I mentioned in a previous post how Bubbles Tours was evolving while we were in South Africa… then I forgot how to post!
I love organising events, I love to travel and explore, I love sharing experiences with others, so showing friends and family one of my favourite spots was a no- brainer and fortunately they loved the trips (and the country) so much Bubbles Tours was born.
We absolutely LOVE South Africa, from being a child, watching Born Free and hearing tales from my “Aunty” Phil who lived there in the late 50’s early 60’s I wanted to visit.
2009 was THE year – I booked and organised a “once in a lifetime” trip. Myself, hubby and 2 of our 3 boys. we did the classic trip.
Landed in Cape Town and spent 3 days taking the Mother City in. Always an open top bus, getting your bearings, exploring from the top deck in the sunshine (dont forget the suncream). a prebooked trip to Robben Island, a cable car up Table Mountain, shopping and eating on the Waterfront.
Then took a few days travelling down the Garden Route, stopped at Mossel Bay for a few nights, visited the Elephant sanctuary in Knysna then on to St Francis Bay for a couple of nights.
Finally we reached the Shamwari Game Reserve – home of the Born Free Foundation – I have no words – it is truly breath taking and 15 years and 6 visits to “heaven” later, it remains my favourite place in the whole world.
Shamwari Julius pic
Back down the Garden Route this time one stop at Wilderness and on to Stellenbosch. Malcolm and Middle son played golf (I didn’t play in those days – how things would change!) with our friends who were on their 2nd trip to South Africa , my youngest son and I did the “must do” trip to see the penguins!!
As we sadly left this stunning country I left a bit of myself and thought I would be extremely lucky to return.
Our friends stayed another 3 weeks and bought a house… we were back in 2010 and apart from 2021 have been every year – so I class myself a mini expert on what to do and where to go especially in the Western Cape and a very lucky lady to return so often to my favourite area.
This year, 2024, we had rented a house for a month on Boschenmeer Golf Estate (where our friends had bought their house 15 years ago), we are now members of Paarl Golf Club, and yes I have become a golf addict! We flew in on 22nd January after an overnight flight with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow. It’s January and the sky is blue, the sandals are on and the sun is shining!
After a few days on our own settling in, my sister in law arrived. Despite being cabin crew all her working life she had never been to Cape Town – I think the love affair was instant! The first thing she loved was arriving to 30+ in January, and the mountains are HUGE. We did a cheese tasting at Fairview a beautiful wine farm with its own goats. we visited the Alpaca Farm just 5 minutes from Fairview.
Saturday mornings are about the Market in Franschhoek, there’s live music, lots of food and drink stalls and traditional and modern crafts. This year after 15 years I realised Franschhoek has 2 “h’s” who knew?? not me!! I actually asked a man in the Franschhoek shop if the T shirts were seconds as they had 2 h’s!!! Fortunately he thought it was amusing and not that I was a crazy Brit.
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