TAHITI on SALE!

End of the Year Sale!
Outstanding Values for Tahiti

Tahiti is on sale! When you book Tahiti before December 31st, you can take advantage of a number of terrific offers for travel now through March 31st, 2012. Find out below how you can get a FREE dinner at the world-famous Bloody Marys, a Free parasailing excursion on Moorea, Free nights at 18 different resorts throughout French Polynesia, Free breakfasts, and so much more.


Buy 1 get 1 FREE

Book 5 nights on Moorea or Bora Bora and get 5 nights on another island FREE with Pearl Resorts. Book a Circle Island Tour on Tahiti and your companion goes free.

Buy 2 get 1 FREE Buy 2 nights get the third night free at 13 resorts. Available for stays on Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Tahaa, Tikehau, Manihi, and Rangiroa - most include free breakfast.

Buy 3 get 1 FREE
Buy 3 nights get the 4th night free at 5 resorts. Available for stays at select luxury resorts on Bora Bora, Moorea and Huahine. All include daily breakfast.

_________________________________________________

EVERYONE who knows me knows how much I love TAHITI!

I have access to a very special sale with a lot of freebies! Some of the freebies include hotel nights, meals and activities.

Your trip would need to be reserved from now until December 31, 2011 for travel from now until March 31, 2012 on select travel dates.

Please call me as soon as possible to check availability.

Mari

My Final Thoughts About My First African Adventure

My Final Thoughts My First African Adventure

Many people feel that visiting Africa is a “life changing” experience. Some people are moved by the African vastness. Others are moved by the primitive way that the local people live. Other people are challenged by how the different races are moving to resolve their racial issues. Many people are moved to tears as they observe how animals live in the wild. The quiet, the remoteness moves people to become more introspective. To me, Africa opened me up to many different thoughts, challenged me to live a different way and gave me a chance to be thankful that I live in such a wonderful country.

To begin with, I PACKED TOO MANY CLOTHES. REALLY, too many clothes….so many that I’m embarrassed to say just how badly I over packed. I found myself only using 2 pants and 1 pair of shorts while we were in Botswana along with 4 t-shirts/tanks. After we didn’t have our luggage, I lived with even less.

So imagine, Beverly Hills Mari going on her first safari. Of course I had to have 3 dresses (in all fairness because part of our trip was in the Wine Lands and Cape Town which was city living). I also packed 2 dress slacks and a sweater and even a sweater set. I threw in a few scarves and makeup. Wow…too much stuff! Next safari (sorry, Jeff, there WILL be another safari) I will develop my own safari list using the lists out there in cyberland but fine tuning it Mari-style!

What I experienced was a gradual stripping of my societal conventions. Formal clothing evolved into camp clothing like Exoficio pants and button down bug and sun protection blouses. This was another first, since I wouldn’t have been caught dead wearing these clothes anywhere in the greater L.A. area. For the first time in my adult life, I allowed my naturally curly air to go wild. No blow dryers for me. At least I didn’t scare any monkeys that I know of when I encountered them with my wild native hair.

Living without my clothing, my face wash, toothbrush and my comforts of home was challenging. Talk about having experiences “out of my comfort zone”. Well, I did it!

I still can’t believe that I got into a 6 seat airplane. Well, I did and by the time we took our final small airplane flight, I was a calmer Mari. Facing my fear of flying in a tiny airplane accomplished! Bring them on!

We ate at wonderful restaurants – those South African chefs take their cooking seriously and it shows! Taste, presentation and delivery are quite apparent.

We saw Southern Africa’s Big 5 and enjoyed our game drives and our introductions to the various breeds. Four of the six of our guides/trackers were outstanding and we learned a lot from them and enjoyed hearing about their perspectives. We experienced &Beyond’s little surprises such as lunch along the Gamote Canal and sunset drinks with hippos to name a few.

So, would I go again? Yes, definitely. I would love to return to Kirkman’s Kamp and Sandibe and choose somewhere else rather than Xarana (they had too many internal management problems and poor guides that made me feel uncomfortable because they tried preaching their religion). I would also recommend 2 nights at Victoria Falls rather than rush to do everything in less than 24 hours. Breaking up the camps and finding civilization at a nice hotel with good air conditioning was the right plan so no regrets.

