Venice has been known as the “La Dominante,” “Serenissima,” “Queen of the Adriatic,” “City of Water,” “City of Masks,” “City of Bridges,” “The Floating City,” and “City of Canals.” It’s one of my favourite places that I have been blessed to have seen and hope to go back one day!
Stay tuned for more article on my “All Aboard” series!
xxx
So if you have been following my instagram page, you have seen that I have been flooding your screens with our travel adventures through Italy, Greece and Monetnegro- Sorry, not sorry..
I could not wait to share my adventures and findings with you guys when you, yourself go and visit these beautiful countries! Our first stop of our travel adventure and where we got onto our MSC Cruise Ship was Venice.
Ah, the city of Venice, one of my favourite places we visited and hope to one day be back there to discover more if it’s beauty! Walking through the linking bridges and cobbled passages getting lost in a world of old beauty.
Language: Venetian, a Romance language spoken by about 2 million people mainly in Venice and the surrounding areas. The language is more closely related to French and Spanish than it is to Italian.
Currency: Venice uses Euro only, be sure to bring your notes.
Credit Cards & Banks: There is a few ATM’s here and there but they are quite hard to find. Most hotels have express ATM in the hotel itself. If you still having trouble then the Venezia Santa Lucia Train Station is you go to place.
Climate: We traveled to Venice in April-May and is said to be the best time of year as the festivities have setteled and most tourists have gone. As for weather, you can expect some rain but lucky for us we had a heat wave that was taking over the city so the weather was splendid! Be sure to pack a light jersey as the nights do get chilly, even with the heat wave!
Walk it: We were in Venice for 2 days before our big cruise so we wanted to make most of our time. Day 1 we walked and walked and walked. It was marvellous because that’s were you get lost and find beautiful cathedrals, bridges and really good food. So I say, if you can walk those pathways and see Venice on foot- PS. wear comfortable shoes, those cobble stoned paths become extremely harsh on your feet after a couple of hours!
Hop on Hop Off City Sightseeing: If you are not so keen on tracking through Venice then I highly reccomend getting a ticket and cruising through Venice by boat. It’s the best way to see the city and it’s biggest attractions and you get there quick! Check out more info here.
We stayed at the lovely Grand Canal Bed and Breakfast. True Venetian styled rooms takes you back in time, giving you authentic Venetian experience. It was so beautiful and at a great rate too! Check out availability and rates here.
There is little vendors everywhere! Keep to the local places as the food will be cheaper. One place you must try is Osteria Al Ponte “LA Patatina”– It is super authentic and quite a hidden restaurant but it is amazing! It is tiny, where is the tables are right next to each other so if you have a thing for personal space, then I suggest you suck it up cause you cannot miss this place!
Another gem we found was local hotspot on Lido Beach called Rizzo’s .We ate pizza and ordered cokes at the Cafe that cost us 6 Euros for us both. Not too shabby huh? Keep your eyes peeled and dont be shy to ask around. The locals are great!
PS: Be sure to try the Gelato’s – It’s a requirement when in venice because they are to die for!!!
Be sure to experience Venice by night- The place comes alive with local musicians playing guitar or local artists creating gorgeous canvases of Venice. It’s a whole different atmosphere and people are buzzing! Sit down at a cafe, enjoy some amazing pasta and take in your surroundings- it’s magical!
Venice was absolutely stunning and so glad that we got to spend some time there before we sailed. Hope you enjoyed a little glimpse into Venice and it’s beauty. Next up I’ll be sharing our Cruise through Italy, Greece and Montenegro. Places that took me completely by suprise and made me see beauty in the most unusual places!
Ciao for now!
XXX
We traveled to the beautiful St. Lucia over the Easter Weekend for a well deserved break with the family! NEWSFLASH- It’s fudging far… Like ridiculously far… It took us about 8 hours to get there.. Yip.. 8 hours to St Lucia… The trip there wasn’t that bad but the trip back!!! OH MY GLORY (I drove us there and back by the way) It took us nearly 12 hours to get back home. Safe to say, I am never going that far for Easter again.. It was exhausting, super fun, but exhausting!
Anyways.. I thought I would share some pics of our time in St Lucia 🙂
Nothing makes my heart happier then seeing the joy on people’s faces, especially the people that I love…
St Lucia is definitely a place to visit to experience wild at it’s finest.. Im glad I got to tick another beautiful place off my South Africa Travel List!
XX
Weekends should be about adventures and discovery- That’s our motto and we are sticking to it!
