I Plead Jet Lag

Elephant Walk Market in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

I returned to New York City exactly a week ago today and I'm just mostly being to feel oriented in time and place. I'm still falling asleep by 9:00 and walking up at 1 or 2 or 3 a.m., but I've now managed more days than not to avoid an afternoon nap, which throws everything totally off. I've sat down at the computer to catch up on my neglected blog and blog buddies, but I wasn't good at putting two thoughts together, let alone an entire blog post. 

I was looking forward to this trip, but the reality far exceeded any of my expectations. Five countries in sixteen days, plus two visits to the airport in Dubai. Yes, it was a whirlwind, but a great opportunity to see many (fabulous) sights and have a wonderful range of experiences.  The three quick posts I wrote are just the tip of the iceberg and I hope to share much more of the trip during June. 

As promised I'm doing a giveaway to two readers of change purses made by the talented woman in the photograph. I didn't buy a lot during the trip and now reflecting on the array of merchandise pictured, I regret it. The black and white tote bag in the photo is calling out to me. I will just need to make a return trip. 

 

These two change purses will be sent to two blog buddies

The "rules" for the giveaway are easy-peasy. Please leave a comment with your summer plans through next Sunday, June 8. Travel, books you plan to read or favorite hobbies that you'd like to do are all plans, and so is sitting in front of the air conditioner and drinking iced tea. It doesn't have to be an ambitious plan. I'll do a post next Monday with the two names chosen by Random Number Generator.  

I'm delighted to have gotten through my first post after getting back and my next step is visiting blogs. Hope to catch up in the next few days. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

W Is for Walvis Bay

 Good afternoon, friends! We’ve got a flight delay from Walvis Bay, Namibia to Capetown, South Africa and I’m enjoying a very good cappuccino — and blogging — to pass the time. 

My visit to Namibia has been an extraordinary experience, with both desert and ocean. It will definitely be the subject of at least one other post, but for now a photo from both environments. 

The red sand dunes of Namibia are beyond belief. I had at least half a cup of sand in my sneakers, but so worth it. 

Buttercup and the red sand dunes

During our cruise on Walvis Bay, this friendly guy came to visit us. It was overcast, but a wonderful time on the water. 

I’m glad there’s been time to catch up — at least some — and now it’s on to Capetown. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!

Z Is for Zambia

 

Sunset on the Zambezi River

Good afternoon from Zimbabwe. 

Actually settling into the change of time zones and very early mornings. The flights went well and spent a few days in Johannesburg. Our two days in Zimbabwe have been extraordinary. Took a walk around Victoria Falls — which deserves its own post after I get home and a helicopter trip over the falls. We also visited a public school and last night took a cruise on the Zambezi River where I took the sunset photograph. 

This morning we took our first game drive and were rewarded with zebras and giraffes. I’ll do an animal post in the next few days after our game drives in Botswana tomorrow. 

It really feels surreal to be able to see these amazing sights and experience things I’ve read about for decades. Definitely not taking any of this for granted. 

Privileged to see rainbows at Victoria Falls

Resting up after our 5:30 am departure to see animals and on to Botswana tomorrow.

As ever thanks for visiting and take good care.

The Journey of 1,000 Miles

 

Thanks, good and faithful sneakers

While I was writing about distant lands and travels past, life continued in New York. One of the activities that continued was my walking journey. I walked 82 miles in April, just a few miles short of what I'd hoped, 85 miles, but enough to keep me on track for my 1,000 mile goal for this year. 

This took a lot of miles

On Friday I noticed that I'd just about worn out the soles in my every day sneakers. They probably needed to be replaced for three months, but I honestly didn't notice that the sole was getting very thin. I added new sneakers to my list of things I needed to buy. I've done very little buying this year, but in the last week I bought binoculars -- there will be lots of animals to view -- an adaptor for my electrical devices and a new pair of baby blue sneakers. I also bought insect repellant, more sunscreen and school supplies. The school supplies are for a visit we will make to a school in Zimbabwe.  

Now that I've got everything assembled, there's both not a lot left to do and also an awful lot left  to do. I've got most of what I need to bring sitting on the couch and my suitcase is open and ready. I'm going to Weight Watchers tomorrow morning, making a quick visit to the bank and then I'm treating myself to a pedicure. Then it's home to pack. 

Some time tomorrow I will begin to realize that in 48 hours I will be in Africa. I will be both excited and anxious, though I keep reminding myself that as long as I have my passport, chargers, my prescriptions, phone and a change or two of clothes I'm fine. 

I'm hoping to do one more post tomorrow, but as I've learned over the years packing and organizing will take longer than I anticipate, and I'll be sidetracked with at least a half dozen little errands that somehow didn't cross my mind in the last week. That said, the next post will either be from the plane -- wifi is included -- or once I've landed in Johannesburg, and very shortly my miles will be walked in South Africa.   

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Z Is for Zimbabwe

 

Z is for Zimbabwe

This is definitely a better late, than never post. April and the A to Z Blogging Challenge for 2025 have ended, but since I will be visiting Zimbabwe in eight days, it seemed a very fitting finish to the Challenge, and a "Z" unlike any others that I've posted. 

