Archive for July, 2010
Posted by Bridget McNulty - July 16th, 2010
The weather is cold and gloomy in Cape Town today, so I thought it was the perfect time to initiate a little something I like to call Fantasy Friday – armchair travelling to somewhere far more beautiful and exotic than a desk and a computer!
Today, ladies and gentlemen, we’re off to a little place called Solar Da Ponte Verde, in a small town called Petropolis a few hours outside Rio de Janeiro in Brazil…
The views are breathtaking, the rooms are comfortable and cozy, and the food will leave you feeling energized and delighted. Really – you might think that’s a lot of adjectives, but wait until you’ve stepped into this place. Pure heaven!
Read the full account of a magical experience here.
And for more Fantasy Friday wanderings, read up on some of the Just the Planet Hidden Gems. *sigh!*
Posted by Bridget McNulty - July 7th, 2010
There’s something so deeply relaxing about spending a few days in a holiday town. Oh, I know some people live in Knysna, but as opposed to the fast pace of Cape Town (and the simply frenetic pace of Joburg), Knysna is deliciously laidback.
We’ve spent our first few days here wandering around the various entertainment on offer for the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival (many of them, no surprise, involving oysters!) Highlights for me include:
* The Wade Bales Wine Tasting on Monday night – over 40 of South Africa’s top wine makers offering unlimited tastings to go with the cheese and biscuits or fresh oysters on offer.
* Taking a ride on the Carnival ferris wheel with stunning views of Knysna laid out on all sides.
* Checking out all the incredibly well-organised kids events (Cooking classes! Colouring in competitions! Pavement art contests! Sport!)
* Watching the Oystercatcher Oyster Shucking Contest (presented and surrounded by Tabasco to spice up the fresh oysters), while listening to a live band in a tent on the waterfront.
* Going on an oyster bed / Knysna Heads / mampoer tasting boat ride around the lagoon (fun except for the somewhat-terrifying ‘oyster shot’ – a raw oyster, a dash of lemon and some strawberry chilli mampoer. Yikes!)
* Indulging in an absolutely heavenly massage at Pezula… Absolutely heavenly. Followed by some down-time in the post-treatment room on a (wait for it) heated water bed that massages different sections of the body one at a time. And a deliciously fresh berry smoothie to bring me back to life. I’m still floating in a happy haze from that one.
Still to come is the PnP Knysna Oyster Festival Mardi Gras (apparently a highlight!)
I’ll let you know what it’s like… For now, though, what’s keeping you? Head to Knysna for a festival that manages to be both entertaining and relaxing. A rare and lovely combination!
Posted by Bridget McNulty - July 4th, 2010
For those who need a bit of a break from all the soccer-soccer-soccer of the World Cup (and let’s be honest, even the most diehard fans have to eat, and if you have to eat, why not eat oysters?) the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is happening this week.
In fact, they’re claiming it’s the best 10 days of your 2010 (quite a claim!)
We’ve been here all of four hours, and so far it is simply delightful. A Whisky and Jazz Cruise started the evening off in a beautiful way (throw in the Lindt chocolate that was served with almost every whisky and you have a perfect combination)… Lindt, sunset, the beauty of the Knysna Lagoon – simply lovely.
I’ll post updates during the week, but to find out allll about the festival, visit http://www.oysterfestival.co.za
Photo: Allerina & Glen MacLarty