I am so proud that I made this arduous journey. Ruth, Dan, Jeff and I worked well together and I think this experience brought us even closer as friends. We each brought our individual experiences together to give insight and assistance to the group. Dan, Ruth and Jeff were 3 brilliant doctors with biology and physiology degrees working to match up their combined knowledge to the professional guides with their extensive written and practical experience. The discussions that they had were exciting and because I was the non-science person in the group, I definitely learned a lot.

We also worked well with helping each other carrying luggage, sharing the tips, Dan and Ruth were there for me urging me to drink more water and pour water on Dan’s bandana to help keep my neck wet that Dan insisted that I use after he noticed that I was close to having heat stroke. Sorry, Dan, the color looks better on me so…I’ve borrowed the mustard and brown bandana forever :-).

I loved our discussions about animal mating, child birth and the male/female behavior of each individual animal. Dan’s an internal medicine doctor, Ruth’s specialty is obstetrics and gynecology and my Jeff is a veterinarian specializing in dogs and cats. We definitely kept our guides on their toes and everyone was engaged. I credit &Beyond for this. You can’t teach how to be an interesting guide– it must be a part of you. We all felt that Gift in Sandibe and Anton at Kirkman’s were the best of the best guides that &Beyond had to offer. Hats off to them!

So now, I am returning to life in Beverly Hills, as a slightly changed person with wild African curly hair. I’ve walked where wild animals have walked, overcome my small airplane fear and more.

Here are my hints if you are thinking about visiting Africa:

*Work with an experienced Safari travel consultant. This is not the trip you want to plan independently. It is important to work with someone who understands the pace of life while you are in Africa as well as can anticipate any problems that could occur.
*Stick to the packing lists. In time, I’ll have my personalized list that I plan to create after consulting with Dan who is a packing expert. While we were away we borrowed 3 hats, a bandana (still mine), a handkerchief and a pair of undies and pants for Jeff. I’m in awe of Dan’s packing abilities.
*Invest in excellent cameras and binoculars.
*Bug spray was given but if you have sensitive skin, please bring your own
*The African sun is unforgiving. Bring plenty of suntan lotions a wide brimmed hat and a cloth to cool yourself with. Water,water, water!
*As far as money, bring lots of 1’s, 5’s, 10’s, less 20’s maybe 2 50’s and 1-2 100’s to be used for tips and miscellaneous items.
*Bring something that you think someone else in Africa might use. Jeff and I brought colored pencils and markers for the children to be used at their school. Giving is a good thing!
*Purchase the correct luggage and travel purses. Please contact me for my recommendations. *If Cape Town is in your itinerary, PLEASE make dinner reservations well in advance of your visit. I would love to help you with this too.
*Dan mentioned that this was the most physically rigorous trip that he had even taken and it was. You have to be physically fit to climb into a Range Rover. The roads are fair in Kirkman’s Kamp but really bad in Botswana. We would hold onto the bars in from of us and be jostled up and down, side to side. We were driven off road during our game drives. Places like Victoria Falls have mobility issues as well such as climbing up then down stairs. So, if you think that a safari like mine sounds wonderful, please double check with your doctor and get his/her opinion about whether you are able to visit Africa.

If you want to go to Africa get ready to open your mind and try new things like eating Kudu stew or stay a night or two at Le Quartier Francais so you can dine in their world respected restaurant, The Tasting Room so you can taste African food and hear about how the food was prepared. You will learn about the different African vegetables, local herbs and roots that are used in the preparation as well as hear more about the recipes.

Remember, when you arrive to this disorienting special place that took such a long time to journey to…

*Take your time to stop and open your mouth to taste the unique flavors of Africa.

*Close your eyes to better hear the large and small sounds that enrich Africa.

*Feel the richness of the cloth made in Africa as well as feel the beading that is a part of some African masks.

*Use your nose to smell the earth, the fragrance and the spices that make up Africa.

*Watch the stars on a clear African cloudless evening.