I leave on Thursday for two plus weeks in Southern Africa. I've already mentioned our visit to Botswana, but we will also be visiting Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The stops in South Africa are in Johannesburg and Capetown. In Zimbabwe we will be staying in Victoria Falls and driving to Chobe National Park in Botswana, which will include a game drive -- zebra, lion, hippo and giraffe are among the animals we may see -- and a game cruise. There are three stops in Namibia, and we're able to visit both the extraordinary Namibian desert and the coastline. 

The sand dunes of Namibia

The trip doesn't seem real to me and probably won't until I am on the plane or perhaps when I am in the airport in Johannesburg. Even typing "the airport in Johannesburg," it's a totally unreal feeling. But I'm starting to put things aside that I know I will be packing and just ordered binoculars and a new pair of sneakers. I'm excited about seeing Victoria Falls, going on a rhino safari in Zimbabwe, seeing the dunes in Namibia and Table Mountain in Capetown. But one thing I 've learned about travel -- which extends to almost everything in life -- is that very often the things I most look forward to aren't the most memorable. There are sights, people and places that are waiting for me that I can't anticipate, but will leave immense footprints in my heart and in my memory. 

I'm going to try and post often, but it's not the easiest on my phone, which is the only device I'm taking with me. I will much more likely post on Facebook and Instagram. I don't expect to buy much in the way of souvenirs, but will be on the lookout for something for a blog giveaway when I get back. 

I plan to do a few more posts before I leave and catch up on more regular content. I've loved doing the travel posts, but it's time for coffee, spring in New York City and a few random reflections. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

U Is for Uluru/Ayers Rock

 

U is for Uluru/Ayers Rock

For most of the  A to Z Bloggers the April Challenge has ended, but Buttercupland is bringing up the rear. We're posting about U -- Uluru -- today and we'll posting "Z" tomorrow and a giveaway. 

Uluru is a sandstone monolith, near the center of Australia in the Southern part of the Northern Territory. This extraordinary site, sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area, the Anangu. It is a World Heritage site and one of the most recognized natural landmarks of Australia. 

Uluru by day

When I was planning my trip to Australia (2018) I wanted to make sure that Uluru was one of the stops on the itinerary. It's not a quick trip. Australia is a big, big country and Uluru is in the center of a country that's larger than the United States (by 1%). My group flew to Alice Springs and then drove the 208 miles to Uluru. It was a fascinating drive with scenery that was awesome and the biggest, fluffiest clouds ever. 

The site was first named Ayers Rock in 1873 after the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. In 1993 a dual naming policy was established that allowed Aboriginal names to be added to established names and in 2002 Uluru/Ayers Rock became the official name. 

Sunset at Uluru

 

 I'm not quite sure where April went. One day we were starting out with A Is for Alaska and in the blink of an eye we're about to visit "Z." In the interim the flowers and trees have bloomed and Passover was celebrated. I've been part of two major celebrations, a wonderful family wedding and an 80th birthday celebration. And next week, after a year of looking forward, we're off to Africa. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a terrific Thursday. 

Q Is for Queensland (and R Is for Great Barrier Reef)

 

Welcome to Queensland, Australia

I loved my visit to Australia in 2018. What a fabulous place to visit, with amazing natural beauty, great coffee, the friendliest people and koalas. If the flights from New York weren't so long, I'd be back there every year. I could write about everywhere I went in Australia -- and may just choose one other place --  but Queensland, the state in northeastern Australia  is an easy pick. 

My tour group spent three days in Queensland and we were based in Cairns. One of our days we visited the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 900 islands and ten per cent of the earth's coral reef systems. It was an extraordinary experience to go below the water in a tiny submerged vessel -- not a true submarine -- and see the coral and the sea life around it. The Great Barrier Reef, as is every reef,  is under pressure from climate change, coastal development and illegal fishing. 

A high point of my visit to Queensland was a day spent in Kuranda and the Kuranda Koala Gardens. I know there are people who will laugh at my choice of activity, but I'd been eager to cuddle a koala since I started planning the trip to Australia. When I realized it was not only possible, but part of our itinerary, I was 100% on board. There was a charge for this, but I think it's some of the best spent vacation money of my life, and I made the most of it. One of my travel buddies was kind enough to document the entire two minutes I spent with "my" koala, who I think of as KiKi Koala. 

First contact with KiKi. She is not enthusiastic. 

I'm thrilled. KiKi is less so.

Buttercup and KiKi

I've made the bold decision to skip L, M, N, S and T and go directly to U for our next A to Z Blogging Challenge post. U is today's letter and I will do the post for U on Sunday, when we'll be returning to Australia and another extraordinary location. I'm at a family wedding for the next few days, but I'll be back on Sunday and eager to complete the Challenge next week. 

I hope you've enjoyed our visit to Queensland today and will rejoin the tour for more stops next week. Appreciate the visits and comments very much!

As ever, thanks for visiting and big koala hugs!