South Africa On Line 2007 (with VIDEO) The opportunity 'for this trip, there has given Alitalia MilleMiglia points accumulated in the meantime, thanks to which we have allowed two flights for 2 medium-range, poor end points 2007, while potendoli use by June 2008, we being the traveler "long course" we would have risked losing them.
Well, with that, we also realized that "disturb" for only three days to visit Cairo (the capital, we have chosen) was a bit 'cheap and then we thought we'd "attack", even the South Africa.
Then the problem was to get to work with the "keyboard" to "embed" coincidences about 9 flights, including free ones and those paid by other airlines and book on-line hotel, car and so on.
A great challenge for us, being also the first experience in making a journey of less than 22 days or so and come with the "do it yourself", we were afraid to commit their own, some "mess".
Instead, we have succeeded not only perfectly, but we also enjoy a world, if you will and pleasure of reading the rest of our personal tour.
The journey begins with a pleasant and unexpected surprise. At Malpensa, while we were already packed on the Jumbo-bus that would take us below the plane to Cairo, we are called out loud from a breathless hostess, apologizing for the distraction proved (sic?) Invites us to return the Our "boarding pass" to "economics flygths" to return 2 others, showing places even in business class. Wow! I think now, that there ... sorry, how lucky we thank you and I are dissolved in obsequious, exaggerated as generic thanking you, Alitalia, extended to all family members, relatives, friends and acquaintances, ahahhh!
So the Toto '.. so it costs nothing and make all happy .. ehehhhhh!
(In reality 'we think that Alitalia, having booked some hotel through your site we wanted to "reward", reserving two seats in business ... just' cause were not occupied .. ..) Anyways
', spurred by the motto that gift horse, do not you look in the mouth, we happily walked toward the aircraft.
After visiting for three days in Cairo (Egyptian Museum, Pyramids and more) in eight hours of beautiful flight (Egipt Air) on the whole of Africa, we arrived punctually at 9:30 am in Johannesburg, where, a few hours after we were already 'on another plane in the direction Phalaborwa South African Airways, the "Kruger National Park."
One of the most 'big and rich animal parks in Africa. (400 km long and over 60 wide and short, will be' expanded with the opening of the adjacent Limpopo National Park, pertaining to the Mozambique, to become by far the largest protected area 'largest in Africa.
For 5 full days we dived in the savannah and bush to make a beautiful photo safari. (Anita did more 'than 600 photos and I like something more than 5 hours of video).
We also spent a day in a private reserve, with a final lunch-lit bonfire 'and snakes going around the trees that hung over our heads. The only gripe and
'was that it was unable to see friends Leo (leopard) and Rino (ceronte), among the big five.
On the other hand, however, 'we were able to "caress" (yes, just as she caresses a "big cat") is a fine example of a cheetah, that soon after he "appreciated" our caresses, (it seemed like there did also fused .. ehehhh!) has seen fit to go and refreshment, catching a little of Steinbock.
At the end of your stay in Kruger, with 2 flights, also of South African Airways, we arrived at Citta 'del Capo.
At Cape Town, (the beautiful city ') to take a taxi to take us to the waterfront (EREA wide in front of the port, shopping malls full of restaurants, shows, various shops, much like the "Old Port of Genoa, for those who know him, but multiplied by at least 20) (in a corner of the port "nest" also seals, clearly visible at times, fiddling .... more 'kind of way we tried to'...)
" bargain "(yes! here in the western South Africa, You should have practiced this biblical rite) with Felix, the name of the driver, more 'or less my "youth" ahahhh!! Two wives and nine children, the second of which just 30 years! (And I turned to my sweet, but no more 'young middle: See, I told her, jokingly, as are most' lucky, some of my peers, at these latitudes, are not spoiled for choice nell'accaparrarsi young " femmes, "and you, looking at me with compassionate eyes: psss! All the same, you men! he said. Tie ', Ciappa, cash and ... leads to ca'!)
confessed also an ex-gangster pentitissimo hours, with a tattooed arm, three years in prison on Robben Island, (all spiegatoci perfectly by himself) in the same period of Nelson Mandela (who claims to know him well .. mah!) that the question of how much he wanted to take us to see the whales at Hermanus, (a total of about 260 km round trip ) has been said ... wait ... so, take the CB, calls his central taxi and asks the price.
The Central Rand responds .. 1500 (160 Euros) .. he would like to thank CB and closes the 1300 Rand tells us, then I tell him, and he makes 800 Rand, Noooooo! It's not possible! Yes, I say, because you just screwed your center, we see a "bargain" at the end after the usual haggling, we agreed for 1000 Rand.
