It’s so close I can almost taste the ostrich… On Saturday a crew of six of us are off to South Africa for two weeks. I’m so pumped for this trip for so many reasons that I’ll just list them: First big trip with the boyfriend. :-) I would say wish me luck, but I’m pretty confident we’ll make fantastic travel buddies. Celebrating Thanksgiving abroad. Last year in Indonesia was pretty interesting, but this year there are non-Americans at the table to impress, so the pumpkin pie mix and cranberry sauce are already packed away… Skydiving!! Finally, I can check this off my list. Roadtrip to an Elephant Nature Reserve. I love my roadtrips, and on this trip we’re renting a car to drive the Garden Route along the southern coast, stopping at sights along the way and finally ending up at a reserve park for endangered and previously captive elephants. Elephants are pretty much my favorite animal because they’re so smart and gargantuan and passive, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them up-close. 9-hour layover in London. Yea, it sounds like kind of a drag, but it’s actually just long enough to leave the airport, have lunch in London and see a few sights. I’ve never been, so it’s kind of like a mini bonus trip. :-) Touring the largest African shanty town, Khayelitsha, outside of Cape Town. My first thought was “hell no, how elitist” but after a little more research I’m definitely on board. The tour is led, on-foot, by a citizen of the shanty town itself and is done with the goal of creating education and awareness of the debilitating class system that still persists in the country. They take you to a traditional healer, an elementary school, and a local music venue to give you a sense of their everyday lives and the tight-knit community that exists despite the poverty. Penguins! I don’t know much about these birds (like I said, I’m more of an elephant guy), but apparently they’re a must-see. Spending a day in the wine country, going to a day spa … d-a-i-y-e … and doing all that general pampering stuff that people love to do on vacation. (And yes, I’ll be doing my best to make sure this portion of the trip is as separated as possible from the shanty town tour.) OK, I think that’s enough bragging about my trip for now (barf). But hey, the purpose of this blog was originally to let all my peeps back home know what I’m up to, so there you go!!!

It’s so close I can almost taste the ostrich…

On Saturday a crew of six of us are off to South Africa for two weeks. I’m so pumped for this trip for so many reasons that I’ll just list them:

  • First big trip with the boyfriend. :-) I would say wish me luck, but I’m pretty confident we’ll make fantastic travel buddies.
  • Celebrating Thanksgiving abroad. Last year in Indonesia was pretty interesting, but this year there are non-Americans at the table to impress, so the pumpkin pie mix and cranberry sauce are already packed away…
  • Skydiving!! Finally, I can check this off my list.
  • Roadtrip to an Elephant Nature Reserve. I love my roadtrips, and on this trip we’re renting a car to drive the Garden Route along the southern coast, stopping at sights along the way and finally ending up at a reserve park for endangered and previously captive elephants. Elephants are pretty much my favorite animal because they’re so smart and gargantuan and passive, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them up-close.
  • 9-hour layover in London. Yea, it sounds like kind of a drag, but it’s actually just long enough to leave the airport, have lunch in London and see a few sights. I’ve never been, so it’s kind of like a mini bonus trip. :-)
  • Touring the largest African shanty town, Khayelitsha, outside of Cape Town. My first thought was “hell no, how elitist” but after a little more research I’m definitely on board. The tour is led, on-foot, by a citizen of the shanty town itself and is done with the goal of creating education and awareness of the debilitating class system that still persists in the country. They take you to a traditional healer, an elementary school, and a local music venue to give you a sense of their everyday lives and the tight-knit community that exists despite the poverty.
  • Penguins! I don’t know much about these birds (like I said, I’m more of an elephant guy), but apparently they’re a must-see.
  • Spending a day in the wine country, going to a day spa … d-a-i-y-e … and doing all that general pampering stuff that people love to do on vacation. (And yes, I’ll be doing my best to make sure this portion of the trip is as separated as possible from the shanty town tour.)

OK, I think that’s enough bragging about my trip for now (barf). But hey, the purpose of this blog was originally to let all my peeps back home know what I’m up to, so there you go!!!

  1. fauxquixote posted this
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