Parow South Africa ~2016

Friday 19 – 20 Feb 2016 

We Ubered from Union St to  De Tijger Lodge at Parow.  Dark clouds outside, ten minutes walk to Spar for groceries, beside it we got family meal packed seafood, oily fries with four pieces of Sneok fish fillets, a box of fried calamaries, salad and canned drink for usd$7 .  Getting back in time before the sky opened up, set the food out on the room porch near the pool with birds flying around. Early next morning, up at 3am and host drove us to airport with a surcharge of $8. Easy check in for 6:30am flight to Windheok Namibia.

Cape Town Union ST. SA ~2016

16-19 Feb 2016 Union St. Cape Town, SA

Lots of penguins on Boulders Beach, Cape Town SA_17 Feb 2016

Made it! Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach, Cape Town SA_17 Feb 2016

5 km route along Cape Point Nature Reserve to a picnic lunch at the end_ Cape Town SA_17 Feb 2016

Lunch at Toni’s, Mozambique seafood curry and feijoada with rice & a glass of wine, Cape Town SA_17 Feb 2016

After lunch we walked the hilly town at Gardens. Dessert at this rustic Tamboer Winkle Gdns,, latte, coffee and a piece of cake. Cape Town SA_17 Feb 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cape Town Parliament ST. SA~ 2016

9-16 Feb 2016 Parliament st. Capetown SA

Cameraland, busy Long st. Cape Town SA_15 Feb 2016

Sunset & Picnic over Signal Hill, Cape Town SA 13 Feb 2016

Ascending Table Mountain on foot. Strong winds hampered cable car operation. Cape Town SA_12 Feb 2016

Malay slaves’ colorful homes of Bo Kaap, Cape Town SA_10 Feb 2016

8th floor apt view, Parliament st. Cape Town SA_10 Feb 2016

Mango Airline. Somewhere along Joburg~Cape Town_9 Feb 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johannesburg SA 2016

3-9 Feb 2016 Johannesburg SA

Within this modern and huge Sandton mall lies Nelson Mandala Sq_Johannesburg SA_4 Feb 2016

Arriving Johannesburg, I was surprised how clean, layout and beautiful she is. SA_5 Feb 2016

Dim sum and noodles, Gong Xi Fa Cai! Gedwey Sandton Joburg SA_7 Feb 2016

Mahatma Gandhi forged his identity as a political activist in Johannesburg SA_5 Feb 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nairobi Kenya 2016

26-27 Jan 2016 Dakar-Ivory Coast, Abijan-Nairobi

28 storey high KICC with a 360 degrees view of Nairobi Kenya_28 Jan 2016

We visited Nairobi National museum and surprised with the National Botanik Garden next it. A good respite from the chaotic outside. Nairobi Kenya_1 Feb 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Dishes serving local fare. Seated with a local woman who vouched this is a good choice. Nairobi Kenya_28 Jan 2016

National Botanik Garden has a good collection of cacti including Mother-in-law plant_1 Feb 2016

The benefit of working here, KICC Nairobi Kenya _28 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ksh (Kenyan Shilling) 100 = usd $0.97

Dakar Senegal 2016

18-26 Jan 2016 

On 8th floor balcony, right side is Port Dakar, Atlantic ocean Senegal_19 Jan 2016

Left side on 8th floor on Ave Hassan 2 congested with noise ,dust,traffic, sellers of all kind _Senegal_19 Jan 2016

First night Dakar stay at Onomo hotel. Morning stroll Onomo’s herbs and fruits garden. Dakar Senegal_19 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Built in 1924 by the French. Dakar old railway station Senegal _21 Jan 2016

Under our Hassan 2 apt. Purchased a few meals here. Gourmandine, Dakar Senegal_21 Jan 2016

We rode taxi to the Western tip of Africa, Pointe Almadies, R swam in the cool water. Dakar Senegal_22 Jan 2016

A good walk through the busy neighborhood to Faris, Lebanon cuisine Dakar Senegal_24 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casablanca Morocco Part 2 2016

Casablanca 11-18 Jan 2016

Unkept train from Marrakech to Casablanca. Not much vegetation, dry and sandy landscape. Local boys selling vegetables and trinkets when the train stops. MA_ 11 Jan 2016

We stayed right in the city close to the Central market with easy access to Rotisserie Centrale. Grilled chicken, olives, salad, peas, rice, breads and fries Casablanca MA_11 Jan 2016

Our apt at Rue Pierre Parent, close to Centrale Market tram stop. Casablanca MA_12 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camel burger out, settled for fillet steak at Blend, Casablanca MA_12 Jan 2016

Typical local dishes, nothing fancy but good. Imilchil Casablanca MA_14 Jan 2016

M taking tram to Voyageurs and train to airport for Lugano. Early morning Central Market Casablanca MA_15 Jan 2016

