Search results for 'africa'

The next time you’re picking between sipping rose on the beach, trekking up a lush mountainside and journeying through wine-country – stop. Don’t pick at all. Travel to Cape Town and get a taste of all three. Nestled between the Table Mountain and the Table Bay, this South African city is bursting with beautiful people. It boasts a plethora of different cultures, architectural styles and neighborhoods to keep you well satiated through your visit.  Whether you stay at Sol Kerzner’s unapologetically opulent One & Only, the majestic Mount Nelson Hotel or the quirky Hemingway House, warmth and charming hospitality await you. 

The Castle of San Carlos de la Cabaña was the largest fortress built by Spain in the Americas. It was, however, built too late. It was never attacked, it never had the chance to fire its hundreds of artillery pieces against an attacking enemy, and its ramparts were never tested against siege and assault.

Along the northern coast of Africa sits the amazing country of Morocco. It boasts incredibly diverse – and beautiful landscapes, and is home to a wonderfully diverse population. On the “Highlights of Morocco” tour, you’ll get to know the vibrant culture and colorful backdrops that distinctively define Morocco. 

Is an African Safari on your bucket list?  Many people are interested in exploring traveling, and experiencing the authentic beauty of this area of the world.  Photo safaris and traveling to game reserves are exciting ways to find true natural beauty.  South Africa and surrounding countries have seen a large growth in tourism, and have made great strides in welcoming many people from around the world.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead.

Could you imagine your life without the love and companionships of animals? I couldn't. 

Five Photography Tips from Richard and Amy Lynn, the authors, photographers, and publishers of The Sarcastic Lens:  An Ordinary Couple’s Photographic Journey through the Animal Kingdom.

Five Photography Tips from Richard and Amy Lynn, the authors, photographers, and publishers of The Sarcastic Lens:  An Ordinary Couple’s Photographic Journey through the Animal Kingdom.

Perfect for seasoned travelers who seek exploration of culturally rich and historic urban destinations, Collette’s Explorations product line delivers a deep-dive into some of the globe’s most celebrated places. With only 12 – 24 travelers on these small group tours, Collette Explorations tours allow you to dig deeper into the culture than ever before. When you travel with a small group, you’ll be closer than ever to these new people, new places, and unforgettable moments.

A mother-son duo from Ireland are starring in a new television series airing on the rebranded Discovery Life Channel on Thursday nights (10e/9c), a series that takes reality television and bravery to a whole new level. 

“the very image of an enormous lion crouched between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean”

                                                         William Makepeace Thackeray 

Africa has long been known as the site of from which modern man first radiated out to populate the world. Much attention has been directed to the eastern African Great Rift Valley as the origin of humans, great apes, and chimps (hominids) but several candidates as the actual ancestor of humans (hominins) are likely evolutionary dead ends.  The attention has shifted within the last decade to new important fossil discoveries in South Africa that may fill in some of the gaps in the family tree…..which looks more and more like a bush.

Simply the “Most Beautiful Place on Earth,” Sedona is surrounded by gorgeous red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and quiet pine forests. This Arizona desert town, located near Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, is a Mecca for New Age enthusiasts and seekers of the spiritual. Thanks to the natural flow of Vortex energy, the area is like a powerful magnet, pulling you to its destination and welcoming you back again.

Le Marais Steakhouse is historic, so naturally the restaurant’s new cookbook:  Le Marais: a Rare Steakhouse Well Done, released on July 18, 2023 is historic as well.  Located in Manhattan’s theater district for 21 years, Le Marais remains the only Kosher French brasserie in New York City. Observant Jewish and even non-Jewish clientele have been coming since inception to dine on its French cuisine with North African and Portuguese influences. I personally had never been to the restaurant before, but I had passed it many times over the years. Finally, I was inspired by the cookbook launch to fully immerse myself in this multi-cultural yet very New York, dining experience. 

What is your worst nightmare for travel?  One of mine is being caught in deepest Africa in a coup……and that is what happened on my expedition to the Central African Republic (CAR).  It is time to tell this tale again with the recent unrest in CAR eerily reminiscent of my experiences several years ago. 

Mandatory retirement does not accord with every person’s soul. It did not with Dr. Amporn Wathanavong’s. He was not accustomed to stillness. His life had been full of errant breezes. Like bamboo, he had become used to the wind’s force. He had learned that at times he had to bend all the way down to avoid snapping. Still, he had always found his way back to the center. 

The children are grown and are now parents of their own children. Yes, grandparenting is a joy! But long distances, and complex work and study schedules, often hinder family get-togethers and staying in close contact. Unless we are lucky enough to see the grandchildren on a weekly basis, each reunion is almost like meeting them for the first time. 

If you want to experience a life-changing adventure, I highly recommend you combine travel with volunteerism! It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done! I’ve traveled to many beautiful, historic, and tourist friendly places, but volunteering gave me a deeper, richer, and more rewarding experience. It’s a great way to be completely immersed in a new culture, visit places you’ve never have been before, give yourself a new perspective on your life back at home, and have the added feel-good bonus of feeding your soul while helping those in need.

This coming weekend, March 4^th and 5^th, with a kick-off evening networking event on Friday, March 6^th, New York City will be host to the 3^rd Annual Women's Travel Fest (sponsored by Expedia). The “festival” is a consumer event that helps women to explore the world and discover deeper meaning in their travels. It is the brain child of entrepreneurial travel writer, Kelly Lewis, Founder of Go-Girl Guides, a guidebook series for women!  Although Kelly herself is a millennial, the conference is for women travelers of all ages. I personally attended both last year in San Francisco and the inaugural year in New York, and over 350 women of ALL ages attended, and some grandmothers came with their granddaughters!

Just when you have gotten over the Ebola scare (though you will hear about it again), here comes another viral infection though spread by mosquitoes.  Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys and the first verified human infection occurred in 1968.  Since then it has smoldered in countries near the equator where 2 strains have evolved, one in Africa and one in Asia.  The first infections outside of Africa and Asia occurred in Micronesia in 2007.  Since then, the virus has spread throughout the southern Pacific islands and arrived in South America a few years ago.  Dense populations of both humans and the vector mosquito has caused Zika to explode in Central and South America.  At the time of this article, about 20 cases have been reported in the US, all from people who traveled to areas where the disease is present (such as Brazil).  

As avid travelers, one thing we have in common, is our love in learning about different cultures.  We may not understand the language, but we do communicate through our gestures, eye contact and body language.

Today scientists and astronomers plan their visits to space, the moon, mars and beyond, but in the 16 Century Lisboa was the center of the universe where royalty, under the direction of Prince Henry the Navigator, underwrote the explorations to other lands – with such explorers as Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral at the helm.

This is a beautifully wow, elegant place to go to sleep, eat and play! All the rooms are Moroccan style and have amazing baths with tubs and monsoon showers. The décor is impeccable. I adore boutique hotels and this is tops. A contemporary, classic gem was created by Vanessa Branson and Howell James. The very historic architecture with terraces and gardens make the perfect place to enjoy Africa's city and you will hear birds humming since they are so happy here.

The radiant blue of the sky, melds seamlessly into the pristine blue of the ocean. BAHAMAS - by air or by sea, it is an island string with strong ties to its Colonial past, and 21st century companies using it as a tax haven.

If you are in or around Chicago, you have got to go to the retail store named Primitive, three floors of rare antiquities, ancient art, and authentic craft from cultures all over the world. Each object is artfully arranged to showcase the individual item in the context of a room. The effect is amazing and it’s all for sale.