M and I love to travel and we try to do as much as we can of it. So this time around we opted for a quick little getaway to Clarens in the Free State with our couple besties. Clarens is a small town just three and a half hours out of Johannesburg, and is found in the Free State Province.
Clarens is an artists’ haven with many well-known artists either living in or frequenting the village, with many art galleries scattered around the village square and the town. The tranquil village ambiance combined with scenic views and a mild climate has made Clarens a popular getaway for city dwellers from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Durban, among other places. Clarens is known for its spectacular sandstone mountains and wonderful climate if you like rain- then yes; it is one of the most picturesque spots in South Africa.
Clarens is the perfect weekend getaway for anyone who needs a break- We left early hours of Saturday morning to try get a full 2 days in this gorgeous little town. Here is a quick guide of the must see spots in Clarens!
Visit Some Cafe’s
We arrived in Clarens in the weee hours of the morning about 6ish and the town is still fairly quiet at this time. We were on the hunt for coffee yet some Cafe’s weren’t even opened yet, until we found the lovely Highland Coffee Roastery. A definite must as it’s rated the best coffee in town!
After coffee was done we were on the hunt for some breakfast. There are so many great little restaurants all around so it’s really all about finding one that calls you in. We were walking around as we came out the cafe and spotted a restaurant that was bringing out the freshest bread you ever did see! We were sold! A few restaurants you could try is: The Courtyard Bakery and Cafe, The Artists Cafe and the Lazy Gecko Cafe.
Take In The Town!
Clarens is really an artists heaven! The town is filled with Art Gallery’s throughout. So take some time and walk around, ever if it’s raining. Find a parking spot and enjoy the scenery and the local flavor. From Art Galleries and boutiques to quirky little touristy shops, there is definitely something for everyone! 
Take a Drive
We had a bit of a mix up with our accommodation booking so we drove around to find a B&B but made a little detour and went to check out the scenery at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. We drive in for about 17km and then we turned around as the weather become even more gloomy. It’s definitely worth a drive through to get in some picturesque snaps and wonderment of how truly spectacular South Africa really is.
Beer Tasting at the Clarens Brewery
Definitely head over to the Clarens Brewery for some hand crafted beer tastings and be sure to try the cheese platter. The vibe is rad and the people are just as cool. We hung out at the bar as it was packed, so if you have a crowd, be sure to book.
Take a picture and FRAME it!
It’s my goal to take a picture in these yellow frames across South Africa- Like the saying goes, if you didn’t take a picture, it didn’t happen!
If you are looking for a great place to stay in Clarens at a reasonable rate then defiantly check out La Bri. It was literally our saving grace and it was such a stunning little place.
Who knew Clarens would be so magical!
XX
A couple of weekends ago we got invited to tag along for a surprise getaway for our dear friends birthday. With a much needed break from the hustle and bustle, we didn’t hesitate with our answer for a beautiful weekend away.
The celebrations took place at the splendid Tranquility Spa and Lodge in Cullinan. Nestled within a private conservancy, bordering on the Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve, it’s the perfect getaway! Far enough to feel like a holiday but close enough to get back home. It’s really a short drive to nights spent around a fire, under dazzling stars and the sound of lions roaring in the Kevin Richardson Lion Sanctuary next door. Bush paradise only 35 km north of Pretoria- A hidden gem indeed!
The 4 of us huddled in the Zebra thatched chalet. A cute 2 bedroom chalet fitted with a queen-size bed in 1 room and 2 single beds in the other. Privacy is limited for the one’s who take the double bed- so make you have a system to let your friends know you are walking into “their” room. We opted for a bird call every time we came out of our 2 single bedded room, just to make sure they were awake and clothed! It was a good laugh every morning! Oh and don’t worry about taking blankets or linen, luxury linen and towels are provided.
The next day, the lovely host Hennie took us on a little tour around the lodge to get a real feel for the place. Thick bush all around but not so bad that you can’t enjoy the Giraffe visits in the morning on the way to breakfast! (Breakfast is yum) Nature all around you makes you feel like you are in another world- It’s the most relaxed weekend you will probably ever experience!
With the Kevin Richardson Lion Sanctuary right next door, you can’t not go for a game drive and see the beautiful animals. You can read all about the sanctuary here and see the amazing work these guys do.
Our lovely game ranger and very knowledgeable driver, might I add, George took us on the drive and gave us the opportunity to see nature and wildlife at it’s best! We viewed Waterbuck, Zebra’s, Impala, Sprinbok, Wildebeest, spotted Hyenas and of course Lions. It’s a definite must but please dress warm, it got chilly out there!
