whole purpose of the trip, the transatlantic cruise to Rio. I made the school boy error of trying to get on the boat at the earliest possible opportunity, 12pm, because everyone else wants to do the same thing. It took 30 mins to get through the queue, by 2pm there was no queue at all, note to self.

    At least there is no more unpacking for the next two weeks.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Paddle tennis court, very popular despite the average age on the boat!
    Wine tasting at 10:45, perhaps in the hope people wouldn't drink too much at that time, didn't work!Golf driving net.ShuffleboardCan't imagine why you'd need 23 table tennis bats and 30 balls.Canapes delivered to the room around 5pm, just as well we'd been very active during the day.

    First Day At Sea

    January 6, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    After 8 nights away the clothes are already starting to feel a little tight so it was off to the gym first thing this morning. Gyms on boats are usually a bit of an after thought, but this was by far the largest and best equipped one I've ever seen on a cruise ship, regardless of the size of the boat. It also included complimentary bottles of Gatorade and vitamin drinks, never seen that before.

    The games deck is really well set out with all the usually stuff like, a putting green, golf driving net, shuffleboard, table tennis, croquet, petanque. However, in addition there is also a paddle tennis court, which is very popular, but we did manage to get on for 50 mins around lunchtime when most other people were preoccupied!

    At 6pm it was the captain's cocktail reception. If you were on a boat where you were paying for your drinks then the 45 mins of free cocktails was your chance to speed load to set yourself up for the evening. However, when the drinks are free the event doesn't have the same importance!    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    The railway station, no sign of any oyster card readers here.
    One of the few restaurants in town.Lobster pots.The original 1910s high street.The Lutheran church on the hill.The place has very much a frontier town feel.The main frieght line coming from South Africa.The local Catholic church.The first chance I had to get a picture of the boat.There's not much greenery around other than the odd palm tree.The view at the end of the dock.

    First Port Of Call

    January 7 in Namibia ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Today we got off the boat in Luderitz, named after a German settler who bought land there in the late 1800s. It became a trading post for European ships travelling to and from the far east, in pre Suez Canal days. Though it really took off in 1908 when diamonds were discovered there.

    Of a population of 17,000 around 10,000 are involved in fishing. The diamond industry hit a down turn in 2010, but oil has been newly discovered off shore and this is seen as a good thing as it is set to revitalise the town and provide employment. No Just Stop Oil protesters around here.

    There was a really strong cold wind today which is a feature of the area, they refer to the wind as their rain. The weather was 29 degrees yesterday and yet if you were out of the sun and in the wind it felt cold. While taking a photo of the boat at the end of the pier, the wind was howling and as it whipped up sand particles, they did sting, felt like we were being shot blasted. Though they have used the wind to their advantage and host speed windsurfing events, with a number of world records being set here.

    Getting back on the boat the paddel tennis court was free but we soon found out why, the wind was that strong that you had to guess where the ball was going to be when it reached you. Hopefully less windy tomorrow.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    A lady's powder puff she would carry with her, housed in a tortoise shell.
    All the cars, vans and buses lined up at the start of the day's tour.Long Beach, a coastal development just outside Walvis Bay.Para sailing off the dunes.A basket of medicinal items and cups made from old tin cans.Nama language, the special characters denote different clicking sounds made when saying the word.Tuck shops were very common in the township as were betting shops.Shanty town on the edge of Walvis Bay.Improvised play pen.The traditional dress of a Herero woman with the hat symbolising cow horns.Tree caterpillars top left, then clockwise, mashed black eye peas, maize porridge and spinach.The final element was the caterpillar.Some local entertainment after our lunch.

    Some Local Culture

    January 8 in Namibia ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Today we woke up in Walvis Bay around 260 miles north of Luderitz. With a population of just over 100,000 it is Namibia's main port.

    Our excursion wasn't until 12:15 today so had time to go to the gym and do some cycling, weights and then an hour on the paddel tennis court. As we were in port I was able to use the scales in the gym. If they are anywhere near correct I've put on nearly a pound a day, every day, since we've been away.

    On the tour we went to the city of Skopamund and in particular it's township. Before it's independence in 1990 the area of Namibia had been wholely and then in part ruled by South Africa, having taken it over over from the Germans at the end of the first world war when it was know as German South West Africa. Apartheid was also enforced here with whites living in the city, coloureds and blacks living in the township but also segregated from each other. These terms are still used here and in South Africa to refer to ethnic groupings.

    It was a really interesting tour, we visited a traditional medicine woman from the Nama tribe in her home. She had numerous plants, barks, dungs which are used to treat various ailments. Apparently, baboon dung is good for swollen feet, I think I'd be quite happy to keep my swollen feet!

