PARIS

Our Apartment in Paris is just great. Very tiny but a perfect position overlooking the Seine. Easy to get to everything. Electric wall bed, good kitchen, washer/dryer (not so good) and a lift for the luggage. It was only big enough for one person at a time.

Have done the usual tourist things,.

Eiffel Tower – went right to the top. The lift is quite scary. I was certainly not comfortable. The queue the get up was so long and we thought it would take forever but it moved quickly. We met a lovely German family in the line and it help to pass the time.

It has been a “few” years since Cathy and I went to the Tower and some time since Darren and I have visited Paris. That time it was so cold that we didn’t even join the queue.

Visited the Louvre, Champs Elysee and Arc de Triomph, the Pompadieu Centre “inside out building”,

The Vouges Square, Monmartre and Saint Germain and Montpasse. We missed the tunnel under the road to the Arc de Triumph and played chicken with the traffic. This could have been a big mistake.

Didn’t bother shopping at Galleries Layfayette. Very ho hum with so many designer labels. They were just blending into one.

We hired the Velup Bikes – fantastic and rode around Paris. No helmets but nobody cares. Just ignore the cars and keep riding.

Came back to the apartment everyday exhausted, so sat in the window with a vin rouge and watched the boats on the river.

Went to little local restaurants and ate snails, moules and canard

Drank Vin de la Maison and had a great time. Caught the Metro, buses and hop on hop off boat, but most of the time walked, walked and walked.

Sad to leave this beautiful city.

Next stop Cairo!!

Wakeup call at 4.30am, put luggage in lift one at a time (we were on the second floor). In the dark to the RER station just a 5 minute walk and the quickest way to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

We had to catch the first train of the day and made it with not long to spare for checkin.

To Madrid and Paris

Madrid Grand Palace

Left Muchenje early on Thursday to catch a plane back to Vic Falls and onto Jo'burg. We decided not to take the Fast Train into Sandton to have a look around because of safety concerns.Boarded our Iberia Flight to Madrid flying overnight. Long, long flight. No Doonas just nicely designed throws - Fleece on side with orange cotton and a graphic black print on the other side. Crew great!! Dinner great!! Watched a movie and then tried to sleep. Should have had a couple of extra drinks to help me sleep but didn't. Arrived in Madrid and caught the Metro into "town". Just so beautiful. Went through the Grand Palace - a must. Shared a seafood Paella for lunch - yum. The restaurant was just off the Mayor Square. Very grande. The apartment buildings are so beautiful. Balconies, shutters, marble, huge wooden doors and intricate ironwork. Sorry we only had 1 day there. Tired after our long flight so back on the Metro to the Airport. It is a fabulous architectural masterpiece. Open, airy with so much glass and formed wooden slats lining the ceilings. Our plane was delayed 2 hours so fortunately we could go back to the lounge. Began boarding for the second time when we were informed that our plane now had a flat tyre. Back to the lounge again. Finally boarded our flight to Paris 2 1/2 hours late.
The Captain on this Iberia Airways Flight was Australian and our Steward was Scottish. He was hysterical. We were not drinking as we were so tired but he convinced us that the red on board would cure everything. I think it did.
Finally landed in Paris Orly. I must have had a vision that we would't arrive until very late because I booked an Airport hotel. Got the bags which was astounding as they went directly from Jo'burg. Were directed to the hotel shuttle - wrong one. Went back to the correct one! Got there just as it was pulling out. Another wait. Finally arrived around midnight!!Exhausted!! Didn't hear any noise from aircraft as the windows were triple glazed by 2.
Next morning straight back on the shuttle to Orly to catch the monorail then the RER straight to Paris and our Apartment on the Ile de la Cite.!!

Muchenje Safari Lodge

From the Zambezi Queen we went back into Botswana and drove a couple of hours to the Muchenje Safari Lodge in the Chobe National Park. It has the most concentration of elephants in Africa.

Our Chalet was terrific although getting there was a bit hairy at times. Elephants regularly stationed themselves across the pathway to our Chalet. There was a Murola Tree with fruit at the side of the path. This is the elephants favorite food. We had to get the guards to move them on which was quite difficult at times. Two mornings we were woken by baboons playing on our thatched roof. They were very noisy and took delight in jumpimg across from side to side. Fortunately they cannot undo locks yet.

We had mosquito netting around our bed as Malaria is quite common there.

We went out on Safari every day and some nights. Yesterday I did a dawn Safari but Darren failed to rise as he had had a huge night with the manager.

On the all day Safari - 1/2 day in 4 x 4 and 1/2 day on a tender we saw lions twice. Very unusal.

The first time Lips our Guide followed fresh paw prints and found 2 young lions by the river. We parked so close. Lips assured us that all was ok because the lions think we are one big animal. We had to sit really still and not make any sudden movements. It was amazing.

In the afternoon we found a lioness with her 2 cubs just after she had made a kill. She brought down an Impala. This time we were in the small boat. We pulled into the bank. She and the cubs were about 5 meters away under some trees. About 1/2 an hour later she picked up a cub and want to the rivers edge to drink. The other cub followed. She and the cubs were only about 3 meters away. Breath taking. No one was allowed to move. I have photos. A 22yo Spanish kid decided to stand to take some better photos. He was quickly pulled down and told to sit still and shut up. I still can't believe that we saw lions twice and got so close.

A great day!!