*Try to do more with less.

It has been an absolutely wonderful transforming vacation for me. I was moved by the surroundings and in awe of animals that I would never have imaged seeing in the wild like Jeff’s beloved lions, leopards and cheetah.

I hope that you have enjoyed my insights about our first trip to Africa. Please contact me if you have any questions. Let’s work together to create your own African Safari experiences to share with me and others!

Until then…

Mari

Kirkman's Kamp in South Africa

& Beyond Kirkman's Kamp

Our third and final safari camp was &Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp in South Africa. By the time we got to Kirkman’s Kamp, we were tired, cranky, hungry and thirsty. Duncan, the General Manager greeted us with his hard working team. I was grouchy and Ruth was so hungry and it was an effort to even be nice. All we wanted was a restroom and water ... LOTS of water!

We had been told that the journey from the airport would take 45 minutes but it really took 2 hours – 45 minutes on a dirt road. It was dark – very dark and we were in a place that we hadn’t been before. We didn’t feel unsafe, it just was that the journey seemed never ending.
I’ve always believed that when you travel it’s ok to have 1 melt down day and that travel day between Zambia and Kirkmans Kamp was mine. Kirkman Kamp’s Duncan and Ruth took pity on us and opened the camp store so we could purchase clothes for the following day. I really love my 2 button down cotton shirts and plan to use them while we are back in Tahiti in December.



The rest of the evening included dinner, a discussion about the camp and briefly meeting the one person who would become so important to the 4 of us and then bed. Oh, did I mention that our wake up was for 5:00 am?

So, 5:00 am if was... Knock on the door, quickly getting dressed…no clothes meant easy clothing choices and off we went to meet our outstanding guide, Anton and his tracker associate, Victor. We quickly drank our coffee (hot chocolate for Jeff), ate our biscuit and away we went.


Kirkman’s Kamp vehicles are Land Rovers without a covering. The weather was bright and cool. We saw many wonderful things while we were with Anton and Victor. We got up close and personal with rhinos, had drinks with hippos and learned so much about the birds and wildlife due to Anton’s vast eclectic knowledgebase. Some of my favorite memories were encountering 3 male lions on the road sunning themselves. After observing and taking a million photos of the 3 lions, we began to drive away to continue our adventure and low and behold we found 3 rhinos approaching the lions. Anton expertly turned the Land Rover around and got us in position to observe what could be quite a battle. Imagine being on a low hill waiting, waiting, waiting…wondering if there was going to be a confrontation and if there was a confrontation, who would win. 3 lions versus 3 rhinos. Here’s what happened. The rhinos approached the lions and the lions stared at the rhinos then the lions got up and slowly walked away giving the rhinos the right of way. Since I’m not a blood and guts kind of girl, this was quite a moment!

My other favorite moment involving Anton’s intuition was observing a mother leopard laying beside the road under a huge tree. This mother had left her male cub 2 days before to hunt. As she sat, we watched. She would call out in a quiet cry hoping that her cub could hear her but not too loud to let other predators know her position. Anton told us to be patient. After 10 minutes, we were rewarded with a distant call from the cub. Watching and hearing the cub approach his mother was breathtaking. Their reunion was so touching as the mother leopard groomed her baby and they both did the leopard version of purring.

We were so fortunate to have Anton and Victor with us. Anyone reading this blog, please ask me for more information and stories about them. I would work with them again…anytime!
Our total experience from rocky beginning to the end was wonderful. Kirkman’s Kamp is a beautiful, restful lodge that allows wildlife to roam through it. At night, you must be walked to your room by a guide so they can protect you from any unexpected wildlife encounter. We walked carefully past a hyena and saw the dung (poop) of an elephant during our 3 night stay. The rooms are cozy and very thoughtfully arranged. There was air conditioning! Temperatures ranged from high 60’s when we woke up to 100 degrees from 2-4 pm. I also want to mention that at all 3 &Beyond camps, shampoo, conditioner, liquid body soap, and body scrub is available in everyone’s rooms. I loved their products. The only thing that you really need to bring is your suntan lotion.