    Though modern medicine came to the fore when an elderly American woman fell in the garden and whacked her head on the floor, there was blood everywhere, fortunately there were 2 Austrian doctors in the trip who stemmed the bleeding and she was taken to a local private hospital.

    We then visited a woman from the Herero tribe in her traditional dress and learned a little about their poligomous culture. We then went to try some of the local cuisine, black eyed peas, maize porridge, spinach and fried tree caterpillars. Out of the 9 people in our van only about 3 people tried any of the food never mind the tree caterpillars. The texture of them was quite meaty and they took a bit of chewing and they definitely didn't taste like chicken. In fact they didn't taste of much at all really.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    The impressive bit is they manage to keep the tyres inflated.
    1The sign says it all.This particular Welwitschia is only a youngster, estimated at 600-700 years old.The moon like terrain.Quite an unusual restaurant set up.A once mobile dining table.What every outdoor toilet needs, a couple of old car doors.Obviously half a scarecrow is enough to do the job here.Half a bath tub actually looks reasonably comfortable as a settee.A formula one kiddies car.An outdoor workshop, not a problem when the desert only gets 5-10mm of rain per year.I think this petrol station ran dry some time ago.This fella was lucky to dodge Xmas.No sure what purpose the dangly bits serve.I'm fairly sure this is an emu, I thought they were Australian.

    Last Day In Namibia

    January 9, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We had stayed overnight in Walvis Bay. The cruise company had laid on a shuttle bus but there wasn't really a town centre as such to visit, so the bus went to a shopping mall instead.

    Today's excursion took us into the Namib desert. We passed some huge dunes, over a 100m high, and also other areas of vast flat expanse. We stopped to have a look at a plant called Welwitschia. Some examples of which are thought to be between 1,000 and 1,500 years old. The seeds apparently take about 50 years to germinate and about another 50 years to penetrate the surface of the desert.

    We then went on to view an area described as a moon land escape and from there onto the Goanikontes Oasis. At which an elaborate campsite had been built along with a farmyard zoo. Someone with a passion for old vehicles or perhaps someone who owned a scrapyard had made great use of the old vehicles in and around the outdoor restaurant/bar area.

    Then it was back to the boat and our time in Namibia was over, as by 2pm we had set sail for St Helena.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    A dramatic entrance to the Asian restaurant we dined in tonight.

    An Active And Relaxing Day

    January 10, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    The clocks went back an hour last night, however, the extra hour in bed didn't materialise as my phone and watch hadn't changed automatically. So on getting up at 8am thinking this would have been 9am yesterday, it was in fact really 7am!

    It did mean though that when we went to the paddel tennis court most people were still in bed. So we managed to get over an hour in without anyone bothering us. Then the gym, breakfast and I was back in the room before 10am.

    The rest of the day was just about relaxing apart from a bit of table tennis and a half hour spin session, which was pretty hardcore.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Crossing the Greenwich meridian, London must be just over the horizon.

    Zero Degrees

    January 11, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Another relaxing day at sea, an hour of paddel tennis, went to see a talk on the history and geography of St Helena and one on Napoleon's exile to the island until his death.

    At around 12:20 we crossed the Greenwich Meridian. Though as hard as I looked I couldn't see London in the distance, despite being the closest to home that we'll be on any part of the trip.

    Since leaving the coast of Namibia the strong winds have disappeared and the sea for the last couple of days has been pretty flat. A real bonus as we aren't on the biggest ship in the world and our cabin is at the front.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Jamestown nestled along the valley.
    Our first sight of land for two days.The funicular taking you up the ravine to the right is long gone but the 699 steps are still there.As we couldn't get off I consoled myself with a vodka hot chocolate.There really isn't much need to check the weather forecast

    The Landing That Never Was

    January 12, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    Up just after 7am to do some cycling and weights before getting off to have a look round St Helena. However, the first part of the plan worked fine but not the 2nd.

    It turned out the swell at the jetty was too much for the tenders to dock safely. There isn't a harbour here to protect the jetty, it is just open to the sea. It was disappointing, I was looking forward to exploring Jamestown with its oldest Anglican church in the southern hemisphere, impressive Georgian architecture and Jacob's Ladder, a 699 step stairway up to another settlement at the top of the ravine.

    Weather wise it seems like the perfect location. Around 20 degrees each day and barely a degree between day and night time temperatures. Their currency is the St Helena pound, tied to the British pound which they also take, so you don't have to change your money. It's also on the same time as the UK, so be ideal for watching the footie. Sounds like the perfect retirement location.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Our 66 raffle tickets and still no cigar.
    It was a really popular event, lots of people got into the spirit of it.Think I'll stick to cod roe.We are happy to stick to the cheap champagne they serve for free.It can get really frustrating if you don't do it quickly.Looks like he hasn't lost it.