We spent our days lounging around the fire, taking multiple walks around the game reserve and really enjoying each others company. It’s amazing how places like this allow you to completely switch off from the world and just enjoy the right here, right now moment.
Tranquility Spa and Lodge is definitely a place we will visit again one day. We arrived as strangers and feel like we left as friends.
Looking for a little getaway?
Tranquillity Spa and Lodge
R573 Cullinan 1000
Guys, if there is one place that you have to visit- it’s definitely Thailand. You just have to put it on your travel list because it is such a beautiful place to see and experience what it has to offer.
Thailand is the travel hub of South East Asia. With it’s lush jungles, famed beaches, snorkeling, amazing food, friendly and cheap prices, Thailand has hit my top 5 places to visit. Overall, Thailand speaks for itself. When you hear it’s name, you already think about beaches, beauty, and food. Your thoughts are spot on.
Excitement filled the air as we got packed and ready to leave to the airport and I wasn’t sad about it because we were going to beautiful heat and sunshine instead of staying behind in cold and miserable winter.
THE FLIGHT
Our trip consisted of a quick stop over in Doha then from Doha to Phuket. The flights were long- +-8 hrs for each flight so we were exhausted to say the least- well I was. Oh, let me just throw this in there while I’m at it, everyone that I had spoken to had told me that it was really hot, so in my mind I was thinking that it couldn’t be hotter and more humid then our KZN summers- boy was I wrong- The heat and humidity hits you like a ton of bricks when you get off of the plane.. It is really really HOT! So to add to the exhaustion , we still needed to drag ourselves to dinner 10pm that evening in Phuket.
THE FOOD
The one thing that is amazing about Phuket is that what is shown on the menu is exactly what you get! A masterpiece of a meal and so so delicious! We tried all the local food almost everyday, from street vendors to restaurants along the main street of our hotel. The food is fresh and tasty and not badly priced too, depending on where you go.
TIPS: Definitely eat at the street stalls, the food is not only cheap, it’s utterly delicious. Remember that buying beers from the local supermarket vs in bars and restaurants will save you lots of money. (The boys went hunting around)
THE HOTEL
Staying at the beautiful Horizon Karon Beach Hotel , we were pretty central to quite a few restaurants, shops and supermarkets that was in walking distance. If you are not much of a walker, don’t worry, there are many tuk-tuk and taxi services that can quite easily take you to any destination- The going rate is 400THB, but if you spark a smile and bargain you can get it for 300THB. The hotel was so beautiful with pristine pools that we swam in everyday to keep cool, the lovely restaurant that we devoured our breakfasts daily and the hotel staff are so friendly. A hotel I would definitely recommend if you are ever planning a trip to Thailand!
THE WEATHER
It’s HOT. I don’t know what else to tell you other than you are going spend most of your time in pools to cool off, or purposely walking into a shop just to use their air-con to get some relief from the heat. No need to take jeans or jerseys because they will sit in your bag like mine did. What I would strongly suggest is that you pack a poncho or a very light rain jacket in case you get caught in the rain on the scooter! With your clothes being drenched, you might get a little chilly, but that’s the only time you will feel the chill, I promise. Oh and don’t let the rain keep you indoors or away from exploring! On our second day, it rained the whole day. So that was the day that we decided to meet up with our tour guide and book our James Bond and Phi Phi Island Tours. After that was done, we braved the rain- ponchos and all and went walking the streets and visiting the markets close by!
TOP THINGS TO DO IN PHUKET
Phuket is so beautiful and is definitely a place I would recommended to put on your travel bucket list!
There is nothing quite like it!
I thought I would share some of our pictures from our recent trip to Thailand! Man, looking back on these makes me miss the beautiful blue waters! *sigh* – Till we meet again Thailand!
Travel Guide post to follow!
Khai Nai Island
Floating Village
James Bond Island Tour
Big Buddha
Wat Chalong Temple
Fantasea Show
Our weekend getaway this past weekend was nothing short of pure relaxation. Unspoiled surrounds, rolling hills, roaming wildlife, no cell reception and afternoon naps on a hammock is what weekends should be all about.
Only 2½ hours from Johannesburg, Komati Gorge Lodge is a convenient stop over point from either Gauteng or KwaZulu Natal. However, to really appreciate the beauty of the surroundings, a 2 night stay at Komati Gorge Lodge is recommended.