The food at Kirkman’s was the best of the 3 lodges. I believe it is accessibility to good, fresh food in South Africa than gives Kirkman’s the edge up. Botswana is just so remote.

As far as game goes, you get more bang for the buck at Kirkman’s Kamp. The camp is part of the Sabi Sands region of Kruger National Park. This area is greener and wetter than Botswana. Because Botswana has more vast open land than Kruger, accessing game was easier at Kirkman’s. We did not experience the larger numbers of animals in the herds that we saw in Botswana though. I still feel that it was important to have bush drives in 2 completely different areas so we could learn about what makes the experience so different.
Going back to our luggage…Ruth and Katie (Anton’s fiancé btw) tried so hard to get answers. The commuter plane division of South African Airlines really is a lousy company. We were in Kirkman’s for 3 nights. Many promises and “stories” later, we received our luggage at 8:30 pm the night before we left. Learning to live with basically the clothes on our backs was a challenge but…we did it.

Leaving Kirkman’s was quite sad. This is a very well run lodge with the emphasis on the guest’s experience. The lodge feels warm and is genuinely friendly. Two of our dinners included 5 African songs performed by the staff. Can you imagine sitting outside under the African sky with the 4 of us and Anton listening to the staff singing African songs as they danced? This is a memory that I will cherish forever. So, hat’s off to Duncan, Ruth, Katie, Simon our extraordinary server, Zanila, the best massage giver and to Anton and Victor.

Stay tuned for the wrap up blog about our African experience.

Mari

Zambia and Thoughts about Airlines & Transfers

Zambia and Thoughts of Airlines and Transfers

Well... I’ve been an avid traveler for the past 15 years. We’ve always been pretty lucky with our luggage up until now…

First, though…I survived my plane rides to Zambia!!! We were promised 1 flight which would last 1 hour and a half. We actually had to take 3 flights. The first was a 5 minute flight to a tiny airstrip called Pom Pom in a 6 seat plane.

Next, we transferred to an 8 seat plane for a 15 minute ride to another tiny airstrip called Chitibe where we were transferred to our 3rd flight. This “lux” plane held 12 people. Prayers said, moist palms…but I DID IT!!!

We were transferred to a passport control point in Botswana in a van then taken to the water border between Botswana and Zambia. We had to take a tiny motorized boat to the Zambian point of the river and were met by another driver who then took us to the Zambian passport control where we paid our $50 per person Visa fee. It was completely unsettling as we past people with guns sitting idly as we had our van visually inspected.

We drove to the Royal Livingstone Hotel which is an elegant hotel by Zambian standards. We were formally greeted by their representative and then offered a cool drink and a warm hand massage. The rooms were disappointing but the grounds were outstanding. Animals roam free at the Royal Livingstone. We past a zebra on our way to our room!

After being in the bush for the past 6 hot days, all I wanted was a shower and air conditioning. Jeff joined Ruth and Dan and went to Victoria Falls. They walked through the Falls and had a blast. Afterwards, we were met by our driver and taken down a long bumpy dirt road to the dock where we met the 3 deck boat called the African Queen to take a sunset cruise down the Zambezi River. It was very crowded and full of cigarette smoke so we went to the top deck and joined the captain. What a guy! He shared his knowledge of the region and made sure that our group of 4 didn’t miss anything. The views were spectacular. We enjoyed watching an elephant swim from the shore across the Zambezi River to the other shore as the sun was setting. We were mesmerized watching an elephant mother caring for her baby. We also loved the hippos (especially Dan). Bad drinks, icky food but what a memory!

The following day, was our most difficult travel day. We had a formal tour of Victoria Falls in 100 plus degree weather. This is the low season at Victoria Falls so we were actually able to see the rock formations that the Falls flow over. This is not possible during high season. Victoria Falls is a must – the best that the impoverished nation of Zambia has to offer.

Our driver ran us back to our hotel to pick up our luggage for the airport. We stopped at a local market to purchase our a few things for Ruth and I found a batik with 4 dancing African women that I had to have to remind me of this very special place. Off to the airport we went where we had to wait…and wait…and wait. We watched our luggage being loaded on the airplane…then unloaded form the airplane. The excuse that South African’s commuter plane used was that it was too hot (42 c) and the plane wouldn’t take off with all of the passengers’ luggage on the plane. We were promised that our luggage would be delivered the following day…NOT!