    No Luck Today

    January 13, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    There are four more days at sea to go which will be an opportunity to rest up a bit in preparation for the start of the proper travelling. Though I still find myself being as active as I can in order to be able to get into at least some of the clothes I brought.

    This morning we had a summer fete. They cleared out all the sun loungers around the pool and set up 12 stalls. In each one was a particular game, like guessing flags of the world, guessing higher or lower on the turn of card, to more dexterous things like trying to guide a dangling pencil that had been strapped to your waist in to a bottle, harder than it sounds.

    It is also something different for some of the staff who were very vocal in cheering people on when doing some of the games. I just about remember the days when I used to have that much energy.

    For completing each task you were given raffle tickets and after about 45 mins there was a prize draw. We had amassed 66 raffle tickets but didn't even come close to winning any of the 10 prizes. Just as well really as our cases are already right on the limit.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    It was hard work having to keep turning down waiters who keep forcing you to have a drink.

    A Laid Back Day

    January 14, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    Another extra hour in bed last night, which is always welcome and we still have another 2 hours to lose. This is definitely the right direction to be going around the world.

    After the gym this morning, we decided to take it easy and just have a day around the pool, in the shade, on the double loungers they have around the outside of the pool area. The loungers seems to be designed for people about 5ft tall, so not the most comfortable but I made the best of it, all day long. Interspersed with the lots of iced water, the odd proper drink, lunch and at the height of the heat of the day a waiter coming round and handing out chilled, wet towels, that was so nice.

    Unfortunately I put my name down for a spin class in the gym at 4pm, I really could have done without that after a relaxing day like today.

    I'd only been thinking a couple of hours earlier that despite all the complementary alcohol you don't actually see anyone drunk. Then at the 'name that tune' quiz, at 10:30pm, the three of us were joined by Kevin, a 70 something guy from Durban who was well oiled. However, despite this he reeled off obscure show tune after obscure show tune. We finished with 12 out of 15 correct, good enough for 3rd place. We later went through the answers and between the 3 of us we would have got 5 right. So if you ever see a waddling South African late at night, never judge a book by it's cover.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Almost midnight, so not too early to get your towel down for the morning.
    They ran through about 17 Beatles songs which everyone knew and of course finished with Hey Jude.

    A Morning To Myself

    January 15, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    This morning Carol and her sister were doing a 2hr cookery class and no I'm not going to say she needs it. So given they went to line dancing before the class I had the whole morning to myself.

    So after a lay in and getting caught still in bed at 10am by the butler, though I was booking a ferry from Buenas Aires to Montevideo, so not actually sleeping. I decided to go to the spa and use the steam and sauna. It was very quiet in there. There was just one other person in the aromatherapy steam room, who when he left, struggled to get out the door, he seemed to have to really force it. As he did I noticed a button beside the door which looked like the door release that he hadn't pressed which is why he struggled. So when I left I pressed the button and the door opened ok. However, 30 seconds later one of the spa ladies came in asking if I was ok. It turned out it wasn't a door release but the emergency alarm. They didn't seem too happy, so I blamed it on the subdued lighting and my contract lenses.

    In the evening after dinner they had a Beatles night in the atrium. Which went down very well, as for most of the people on the boat this was their teenage music. When asked why I wasn't dancing given all these older people where up there shaking their stuff, I said well obviously that's because they've all got new hips.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    The British built winning entry. Demonstrating our long and proud tradition of shipbuilding!
    Sea trials for the boat building competition, the Aussie entry had some serious listing problemsThe cookery school kitchen.If you can get the audience singing as well it takes all the pressure off.

    Looking Forward To A Detox

    January 16, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    For the first time yesterday I kept a tally of how many drinks I had over the day. Based on London pub prices I calculated that over the whole cruise, I must have got just over 50% of the cruise fare back in cocktails and wine.

    However, I don't think there was any point in the last 12 days on the boat that I would have actually passed a breathalyser. A couple of drinks at lunchtime was usually enough to top my levels right back up again.

    This evening after the show was karaoke for the 2nd time. The first time round you couldn't get Terry ( a 70ish English bloke) off the stage, he was up there 4 times. So much so that this evening's event was referred to as Terryoke. However, there were more people up for it tonight and he was restricted to only 2 songs. He didn't look happy about it at all.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Our final pre dinner canapes, my waistline is going to be grateful for that.

