A Wandering Sole

If You Could Live Anywhere…

// August 27th, 2010 // 17 Comments » // Travel Reflection

My friend and I recently had a conversation about the future. This of course included where we were going to live. I am three months away from returning to the States, and although I have a hunch about where I’m headed, it’s still wide open. So, I’m curious to find out: If you could live anywhere in the entire world, for the rest of your life, where would it be? No, you can’t move, this isn’t temporary. You’re packing up your bags tomorrow and settling. Where will it be?

Wine Tasting in Stellenbosch, South Africa

// August 24th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // South Africa

Imagine sipping a glass of Cabernet, nibbling on a variety of cheeses, and watching the sun set over the rolling hills in the Cape Winelands. Sounds amazing, right? One of Cape Town’s most popular day trips is a wine tour to Stellenbosch. A university town set in a hilly region, Stellenbosch is home to loads of wineries and vineyards. I think most people, myself included, can appreciate a few glasses of fine wine, and a trip to Stellenbosch was just what I had in mind. (more…)

Montage Monday: A Little Love in Stellenbosch

// August 23rd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Photo of the Week, South Africa

I dropped in at the Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens run by the local university. An eager male student asked if I was here to see some really rare plant from Namibia (of course I can’t remember the name now). I was like, “Uhh, yes?” I’m no plant expert so he showed me the plant in question and then I walked around. I was intrigued when I came across what appears to be a heart-shaped cactus from Namibia. I wanted to ask the horticulture student about it, but he was pre-occuppied answering questions from two little old ladies, most likely, who actually knew a thing or two about plants. Therefore, I can’t tell you anything about it, but I think it’s neat. However, if you need to know the Latin name of the Red Maple tree or the Sawtooth Oak, I’m your girl. That’s about the only thing I remember from my Plant Sciences class I took in university.

Cape Town: Table Mountain

// August 22nd, 2010 // 2 Comments » // South Africa

Fog rolling in to Table Mountain

Table Mountain provides Cape Town with its dramatic backdrop. As you may have so cleverly deduced, Table Mountain is a flat plateau. While the more adventurous may choose an intense hike/climb up the steep cliffs, most visitors use the Aerial Cableway. Built in 1928, the Cableway has gone through several upgrades, the latest of which is the switch to new cable cars with a rotating floor. Going up and down on the lift, passengers rotate a little more than 360 degrees, giving you full views of the city and the mountain. (more…)

Picture This: San Gimignano

// August 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // Italy

I have posted pictures from my visit to the Tuscan village of San Gimignano. Though I’ve heard this town can be overrun with tourists in the summer, I was lucky enough to visit during off-season and it was beautiful!

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Cape Town: Robben Island

// August 17th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // South Africa

“We want Robben Island to reflect the triumph of freedom and human dignity over oppression and humiliation.” -Ahmed Kathrada, Prisoner 468/64, Robben Island 1964-1982

Sign at Robben Island

Note: I feel this post is largely condensed, as there is so much to be learned about apartheid. However, I hope that it will spark an interest in a visit to the island and an interest to learn more about South Africa’s political history. I can’t possibly say everything I want to convey here, so I’ve decided to give a very broad overview of the tour. (more…)

Montage Monday: Bo Kaap, Cape Town

// August 16th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Photo of the Week, South Africa

Bo Kaap is a neighborhood on the edge of Cape Town’s city center and is known for it’s colorful, semi-detached houses. Bo Kaap’s residents are largely descendants of slaves that were imported by the Dutch in the 1700s from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Because of this, the neighborhood is mostly Muslim and has colorful mosques as well.

Cape Town: First Impressions

// August 14th, 2010 // 10 Comments » // South Africa

Less than two weeks after the World Cup came to a close in South Africa, I was headed for Cape Town. I had heard from many a traveler along the way how much I would love Cape Town. But it’s difficult for me to imagine the places they described as still being part of the African continent. I had no idea what I was in for. (more…)

Dunes & Wildlife Tour: Sossusvlei

// August 10th, 2010 // 5 Comments » // Namibia

Racing down Dune 45

After an overnight stay at Chameleon Backpackers following our trip to Etosha National Park, we hit the road again. This time, we were off to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. This desert is the oldest desert in the world. We passed several ‘towns’ on our off-road drive there. I use the word town loosely because I’m pretty sure some of them only had a couple of houses; if you blinked you would miss it. (more…)

RTW Trip: Five Months In

// August 8th, 2010 // 7 Comments » // Botswana, Cambodia, Namibia, South Africa, Travel Review

Cape of Good Hope, South Africa

Five months. That means I’m over halfway through my trip now (sad!). It was another absolutely spectacular month of travel. No time for small talk, let’s cut straight to the adventures. (more…)