Let’s talk about transfers…we put our trust with people on the ground on the local level. Having a clean, reliable car with a knowledgeable driver will be something that I will never take for granted again. All of our transfers and believe me, there were A LOT were reliable except our sunset cruise tour in Zambia. The issue was the tour company’s fault but they did resolve the issue and we did go on the sunset cruise. Having ProAfrica’s connections was the key and to you my clients, I assure you that knowing the right people and companies makes all the difference. Hat’s off to Maggie at ProAfrica!

Remember how I said that the airline promised that our luggage would be on the next flight? What they failed to let us know was that the next flight was 2 days later. I am now an experienced flyer who can live on next to no clothes. We bought a change of clothes at the gift shop at &Beyond’s Kirkman Kamp when we finally arrived (4 hours later than scheduled) but as Jeff and Dan said…WE ARRIVED!!

More on &Beyond Kirkmans Kamp with my next blog...

Mari

1st Safari - Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge in Botswana

OUR 1ST SAFARI - SANDIBE OKAVANGO SAFARI LODGE IN BOTSWANA

Here’s a little background information: I planned our first safari ever in Botswana. Maggie from ProAfrica – yes Protravel has an African Specialist who assisted me with choosing and arranging our accommodations. We worked with & Beyond because of their stellar reputation. We are traveling with my husband, Jeff and dear friends, Ruth and Dan. It is Dan, Jeff’s and my first safari. Right now, I am writing this overlooking part of the Okavango Delta at the Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. I hear hippos, birds and frogs right now. Off in the distance is a wildfire which has been going on for the past few days. It is across from the water because we are in a wetland. There are so many things to write about and I’ve decided to just give you the highlights.

First, & Beyond, Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. To call this place a lodge is not correct. There are only 8 detached bungalow rooms on the property. So far, I’ve counted 16 staff. The rooms have dual sinks, an outdoor shower, king beds and mosquito netting – another first for me! The room is maintained 3 times per day. Here’s something funny/interesting…there is elephant poop along the walkway. Why is there elephant poop around the walkway…because elephants roam freely – as do other animals like an occasional hippo. :-) (VERY COOL)
Every morning, we awake to a drum beating outside of our bungalow – at 5:30 am! A continental breakfast is served at 6:00am then the game drive leaves at 6:30am. The sunrises have been stupendous! We have two guides – Gift and Gomes who have been with us the entire time. Gift is 29 and the lead guide and Gomes is 22 and the spotter. The four of us have had our vehicle to ourselves which is great because if we want to stop and watch baboons at play for 20 minutes…it’s ok! It’s our time!

Sandibe’s property is huge. I feel as though I have been bounced around from the dry lands with impalas ranging to the wetlands that host birds of many kinds, antelope, hippos and more. Our first game drive was when we arrived. We were picked up at an airstrip (6 seat airplanes are NOT my thing) and taken to Sandibe which is 45 minutes away. On the way, we saw our first lions! What a way to begin.

Some of the highlights have been:
-a giraffe nursing her baby
-4 female lions and 2 babies deciding whether to chase and kill a giraffe
-elephants at play
-zebras and wildebeests sharing the same space
-baboons at play as well as the vervets (small monkeys) here on the property
-the sound of an angry elephant roar as wild dogs are taunting it
-Gomes pointing out a shooting star









I have a few observations to share:
-there are 3 vehicles with guides. They share their sightings and stay at a respectful distance from whatever they are observing
-our guides, Gift and Gomes are exceptionally knowledgeable. If they do not know an answer, they look it up in the books that they carry – books about birds and wildlife.
-our guides look at many things to track the animals. They look for vultures which indicate a recent kill, they follow wild dogs as they hunt, and they look at paw prints and can distinguish between all of the various animals
-this part of the Okavango Delta is so vast. This is harmony here in the way that the animals interact. Some of it brings smiles to your face as you see various animals living together and others are the reality of animal life…the hunted and the hunter.