    Almost There

    January 17, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Although we arrive in Rio tomorrow we aren't getting off until the next day. We have two complementary half day trips booked so today is really our last full day actually on the boat. So we made the most of the day and the facilities and also took some time to start the packing.

    We'd been talking the previous day to a couple who had a really good upgrade deal on their cabin. So we arranged a I'll show you mine if you show me yours. They came and looked at ours first, which is a very nice cabin, but theirs was the size of a one bed flat with two toilets, with They said that they didn't know if they could go cruising again because they had been so spoilt by the space and the facilities.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    Couldn't get much closer.
    I'm sure he could have squeezed another couple on.Sugarloaf in the background but will have to find out what the colonial building is.A museum built in the run up to to 2016 olympic games.The area is being redeveloped so the more interesting buildings won't be around much longer.The cog tram up to the statue of Christ the Redeemer.The view over the city looking out to Sugarloaf mountain.I was told this is a vulture.I'm guessing horse race course.The first cable car up to Morro da Urca and the 2nd up to Sugarloaf.The cable cars were very stable and very quick, probably around 3 mins.This is the airport that we will be flying from tomorrow.The little fella had got some trail on him.

    Arrival In Rio

    January 18 in Brazil ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Was up really early this morning to go to the gym, then breakfast and ready for an 8am departure on our first trip of the day. I weighed myself this morning and the old adage that you can't out exercise a bad diet was proved very true. Though at least psychologically it made me feel a little better about all the food and drink I've got through this last two weeks on the boat.

    The first thing that strikes you about Rio is the heat and the humidity. It was 24 degrees at 8am but with the humidity it felt like 34. This afternoon the temperature actually was 34 degrees so it was stifling with the humidity on top of that.

    This morning's trip took us along some of Rio's famous beaches, Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon. For 9:30am they were already quite busy, the beaches were long and deep and had so many volleyball nets up. They were being used for beach volleyball, a version of beach volleyball were you could use any part of your body other than you hands and arms and beach tennis which was more like badminton but with a paddle and a sort of tennis ball. There were also lots of joggers, cyclists and people out walking.

    The queues were really long to get the cog tram up to the Christ the Redeemer statue and super busy at the top. The views though were worth all the effort.

    The afternoon tour to Sugarloaf mountain was even worst for queues, even being fast tracked took quite a while getting on the two different cables cars to reach the top. However, the views from both places were absolutely stunning. I was just glad we didn't do it on our own

    Traffic back to the boat was shocking, almost 90 mins to get back. So we just went straight to the bar and then dinner and then off to finish the rest of the packing.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    The view from our 22nd floor room.
    Certainly seemed like the place to be on a Sunday afternoon.Unusual building for a McDonald's.Original buildings on Paulista Avenue are few and far between..Not sure he was anything to do with the bad.A 600ml bottle and a 250ml glass, felt like 3 drinks for the price of one.People carrier, Sao Paulo style.Felt like the airport was right in the middle of town.Every band needs an umbrella twirler.Some interesting dance moves.

    Brazil's Biggest City

    January 19 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    We were off the boat for 8am, leaving behind the comfortable surroundings and the convenience of having everything done for you. Outside the cruise terminal was a melee of taxi drivers wanting to take you to the airport, but we had been told to use Uber instead. We soon saw why, the one quote we were given was 150 Reals, Uber with the top tip, was 30 Reals.

    I'd booked a lot of the flights for this trip more than 6 months ago and periodically would get notifications of changes, usually times but sometimes airports. Our flight had changed to the smaller domestic airport in Rio, however, what I hadn't noticed was the destination airport, within Sao Paolo had also changed. So the taxi that was picking us up was waiting at the wrong airport. You live and learn, need to pay closer attention, you're not on the boat now.

    The first impression driving from the airport was of how many high rise buildings there were. Though with a population of nearly 12 million, you do have to put them somewhere. It also didn't feel as hot as Rio, though it was still in the early 30 degrees.