Awarded a four star grading by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa the lodge offers an unparalleled experience to nature lovers. The biodiversity creates a perfect environment for the abundant birdlife and a wide range of indigenous trees, shrubs and wild flowers. Game on the farm includes zebra, blue wildebeest, eland, kudu, blesbok, warthog, duiker and many more. Along with the incredible wildlife and being a pet friendly accomdation, there is plenty of activities to do at the resort such as 4×4 drives, canoeing, trail hike, fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting, rock climbing, guided horse riding, rafting and for the not so adventurous type, a luxury spa.
Arriving at 19.30 in the evening, traveling through very dark roads might I add, we were welcomed with a warm smile by the lovely owner and were escorted to our River Lodge Hotel Suite. These suites have a spacious bedroom , lounge area with a gorgeous fireplace for those cold rainy days and full bathroom with romantic corner bath. The Suits are situated right on the Komati River with a private veranda that allowed us to view the gorge and the river right from our room. The lodge does offer self catering lodges as well.
The staff at the Komati Lodge were kind enough to wait for us for dinner and I couldn’t have thanked them enough- we were starving and the food was delicious! After dinner we retreated to our suite and called it a night.
Morning came and man was it a treat! The view was incredible! There is nothing quite like hearing water flowing and the sounds of birds chirping with a background like we had. We had an early start to the day, since we were only there for the weekend, we tried to do as much as possible.
Breakfast was served at the Breakfast room along the river bank. A log fire and the smell of bacon filled the room and gave it the perfect setting. After breakfast we were excited to discover the gorge, so we opted to do the 5km hike first then whatever we found along the way we would do.
We set off on our hike and got to experience the most incredible views. There is nothing quite like it. Unfortunate for us that the weather was changing and not wanting to get caught in the rain on top of the mountain, we missed all the little detours like the waterfall and the stone ruins.
The view from the top is breathtaking. Scenes of natural beauty, mysterious gorges, dense forests, cascading water, indigenous trees and creatures of all kinds – I find it really amazing that we got to experience all of this in one place.
The rest of the weekend kept up indoors due to cold rainy weather and I wasn’t complaining! The rest of the weekend consisted of afternoon naps on hammocks, dining with really great company and watching movies in bed. It was bliss. (KITA FRAGRANCE GIVEAWAY)
Komati Gorge Lodge and Wildlife reserve really offers nature at its best. The pristine beauty and peaceful surroundings guarantee to put your mind at ease and let’s you escape from the world, especially with no cell reception. We are so caught up in this technology run world that we often miss out on the beauty that surrounds us.
I was blown away by how much we actually rely on technology and because of it often miss out on the world around us. More often then not we reach for our phones to catch up on social media apps or to document our every movement for our social media status.
There was definitely a lesson to be learned on our little getaway. It taught me to appreciate moments with my own eyes and not that of my camera lens. To enjoy watching a movie in bed with my spouse or a beautiful dinner without the distraction of a message or phone call from a friend. To be wholeheartedly in that moment and to truly appreciate it.
These are moments that we take for granted and we shouldn’t, life is too short to not live in the moment- be present, always.
For more info and bookings you can contact them here.
Man, its been quiet here on the Guru page.Iv had such drama lately, hence the delayed posts but Im glad to be back and to flood your screens with some more of my little adventures 🙂
Ok so continuing with the Cape Town adventures, our last day came and I just didn’t want to wake up because I just didn’t want to leave this beautiful city.
Our last day on any trip is that we do has to include a spa treatment. Nothing too hectic, but just a little something for us both to relax before going home. So we booked a spa treatment at the lovely Camelot Spa and spent 2 hours of our early morning getting treated before breakfast.
I had read about Cape Town and complied list on top of list of things to do and see while we were there, but the one thing that we both agreed on was that we should visit Morgenster Estate. The reason being was that we attended the Winex in Joburg with our friends and we were lead to the Morgenster Stand to indulge in their olive paste and wine. We haven’t stopped talking about it ever since. It’s honestly so delicious and we simply cannot get enough of it!
So since we were in Cape Town and had time to spare before our departure and before my surprise picnic for Hubby, we took a drive to the gorgeous Morgenster Estate.
Morgenster Wine & Olive Estate in Somerset West, 35 minutes from Cape Town, is at the gateway to the Western Cape wine-growing region. It is a thriving olive and wine farm dating back to 1711, producing internationally acclaimed Bordeaux-style wines and extra virgin olive oil of astounding quality.