We left Casablanca for Dakar Senegal with a stopover at Madrid. Casablanca- Madrid _18 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marrakech Morocco 2015 ~ 2016

28 Dec-11 Jan 2015 Marrakech

Posing as Crosby Stills and Nash who sang Marrakech Express. Casablanca-Marrakech. Voyageurs Station MA_28 Dec 2015

Cars, buses, people, donkeys share the hot dusty road. Uber got lost in the medina. AL Qaria Assiyahia Marrakech MA_29 Dec 2015

Inside our traditional three-storey raid with a roof top terrace for sunning. On a clear day, you can see Atlas mountain. AL Qaria Assiyahia Marrakech MA_30 Dec 2015

New color and cut at local salon with a languague barrier. AL Qaria Assiyahia Marrakech MA_30 Dec 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

M took cooking class making Moroccan dishes here. Clock cafe Marrakech MA_31 Dec 2015

Overlooking the craft market inside the Medina. It was glaringly hot, hats are given to block it out. Kahba Kedima Marrakech MA_2 Jan 2016

Ushering 2016 with Karen, Andrew and Venancio, Dar Essalam marrakech MA 1 Jan 2016

Stepped out into the cool early 2016 New Year day, Dar Essalam Marrakech MA 1 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A garden within a garden. Bousaysay Jardim Majorelle Marrakech MA 4 Jan 2016

Nice retreat in the enchanting Jardim Majorelle Marrakech MA 4 Jan 2016

Jardim Majorelle filled cacti, palm trees, exotic plants, pools with lotus flowers and water lilies, Marrakech MA 4 Jan 2016

Steeped in history 1925 Le Grand Cafe de la Poste in Gueliz, outside the Medina walls, overlooks the Place du 16 November MA 7 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randomly popped into this basic sardine stall in the busy Medina short walk from the apt. Marrakech  MA_7 Jan 2016

The old and the new are far apart. As we were leaving for Casablanca, sparkling Marrakech train station awaits, MA_11 Jan 2016

Outside parched semi desert land. People walking with no houses or towns in sight. Many cacti farms lined the fields. Marrakech to Casablanca MA_ 11 Jan 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casablanca~ Pt 1 MA 2015

Casablanca 29 Nov-28 Dec 2015

Coming in from Milan, Casablanca 8th floor view Rue Qortobi, MA_1 Dec 2015

Modern, a few years old tram going to the city Place Al Yassir Casablanca MA_2 Dec 2015

Huge Hassan 11 mosque by Atlantic Ocean, nice place to get away from the chaotic city. Casablanca MA_2 Dec 2015

Having Tajine Poulet and couscous at Petit Poulet used to be the place where Edith Piaf and Albert Camus hung out Casablanca MA_4 Dec 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue cloudless skies_United Nations Sq Casablanca MA_4 Dec 2015

R made sesame cookies Rue Qortobi Casablanca MA_6 Dec 2015

Nice spot for aromatic mint tea and take in the city’s pulse, opposite the clock tower that tops the Medina wall is a local institution. Cafe de France Casablanca MA_2 Dec 2015

Friendly locals requested for pic at charming Quartier Habous Casablanca MA_7 Dec 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mint tea,  Cafe Imperial at labyrinthine Habous Casablanca MA_7 Dec 2015

Petit taxi to dental, recuperating, next morning after wisdom teeth out, Casablanca MA_15 Dec 2015

Evening at United Nations Casablanca MA_17 Dec 2015

Ubering to run errands at Place Al Yassir, Casablanca MA_23 Dec 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moroccan Breakfast, under the orange tree in a pretty garden within the 18th century fort’s ramparts La Squala Casablanca MA_22 Dec 2015

Looking  out into the busy Port Casablanca, 8th floor at Rue Qortobi MA_22 Dec 2015

Westbound tram to the upmarket beachside suburb of Ain Diab, strolled along the Corniche. Rocky beach, footballers made full used of Ain Diab beach Casablanca MA_19 Dec 2015

Taking a breather after a long walk from Ain Diab beach towards Hassan 11 mosque Casablanca MA_19 Dec 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee & msemen crepes at Madmen, short walk from apt Casablanca MA_24 Dec 2015

Lugano-Casablanca Winter break crib, Rue Qortobi Casablanca MA_24 Dec 2015

Hassan 11 mosque at Sour Jdid, largest mosque in Morocco, completed in 1993, It can hold 25,000 worshippers and 80,000 more in the courtyard. Casablanca MA_19 Dec 2015

Soft simple brekkie after dental surgery, Rue Qortobi Casablanca MA_24 Dec 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milan Italy 2015

29-30 Nov 2015 Milan 

A night at sleek Novotel near MXP airport before flying to Casablanca, Morocco. Stylish MXP Airport, Milan IT_30 Nov 2015

Electronic immersion into realty at MXP airport Milan IT _30 Nov 2015