    Once we'd sorted our rooms out we went for a stroll on the nearby Paulista Avenue. Think Oxford St but with 6 traffic lanes. However, on Sundays traffic is banned between 8am and 4pm and it is taken over by pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, along with bands, dancers and street vendors. It was a great environment for a leisurely walk, having a beer and something to eat. Which is precisely what we spent the afternoon doing.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    1The Sao Paulo theatre built in 1911, really stands out against it's more modern surroundings.
    Taken from the outdoor terrace of a library, the guy is the library's architect.You can read that a few different ways.A parade of shops over two floors, specialising in vynal records, must have been 15 to 20 of them.Fountains alongside the theatre.The tallest building in South America back in the 1930s.I wanted to try a bit of everything, but couldn't get it all on my plate. It was nearly half a kilo!A cultural centre housed in an old branch of the Bank of Brazil.My whole time in Brazil I could have done with a watering can to hand to cool myself down with.Built in the style of the state flag of Sao Paulo.The Japanese quarter.I always said I was an angel and now I have the proof!There were quiet a few humming bird murals.The caption read, 'when we choose to close our eyes we get our hands dirty'A little bar we stopped at on the tour, getting in and out of the kiddies seats was a challenge.This artist specialised in geometric designs and emojis.Bringing art to life. Just point your camera at the mural.800 spray cans, each a pixel, a blur to the eye but a camera compiles it into an image. So clever.A piece of tactile art designed for blind people including descriptions in braille.A bit of satirical art, an impoverished artist who gets lots of likes but no-one wants to buy it.Your not going to lose your washing if it's attached to a peg of that size.Pastel, a sort of deep fried crepe, this was pork and cheese but they can be savoury or sweet.

    Discovering Sao Paulo

    January 20 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Our first walking tour of the day was a tour of the central district. Google said it was a 30 minute walk or 11 minutes by car from our hotel. The Uber took 30 mins to get there. When we told our guide her response was 'welcome to Sao Paulo traffic'.

    We were the only 3 on the tour which made it really relaxed. To me the area looked a little rundown in parts and in general there didn't seem to be much of interest there. But the guide took us, through little alleys, into buildings, to vantage points with interesting views. Places we'd never have found on our own.

    Lunch was a case in point, on the 4th floor of some none descript building was a buffet restaurant, which was very popular with the locals. There were around 20 different dishes, salads, vegetables, rices, meats, fish, all Brazilian fare. But rather than paying a set price or things being individually priced you paid by the weight of food on your plate. A 100g of meat was the same price as 100g of salad. I tried a little bit of about 10 different things, almost all good. Though while we were eating our guide said that most savvy locals would avoid rice, potatoes, dishes with sauces, because they were all too heavy! They would focus on meat, fish and salad.

    By the time the 4 hour tour ended we only had an hour to get to our 4pm tour. This was in Vila
    Madalena, a street art tour with a couple of bars thrown in along the way. The street art was very colourful, sometimes funny, sometimes thought provoking and some very clever and original. A few of the artists who started painting walls now had small galleries in the area showcasing their and others work. Again we were the only ones on the tour and it was around 8pm by the time we finished up eating Pastels and drinking our cashew fruit capriahinas. The lime capriahinas tasted really strong, I had a passion fruit one that tasted more like an alcopop. Easy to drink but I reckon after 3 or 4 of those your head would explode.    Read more

  • Bron PlaskowskiIt Started As A 2 Week CruiseTraveler
    They do like a colourful mural on a high-rise around here.
    The queue for check in, luckily already done that, only one person in front of us for bag drop off.Never seen this type of lap top, in a scanner tray.The worn and battered bag and cap, screamed experience to me, I hoped he was our pilot to Manaus.2Twelves lanes of back and forth, great for getting your steps in for the day.2Not taking any chances.The Teatro Amazonas, which was built 15 years before the theatre in Sao Paulo.2That is absolutely the smallest glass I've ever been given to drink beer from.It was the same in the next place.

    Off To The Rainforest

    January 21 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    After a few days of actual travelling you begin to realise the things you need to have to hand on a daily basis and how to have them organised in as few clear zip bags as possible. So on getting up at 5am this morning. I decided to have a major overhaul of my packing strategy. Though, all my cruise clothes were already in a large zip lock vacuum bag at the bottom of my case, never to be seen again, partly because they aren't really travelling clothes but mainly because after 2 weeks on the boat they don't fit anymore.

    As we headed to the airport I recalled that when doing my research on Sao Paulo it came across as just a very large city that didn't seem to have that much for a tourist to see or do. But now I feel we could have spent another 2 or 3 days here. You can judge how many tourists a place gets by the number of shops you can buy a fridge magnet in. So by that measure, Sao Paulo doesn't get too many tourists at all.

    Manaus is a much bigger city than I expected and very developed. Once checked in, we spent the afternoon wandering around the downtown area. Not a place geared up for tourists so it was interesting to see the locals going about their everyday lives. We headed down to the waterfront thinking that it might be a little more geared to tourism. We arrived expecting a sort of San Francisco pier 39 vibe but the reality was more like Tilbury Docks.

    The square outside the Teatro Amazonas did have a handful of restaurant/bars, so we ate in one and had a nightcap in another with a live band playing outside. They had about 20 outdoor tables and we were the only foreigners.    Read more

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