I didn’t know what to expect from a safari. The sun is setting, the crickets are starting to sound out and the birds are calling. The electricity is off for the next 2 hours and my life has calmed down. I’ve reached out of my “comfort zone” and am proud of how I’ve handled the small challenges that this city girl has come across. We’ve concentrated on animals more than birds or plants at this location. Tomorrow, we are traveling to another part of the Okavango Delta and will be staying at & Beyond Xaranna. We will be observing more birds and plants than wildlife at Xaranna. Wish me luck on the next 6 seater airplane!!!





MARI

What to See in Cape Town

WHAT TO SEE IN CAPE TOWN

I’m on the plane going to Joberg then off to Maun Botswana to begin our safari adventure. Before I do, I wanted to squeeze in more Cape Town’s highlights.

From the Cape Grace Hotel in the Waterfront, we began our full day tour by driving past Bantry Bay, Clifton Bay and Camps Bay. Beautiful bays with houses overlooking the bay. We drove to Hout Bay where we stopped to take pictures of dolphins at play. From there we drove to the most Southwestern point in Africa – the Cape of Good Hope.
We visited the old lighthouse and saw the new lighthouse which was built because the old lighthouse too often was lost in the clouds and useless to sailors. We saw funky birds called Hadadas and Sacred Ibis. Sacred Ibis birds are seen in Egypt as well. They are interesting birds with long pointed black beaks. We also were greeted by an Agama – which looks like a black gecko. We took pictures of Ostriches sitting by the road…very cool.
Our next stop was at Simon’s Town. We saw the African Penguins. Many were molting. We were lucky that the weather G-d’s were on our side…breezy weather, partly sunny with the only sprinkle occurring while we were having our lunch.

Our final stop was at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. I’m not a garden person. Black thumb…little patience. However, the garden is a special, magical place with many areas of smaller garden arrangements ranging from florals, to water responsible plants, to endangered plants and even an area of medicinal plants. There were benches to sit on to enjoy this beautiful part of Cape Town. By the time we visited the gardens, the weather was turning. There were areas to picnic and I wish that we had more time to stay and investigate all that the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens had to offer…oh well, next time! :-)
I hope you have enjoyed my description of Cape Town. It is an emerging city with a lot of promise!!

Mari

&Beyond Xaranna Tented Camp

& Beyond Xaranna Tented Camp

I am now at & Beyond Xandara Tented Camp which has 9 tents in another part of Botswana's Okavango Delta about a 15 minute plane ride (did I say small plane) from Sandibe. These are the lux tents. Each tent has it's own plunge pool, a/c (when it works) a huge king size bed with mosquito netting (a must) and a large dual sink bathroom with a separate tub and shower. Very pretty and impressive.

It is hot as in H.O.T.! We awake at 5:00 am for our coffee and biscuit, and then at 5:30, off we go. Yesterday, we were out until 2:00 pm which was a bit too long due to the heat. We think it was over 100 degrees. The African sun is brutal. Staying hydrated and covered was the answer. I will provide a suggested packing list at the end of my journal with a few comments about heat, coverage and keeping hydrated.


The game here is not as plentiful as Sandibe. Instead of turning the corner and finding an elephant herd, we are seeing an isolated elephant or elephants in the distance.

We've met some very nice people along the way. A couple from Santa Monica getting married at the end of the journey, a mother and son from Holland, Brian who trains the guides for & Beyond to name a few.

The pace on safari is leisurely. Getting up in the morning when it is dark is a challenge (I would recommend leaving your clothes for the next day out the night before). We have our coffee (Jeff - hot chocolate) and biscuit then go on a game drive. Half way through the game drive is a coffee break (bathroom break). After the drive around 10:30, there is breakfast. Lunch is around 1:30, then a rest, then tea is at 4:00-4:30 then another evening game drive or a boat ride around the Delta. Finally, drinks around around 7:30 then dinner is served at 8:00. What a day, right?