Ok, I think, a little 'cynically, as well to have popped a good price, we also entrusted to a fact that "security" (urka!!) should know his stuff and (so to speak) there should also be able to protect (in theory very naturally .. ehehhhh) from petty crime 'here, and unfortunately' this, while reassuring his wife, who had seemed a bit 'hesitant (?)
See you at 9:00 in the morning the next day at our hotel, which Felix is \u200b\u200brunning on time, showing in a luxurious BMW (was not the battered taxi the day before (I think rightly, that the overnight Felix has ripped off the car to someone e. .. I wanted you to see my wife, too, in Mandela at Robben Island prison! Ehehhhh! Ahahhhh!
None of this. The BMW was his, purchased used, which used to travel extra (just as the ns / day of rest in the taxi).
quieted, in a very lovely day with blue sky, we leave to go see the whales.
Along the way, Felix is \u200b\u200bthe perfect guide and explains the peculiarities' of all the countries we cross.
After about an hour and a half we come to Hermanus and the show that comes before us, 'an amazing' one !!!!. In
Bay 5-6 whales in front of many people who, with binoculars, guns and video photography admire this extraordinary scene of whales with the characteristic puff, pass from one side of the bay (while being far enough away from the coast) and that sometimes plunge, raising the typical tail disappearing under water.
To make matters worse, sent into raptures even the many children, but also us adults, with spontaneous applause when some whales, playing, rose water and beat her megagalattico alone. (They are mostly of humpback whales)
immediately took up my video and I rush to gain a position on the rocks, more 'above the sea to shoot them better. I crouch like a walrus and some aspect that is closer 'to the coast so that it can better resume.
Unfortunately, I see that now most those who like me were just sitting on the other rocks, displays something like half a meter of photographic lenses that are supported by sturdy tripod.
Wow, I think, here the game and 'lost and I'm happy to take back what I can.
in Hermanus, we were several hours, but starting at about 14/15 onwards, the whales begin to thin perhaps plunge to reappear the next morning. More
'that step, you should stop and talk about the whales in this bay full of plankton, they stay from June until early November, after which' the friendly mammals take the path of the Antarctic continent to continue feed on the abundant grill the Arctic Circle. We
however, satisfied with this exceptional event, never before seen on the late afternoon we return safely to the hotel.
The friendly and Felix 'proved extremely available and was eagerly attentive to our needs. So much so that sometimes I entrusted my entire arsenal of video-camera and him as a good big dog Saint Bernard, followed me. ehehhehhh! I even had to follow on the rocks, to which 'I stopped and said: Look, if you fall into the water, with your 130 pounds or so, the risks to the whale and I will touch' movies ... well ehehhhh ! She smiled at me, but I do not know if in his heart, will have 'thought .. c'hamma ago 'p' field '!
In the evening we went to dine with "MAMA AFRICA (III & IV always, you must book at least a day before) well-known restaurant (ethnic / trip) in Long Street (near the center of Cape Town) where we have proposed a mixed grill of crocodile meat, a Kudu, (looks like a deer ) Steinbock of (and 'a kind of antelope), ostrich and a sausage composed of all the meat of other animals including the warthog, all underpinned by a good bottle of wine from the Wine Road.
Well, we thought a lot before you order, 'cause very puzzled by the taste, especially the crocodile (never eaten), the kudu, we knew to be good,' cause we already 'tasted in a restaurant in the Kruger, but we can say that we have ate it willingly, perche'cucinato and served in an exceptional manner and the meat was very delicate taste.
For example, we wondered how the crocodile meat, as opposed to how you might imagine, is clear enough.
(For those who understandably may turn up their nose, say at once that, having previously asked, and we 'were told that they are farmed)
All of us, and' cost 44 euro (22 euro each!) Not even a pizza in Italy sob!
We also had dinner confabulating with a pair of Austrians in Vienna and we noticed that they, too, between a word and another, have piacevolmete "brushed" the barbecue. In this country the
flussso tourism and 'truly multi-ethnic, for example, we have seen from Japanese, Chinese, Indians, Russians, Arabs (many) not talking about Brazilians, Americans, Germans, British and Dutch, but there seems to travel a few individuals, all with organized tours.
The very few Italians that we met, were also with tour operators and almost all couples on their honeymoon or incentive groups. We have
pero'detto that our countrymen are preferably here in July and August and Christmas / New Year.