Our Safari Vehicles

Our Safari 4 x 4 with guide Joseph. Went out from Zambezi Queen everyday

Darren playing Barman on the Safari Boat. It was very civilised

Watch out Linton and Oscar.

Went our twice daily from Zambezi Queen - morning and evening when the animals are drinking at the river.

Pre - dinner drinks everyday on the Safari Tender.

Our Safari Boat with viewing platform. They are really great. Joseph would pull up really close to the animals like Elephants and Hippos. A bit scary at times. If the Elephant or Hippos got nervious they would charge and we did a very fast reverse.

Very exciting.

Some African Animals we spied

Mother & Baby

In Chobe there are so many animals. You are able to get really close.

Went in Safari 4 x 4's that seat 8. Met great people and had a hoot.

So many elephants

African Pics

Zambezi Queen

Sunrise from our room

Sunset from our room

Pics from Zambezi Queen - Gorgeous

Darren At Dinner
Living Dining Area Zambezi Queen
Our Cabin

More Pics

Victoria Falls from the Helicopter I have been braver

African Pics

Some pics of our adventures

The Bar on Zambezi Queen

Darren at Victoria Falls Drenched at Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls to Namibia and Botswana

Our Final morning in Victoria Falls we boarded a helicopter and flew over the falls. Scary and exhilarating. The view was amazing. Hard to fathom how that much water can continually flow.Back to the hotel to catch the shuttle to Kasane, in Botswana then through immigration and within 30 minutes out of Botswana to Namibia side where the Zambezi Queen is moored.It is the most fabulous boat. Wonderful people, beautiful surroundings and great food and wine.Every day we went on a Boat Safari down the river or through Chobe National Park in these amazing 4x4's. We have seen elephants - huge herds- at the river banks, playing in the river, play fighting and rearing to scare us. Giraffe that are so timid - they run when you get close. Hippo who are scared of nothing - they own the river. They are so strong they can turn over 30' boats. They will charge if you get too close or if you are anywhere near their young. Our skipper Joseph would just power away every time they got close. The lazy water buffalo who would not move until you nearly hit them. Mind if they are angry they will attack. Baboons everywhere screeching and fighting. Racing up trees to check for danger. Impala are called McDonalds for Lions. They have a fur M on their bums. We left the Zambezi Queen today and headed for the Muchenje Safari Park about 100km away in the Middle of the Chobe National Park. Our "Hut" is wonderful. The view over the river is to die for. We had to be escorted back to the main lodge because the elephants were on the path and would not move. They look so gentle!!We are now off on a Safari Walk. The Guides take guns for protection but we hope they never have to use them.

The Journey Begins

Its a long long way but finally arrived. Melb to Perth 4 hours, 2.5 hours layover, Perth to Jo'burg 11.5 hours, 4 hour layover then 1.5 hours to Vic Falls.

Darren is the perfect traveller. He can sleep anywhere!

I on the other hand cannot. Thankfully SAS has thin doonas which made resting easier.

A couple of incidents. Went to the loo and as I sat down dropped the glasses in. My real reading glasses. I am blind without them. Thankfully the flap was closed and no water in toilet. I bent over to retrieve them and knocked the soap dispenser off the stand. It went down the shoot as flap waste was open. What to do?? Fortunately there was a bottle of astringent containing alcohol so cleaned glasses. Started to watch another Movie - Michael Clayton. 1/2 way through, when lights went on for breakfast. They switched off the TV's. After breakfast on came the Movie again but 10 minutes later off again, this time for good. Don't you hate that.

Arrived at the Victoria Falls hotel. Its like stepping back in time to the Colonial Days. Old, stately, terribly English with mounted animal horns everywhere. We have a room with a 4 poster, king Bed, with mosquito netting, looking over the gardens towards the old steel bridge linking Zambia and Zimbabwe, over the river and next to the falls. Gorgeous!!

I am writing this at 4.00am VF time, 1.00pm Melb time. Darren is sleeping like a Baby.

I on the other hand am wide awake.

Yesterday soon after arriving and checking out the hotel, we went for a walk to the Falls - actually the bridge, a couple of km away. Amazing scenes. Trucks lined up waiting to cross the border bridge. Everything and every one getting drenched in water mist created by the Falls, mud everywhere. Men bucketing hand made bitumen into road holes, to keep the narrow road open.

Finally got to the bridge, went to the middle and watched the Bungee Jumping and Human Swinging. Frightening!!

Oh to be that young again!! Not!! I felt sick just standing looking down at the angry, raging, swirling waters. Every time a truck went over the bridge (only one at a time allowed - says it all really ) the bridge shook. We were in the middle. No where to go but down if it finally collapsed. Time to return to the hotel for high Tea. Had a drink instead and went to bed for a nap. Well woke up at 2.00am. So much for dinner. A bit of TV and back to sleep. Not for long though as I am writing this less than 1.5 hours later.

Day is now dawning outside so I think I will watch the sun come up and leave Darren to his dreams.

The dawn was fabulous. Wild animals on the Hotel Lawn just eating.

Departure Day

Hi All, Well the day has finally arrived. I think I will be finishing business as we get on the Plane.

Oscar is driving us out to the airport, which is great. Not too much luggage. I am saving room for any goodie finds. We are flying to Perth this afternoon, then a lay over of a couple of hours before taking off for Johannesburg, revoir et salut, J & D