Tomorrow, is our 1 hour 15 minute ride to Zambia. We have been warned that it is bumpy and in a 6 seater airplane. So, wish us luck and I'll tell you all about it in the next blog.


Mari

Cape Town, South Africa

Hello from Cape Town, South Africa!!!!

What an amazing city! There is just so much to see and do here. If you are visiting Cape Town alone, 3 days and 2 nights is perfect. We are food and wine lovers so we actually started in the Wine Lands. If YOU are food and wine lovers, then I would suggest 4 days and 3 nights there if you are just arriving from a long flight or 3 days 2 nights if this is the end of your journey to Africa.

More about Cape Town. This is the post aparthheid Cape Town. We have enjoyed speaking with Blacks, Coloured and Whites about this hot topic. We have been to Table Mountain for outstanding views and learning about the local flora and fauna. We toured the District 6 Museum and learned about how a racially mixed community of 60,000 residents was re-zoned as a whites-only area. Bull dozers arrived and razed all of the houses and commercial buildings. These were people's houses for generations and in a matter of a few weeks, all was destroyed. WOW!!

We enjoyed two great dinners. Aubergine is in the Gardens District. The food in creative using local ingredients. Very good.

Dinner at the Roundhouse Restaurant was outstanding. Our friends, Ruth and Dan both felt it deserved one star from Michelin. Anyways, the service was perfect as was the setting overlooking a large green space leading to Clifton Beach - one of the most affluent areas of Cape Town. The service began with 2 amuse bouche and champagne. We enjoyed bean veloute soup, potato risotto, lamb served 2 ways and dessert. Each presentation was unique.

All in all, I can say the food in South Africa has been thoroughly outstanding both in quality and presentation.

It's 4:00 am and I have to go...where? Botswana!!!

Our Safari Begins!!!!

Mari

Wine Touring and Eating around South Africa

What a wonderful day! Jeff and I are both so surprised by the warmth, the quality and the beauty here in South Africa's Wine Land. It's similar to Sonoma more than Napa. The wineries that we visited today were each unique. All of the wines we have tried are young. They are good for the most part...drinkable but not yet excellent.

Today, our driver Kenneth started our day at Delaire Graff Estate. The Graff part is the diamond jeweler. The wine estate is adjacent to a lovely small hotel called (no surprise) Delaire Graff Lodge and Spa. The views were breathtaking. The hotel was at 100% occupancy so I couldn't see the rooms from the inside. What I did see was that each room had its own pool...very romantic!! The spa and gym was serene and modern. Now to the winery...We tried their Sauvignon Blanc which was my favorite, a Chenin Blanc and their Delaire Botsmaskop named after the peak of the local mountain. Good wines...not great.

Next, we went for a wine and chocolate pairing at Waterford Estate. This winery really understood how to use space. They had an indoor/outdoor tasting area. It was such a pleasant day...we had our tasting outdoors. We had 3 different parings. I loved the Kevin Arnold Shiraz paired with the masala chai dark chocolate. Next, we had their Waterford Cab which was so so with their rock salt dark chocolate. Jeff's favorite wine was their Heatherleigh (pretty name, right?) which is a Muscat Semilion blend - dessert wine for those who aren't familiar...served with a flowered flavored chocolate.

After this "exhasting" wine tasting...we had to have lunch! We were driven to the Hidden Hills section of Stellenbosch to have lunch at Overture Restaurant. I can see why so many people write about this restaurant. It is fabulous with a stunny view of the Hidden Valley! Our lunch began with homemade bread and marinated eggplant with zucchini. We both enjoyed the Cauliflower puree with seared tuna and sweet corn. This was a very complex dish which the chef pulled off perfectly. Next, we had gnocchi with pumpkin and finally their entrecote. The ambiance of this restaurant was totally unpretenscious and we enjoyed every moment and bite.