Instead, we met and made friends with some Italian businessmen who have lived here for over 30 years and more '(owners of the Hotel, Guest House, Jewellers, all happy they have abandoned our country, but all nostalgic (as always) and eager to talk to the Italians, but the Italian has now obvious inflections German / Dutch)
For the next few days, always with the legendary Felix, we have already 'programmed Cap Point, the Cape of Good Hope, where the two oceans meet and a visit to the penguin colony at Boulder
The trip to Robben Island, (150 Rand to test = € 16.50 approx), the island / prison, just for Madiba (as it is affectionately called here the great Mandela), where a guide, a former political prisoner himself, he would have shown the true room-prison of Nelson Mandela and others and how they had managed to hold on for 27 years in a monstrous notorious prison during the apartheid regime. ... Alas! We had to cancel due to a rainy day, but especially the poor condition of the ocean. We
content to visit the small museum dedicated to apartheid (on the left of the drawbridge, near the clock, level 2, free admission) (the significant 'in Johannesburg) with photos, testimonials and writings of 'recently. Very touching to read and see from the photos, as human beings, Boers / Afrikaners (mainly Calvinist), covering a majority of other human beings with segregation akin to madness, all in virtue ', and also an alleged false "truths" of religion according to which it was alleged some superiority 'white on the black. Anyways
'and unfortunately this' story ... that ugly, like many others, hoping that future generations will at least take into account.
Since we had more time, we went to visit the largest Aquarium of Citta 'del Capo, (200 meters from the Waterfront) (76 Rand to the skull) wide and full of many marine species, whose masterpiece is' a meal of Tiger sharks at the hands of two divers, which left many children without words but also us adults for its violence (accustomed) with which snatched the prey, showing all their "hungry" dentures.
In the evening we granted we too, a great seafood dinner at 'Ocean Basket, a restaurant chain here in Cape Town, (but not only) specializing in marine food, which made us literally licking his whiskers at the end of a huge cute and fresh grilled shrimp, squid, squid sprigs, soglioline that shatters like bread sticks, all accompanied by a steaming rice Pilaf, accompanied by crispy fries and washed down with a tasty excellent local white wine. (think of all at only 190 Rand , equivalent to about 20 max 21 €! No, not per person, but as total! stuff to do .. your subscription! What America .. come here with the strong euro.) (In this restaurant, as in the famous Willoughby & Co, located always in the Waterfront, at rush hour, h. 19/20, 30 or so, we must be very tail, especially for those who do not book, but also those who have booked, can be seen passing out groups of people just come, without reservation, if the table and that 'just released and 'includes that number of seats. E ', ns / opinion, a pretty strange way to proceed ... cmq ... In fact' ... and although the "Zinzi" is felt, we must resign ourselves to do well three quarters of an hour of waiting .. if it goes bad .. and standing .. sob!)
After this nice dinner, and the final treat 'was to have tasted a coffee' Express (small and foam .. wow!) in Italian style (Not the "stuff" watered down that knows mostly licorice .. .. .. ahhhhahh if you're lucky!) 8-Rand, slightly less than that from us, from Nino's. (Located approximately 100 meters from Ocean)
not clear whether the owners are Italian, 'cause those who serve are all blacks, but we can assure you that we have found the best caffe' espresso, all of South Africa.
At about 22.30, after a nice walk along the docks illuminatissime, we called a taxi to get us back to the hotel. (Average 50 to 53 rand to the area of \u200b\u200bthe Garden (Union Street)
But as in many cities' of the world, especially at night, are too smart. Once on board, we realized that the taxi driver or whoever it was "fake" the meter which was the big "galloping" of the price and he asked where we were having, it continued to "entertain", basically saying, "ah .. Italians good people".
After about 1 km of this litany, I am made the courage and told him that yes, maybe we were also good people, but we were certainly not fools, by pointing out that in his "counter" there was something wrong and then asking him to bring us back where we had to climb.
him to swear that was not true and I told him to bring us back there, otherwise called the "police".
After a long rant has returned to the starting (obviously caught without a shadow of a penny) where there were others waiting taxi, to which we recounted what had happened there.
The driver of the first, perhaps worried that we could really call the police, has seen fit to engage the gear e. .. From rocket! ..
The other taxi drivers, they wanted to call themselves "police" (according to us, have done, anxious to avoid an "honor" of the class) which, to them, we had to tell the fact. And we think we are tasked with identifying him. Eventually the police, we were greeted apologizing happened.
The new taxi driver who took us, told us that we really are stupid
colleagues and night (but also during the day) apply these scams. A demonstration that the whole world and 'country and we must unfortunately be vigilant.
The next day, always accompanied by the huge, but honest Felix that "noleggiatolo" again all day (cost € 80 in total) (the night before but that was not available, ahiahiahi .. 'cause, there has then explained, had gone to see her "mami") we went to visit the Cape Peninsula with access to the park "Cape of Good Hope" (entry 55 Rand per person € = 6 + or -) to climb to the lighthouse Cap Point overlooking the Cape of Good Hope, the tip of the continent (actually 'the extreme point, the watershed between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, and' Cap Aghulas)
At the top 'of the lighthouse with his eyes hanging out towards the infinite, I wanted to imagine the consolidation in vain before the eyes of the immense Antarctic continent and its vast Arctic Circle strewn with icebergs, far more than 6000 km. (By the way ... in the days before and 'was spotted (and, say, for the first time at these latitudes!) A big iceberg. (Perhaps as evidence of global warming).
the way back we visited the very nice penguin colony at Boulder. (entry cost 25 rand per person = 2.7 €)
These comical birds, are a breed endemic to the coasts of South Africa and are part of the race "Jackass." (Afrikaans language, I was trying!)
