Back from Sri Lanka on January 2nd , we then had 4 weeks in Moraira before visiting the Guyanas. During this time there was a farewell to Kay Corbin at JBC and we had lunch with Brenda and Bill at Soho.
On January 27th we took off for Amsterdam and from there to Georgetown, via a piy stop in Barbados.. See David's website for full details of this 2 week jaunt
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| We spent a week in Guyana, visiting the Kaieteur Falls, Atta Lodge and the superb KaranambuLodge, run by Melanie, where we watched lilies forming at dusk amidst huge lily pads, also a giant anteater. Then enjoyed lunch at the Backyard cafe wirh chef Delvin | |||
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| Then to Paramariba and the Danpaati lodge in Surinam ,before crossing over a very wide river into French Guyana, a department of France. Here we visited the ruins of their inhumane prisons a Devils Island and saw the launch of Ariane 6, watching from the beach | |||
Then 17 days back in Moraira before setting out for a Cape to Cape voyage on the Silver Cloud
Chris had lunch wuth Cilla and Ted (David suffering from bronchitis) in Billy's Bar and we later we both joined Carol and Len for dinner at Bajuls.
Then on March 3rd we set off to Santiago and Puerto Williams for our (link to David's site Cape to Cape) journey aboard the Silver Cloud
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A gorgeous pool in Santiago before a charter flight to Puerto Williams and onto the Silver Cloud. Were had Freddie as our captain again. Then 3 stops in the Falklands |
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We went ashore 4 times in South Georgia where we saw pengins galore. Also a zodiac cruise at Gold Haebour( truly gold at dawn!) and the ruins of the whaling station at Grytviken and Shackelton's grave there |
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We all enjoyed our evening cocktails and canapes in the Panorama lounge and some of the meals. A bonus was meeting up again with Kevin and Adrian . I organised bridge with them and also enjoyed Trivia in Kevin's team |
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Another old friend was Martin, the entertainment director, who gave us another Silversea Ted. And this time we had perfect weather and got ashore at Tristan, which we had failed to do in 2013. We got these sweaters at Tristan, |
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Loved the rockhoppers. Also just ashore at Nightingale The boys were well fed and pampered |
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Ending this cruise in Cape Town, we then spent 3 pleasant weeks in South Africa - link to David's site on South Africa
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First stop was Hermanus where we met up with my first cousin, John Lyons and his wife Leonie. We had last met him in 1973 when he was almost 6 . The Birkenhead hotel was superb. Then on to Swellendam and Plettenberg's Emily Moon Hotel |
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From Oudtshorn we visited the impressive Cango Caves and an ostrich farm before moving on to Montagu Vines hotel, Montagu being an old Dutch town. Then 4 nights at Bushman's Kloof, a nature reserve with old cave paintings , fantastic swimming pools and |
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.. daily game drives in fantastic scenery. Our Paternoster hotel had fantastic rooms and views. And final destination was Franschhoek where we enjoyed the tram tour and wine at 2 of its vineyards |
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With such happy memories of Bushmansklop, of the ocean scenery at Hermanus and Paternoster, of the winding river at Plettenberg we returned to Moraira for almost 2 months.
We visited Carol ,for a catchup and a swim!, Joanna came to stay for three days and we enjoyed a Marquis de Riscal gourmet dinner at Amante