We were greeted by the Manager and Waiter and were given an overview of the wines and olives and were offered an Olive tasting. The whole olive experience was so exciting and very informative and super tasting- I walked out of there feeling like I could talk your socks off about olives.
The presentation of the Olive Tasting was so beautiful! We were given a sheet of the names of the olives oils displayed underneath the glasses indicating a different olive oil and another tray filled with olives, crackers and fresh bread. The waiter was so professional and charming and answered all our questions with ease.
We tried all the olive oils and were told that we can mix and match them to create our own Olive Oil mixture. The result was that all the crackers, bread Olive Oils and olives clean of there trays- clearly were were master mixers because it was just too delicious with every bite. PS: The Balsamic Vinegar is just THE best!
We had never ever experienced an Olive Tasting but I think this will become a thing that we do when we travel. It was incredible. The Estate is gorgeous, the people are fantastic and the Olives well- just spectacular!
For more info on this amazing experience- Book here.
Our flight departed at 17.30, so I thought that we should spend our last day having a winter picnic at the gorgeous Vergenoegd Wine Estate in Stellenbosch- I had fallen in love with this place from the moment I found it on the inter web.
The wine estate has a unique way of keeping the farm in tip top shape and keeping the pest population to a minimum by using 1070 runner ducks to keep those pests at bay. They too allow the ducks to parade around the farm and interact with the guests- by far the best thing I have ever seen! You can check out their parade times here.
Upon arrival we were welcomed with smiles and lead into the right wing of the restaurant. We were seated and greeted to our artisanal picnic basket. The picnic basket had trays of gorgeously packaged food in wooden boxes and jars. Our basket was filled with salads, nuts , a selection of different meats, dried fruit, salads in jars, yummy bread and mini pies. It was such a beautiful presentation and so incredibly fresh and delicious.
After we feasted on our artisanal picnic we went for a walk around the farm exploring the grounds and enjoying the quiet time we had. The premises is beautiful and quiet which is just perfect for a Sunday afternoon treat. We lazed about on the lush lawns until the duck parade came around. It is the most adorable thing I have ever seen! I couldn’t stop smiling!
If your in the Stellenbosch area, treat yourself to a gorgeous day at Vergenoegd- You will love it!
You have my heart Cape Town- Till we meet again!
For more awesome things to do, check out what been Featured on CTInsider.
Continuing with our Cape Town adventures, Day 3 was driving day and routing through beautiful Cape Town and beyond.
We Spent the entire day driving in and around Cape Town, seeing penguins along the way and eating the best burrito ever. I kept on asking Hub to pull over so that we can capture the spectacular view. At the one point we found a hidden stairway and ventured to this beach. I had never seen anything like it.
We continued up through the winding roads and stopped at a lookout point. The blues that the pictures produced took my breath away I had never seen such a beautiful blue in the ocean.
We continued on and decided that we should see the penguins in Simonstown. We explored the harbor and the many shops of the town and read about the history of the the great Dane called “Just Nuisance”, a dog that was enlisted in the Royal Navy. The town itself is very quiet with quaint little coffee shops to sip away the afternoon.
So we ventured off to see the penguins at Boulders Beach. There was a bit of a crowd but I managed to get a few close ups of these cute little guys. We were told afterwards that there is a pathway where visitors can walk among the penguins and get really close and personal with them, so don’t miss the opportunity, like I did- *sigh*, if your in Simonstown.
After our giggles with Penguins, we decided to head to Cape Point.
My husband warned me that it could be a little windy up top and that I should brace myself. I didn’t prepare myself enough I tell you! Out climb up turned out to be a battle against the wind, which almost blew us away. I kid you not it got viscous up there. We opted to walk up to the highest point, but there is a tram that can take you up safe and sound. (I would of taken it, had I known better)
At this point I was exhausted, hungry and cold. It was late afternoon so we decided that our last stop would be Muizenberg beach. My cousin told me about a restaurant in Kalkbay that was really different from anything that we seen and that is was located right next to a rail way in which trains can been seen passing by every 20 minutes or so.
Me being an extremely moody person when hungry suggested we stop at the next town to search for some grub. Low and behold, without us even looking we landed up right outside of the gorgeous Cape to Cuba Restaurant.
The Restaurant is uniquely different, decorated with Cuban artifacts and sculptures to gorgeous chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, its the perfect chilled vibe after a long day. The service is fantastic, the food is mind blowing and place itself is rad! A definite must in Kalk Bay!
On our way back to we head to our last stop – Muizenberg Beach. Seeing the colorful huts was the perfect way to end our day.