Cosi 'called' cause it seems that their cry, has a vague resemblance to the braying of the donkey ... ehehhhh, (during our visit, however, did not open their beak), but we have filmed and photographed it, and so, in their characteristic and walk funny.
The funny part of this nice day 'was when, climbing the lighthouse of Cape Point, we read a sign that said to be very careful in Baboons, who wandered around and attacked the people who were in the meantime , eating.
I port forward and then prepare my camera to take, when, behind a curve covered by bushes, I see something moving, hiding, and now beginning to recover.
And with my amused surprise, I notice that instead of vervet, I was taking the "sweet" baboon my wife was coming ... ahahhhhhhhh!
Late in the afternoon, on the way back we took to bring Hot Bay, for a snack overlooking the local fishing port and a peek between mouthfuls of the many seals that did pirouettes, among other boats, to brush and fish offal thrown overboard by the crew.
The next day we made to accompany sunbathing "strapaparanzati" on a beach among the most 'beautiful and exclusive Klifton Bay about 8 km from the city', again by taxi, (50 rand per way) ( Unfortunately, in Cape Town, as we have 'already' understood, there is no transport public
intended such, bus, tram, trolley, or whatever. You move predominantly, if not exclusively, on the thousands of taxis, often, very old cars, but affordable prices.)
of beaches, Klifton Bay, there are four in all, nestling between the rocks of ' ocean a few tens of meters apart, all with fine, white sand, and each (and there 'was explained) and' attended by a range of tourists: gay, beautiful women, tourists, families with children.
With all due respect for other "categories", but I insisted my wife to go among the beautiful women .... .... ehhehhhhhh !!!!!
(Hint: in the sun, and there were only white ... (Beautiful) white, the only blacks were those that heavily, they moved from beach to beach, dragging on the rump, heavy refrigerator (ice cooled with heavy bars) to sell Coca Cola, beer, orange and more ..
so I thought that this speaks volumes about who, really, is well and has the money in South Africa. E 'cmq sure that the power now we have blacks.
A beautiful day with sun and blue sky (we dare say, cobalt) and a temperature of about 28 degrees.
In October in South Africa and 'spring (in practice, our late March / April) and there is' an explosion of colors. One of the times, we are told, among the best to visit.
We have also decided to extend this fun and pleasant holiday, (well call it a "sacrificer" rest ahahhh!) (who knows' how many "bad words" ehehhhhh! reach us by our friends who write ... and I work ...) Unfortunately, there realize that we are not campers to decide, and as' ns / practice, the stages of the return, 'cause we already' all flights booked.
For guys like us who run West Africa and the Middle East for over three months, in fact camper, and 'a real desperation to take a vacation just 22 days ... uhuhhhhhh! ~! The promise and
', however, to return, especially for a living, a few months, in the beautiful parks full of animals, extending the holiday Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique.
In this regard, take the opportunity to ask if, some fine expert and experienced travelers we can report in Europe (we think that in Italy there are not) sites as standard cargo shipping companies engaged in transport by car or camper to and from South Africa.
in support of our personal and fanciful journey, hoping not to have omitted any useful detail to others who want to organize a similar trip (or just a simple but necessary knowledge) would like to end, citing unfortunately vil money (which, whatever 'they say) all of us, we must, willy-nilly, reports.
Good. In about 22 days, visiting Two nations, Egypt (in truth 'only Cairo) and South Africa, we spent a total of approximately € 4,900. Or € 2,450 each. We met several couples who
with tour operators, for 3 weeks (18 days) or so, were + or - the same as our tour (instead of Cairo were 3 gg.a Mauritius or Namibia) told us that they have paid in Speakers of the respective travel agents, about the beauty of (+ or -) 4500 / 4600 € each!! This
our last "note" is not to be quite a controversy known to someone, but an additional contribution 'in order to understand the enormous potential' of tourism online.
Of course, we know that not all places, can be met and visited with the DIY, but now a good chunk of the world, you can 'visit, so economical seizing the opportunities' that offers the web.
For us, the only "anger" and 'that e-tourism, and it' "looking 'a bit advanced in years, but, and' we want (as they say) .. ... take us forward.
E 'then the case to say that "the real sin is death ....."
thank all those who have wanted to read, and we apologize if we had them bored.
A friendly goodnight .. South Africa
Michael & Anita
Now click
here to see the Kruger National Park