MARI


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is now 2 days later and 2 dinners later. We dined at Pierneef a La Motte Restaurant at the La Motte Wine Farm...btw...wineries are called wine farms in South Africa (very cool). The setting was fantastic. From the highway, you go up a long gravel road which ends in front of a "goddess" like statue pouring water to wine. We were greeted at the door by our lovely server, walked past the open kitchen in which we watched the young female chef. We then arrived at our table. What was so much fun were the 3 chandeliers. Each was made of dangling chinawear. That plus contemporary chairs and a wood burning fireplace, the setting was set for an excellent experience. We enjoyed barley soup with beef marrow with a hint of lemon pepper, bokkom salad with dried apricots. Bokkum is dried salty fish. We had salmon trout with celery root puree, fennel and tarragon sauce...all for about $100 USD for two including wine pairings.

The following night was our last night in Franschhoek. We saved The Tasting Room for last. The concept of The Tasting Room is that we are supposed to be surprised with this authentic African dining experience. Each of the 8 tastings came with a story ranging from the personal experience of the servers - historic stories, grandmother stories or information about the roots used to the restaurant manager's story of the Happy Egg which was slow cooked for 40 minutes. Some of the small plates included: beetroot, spinach and onion puree, buttermilk labne, dill and cucber granita to begin with, organic egg yolk, vegetable cornflakes, mustard leaf, sherry caramel, "Wonderbag" pasture fed lamb shoulder, cauliflower, amasi, radish, fermented garlic to name a few.

Because the restaurant was at Auberge Le Quartier Francais, we were able to walk to our room safely and think about all of the amazing African flavors that we just enjoyed. The food there is outstanding and we never had this kind of experience before!

On our last morning at Auberge le Quartier Francais, we met with the auberge's owner, Susan and Linda the General Manager. They are devoted to this property and I feel that it is a MUST part of your visit to Cape Town.

For more details...please contact me after November 1st :-)

Stay tuned for Cape Town!

MARI

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After lunch, we visited a 4th generation family winery named Overgaauw. Loved their Merlot and Port wines.

During our stay at Le Quartier Francais, I have been so fortunate to count on Linda Coltart, the General Manager for her suggestions for restaurants and wineries. Last night, Linda outdid herself with the recommendation to dine at Pierneef a La Motte Restaurant. We had a wonderful meal in a contemporary setting. The manager, Anne de Jager could not have been more friendly. From the moment we drove into this winery/restaurant we felt like we were going to experience something special. The drive leading up to the building ends in front of a statue of a goddess like woman pouring water. We were greeted at the door and quickly escorted to our table. There are 3 chandeliers with 3 different china pattern dishes hangling from each fixture in the dining room. What a great fun concept!

Our meal began with a salmon tartar amuse bouche and home made bread. The dinner concept is new at his restaurant. You are allowed to choose half or full portions with the emphasis on the half portions so you can try their many unique dishes - sort of like tapas style. We loved the barley soup with hints of lemon pepper. We bravely tried their bokkom salad (bokkom is salted dried fish) with dried apricot and almonds and had their salmon trout with fennel-terragon sauce. Dessert was a home made apple tart with cinnamon ice cream. Anne helped us with La Motte Winery wine pairings and the entire bill was approximately $100! What a find!

Tomorrow, we are going to be picked up for a site tour of a new hotel called, The Pepper Club and go to Le Quartier Francais's famous The Tasting Room for dinner.

I can't wait to share this with you...

MARI

Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek

Le Quartier Francais is such a wonderful boutique hotel. It is located in the small town of Franschhoek off the main street. It is a quiet, established 21 room hotel. Even though the hotel is approximately 30 years old, it is completely modern and the bedrooms and bathrooms look new. The rooms range from their standard Auberge Rooms, to the Grande Rooms with oversized chairs and huge windows. Next, is our room which is the Petite Garden Suite with a private garden. The final two rooms are the Auberge Suites wth a private pool and a loft for the children and finally the Four Quarters rooms which are 4 rooms surrounding a private courtyard and pool. All of the beds have inviting bed linens, wood burning fireplaces and flat screen tvs. Most of the spacious bathrooms have dual sinks and seperate showers and tubs. Most of the rooms surround the hotel's inviting pool with have large chaise lounges around the pool. The hotel provides complementary transportation to many of the restaurants and places around Franschhoek. This is sophisticated elegance - casual style.

The hotel has 2 restaurants. The Common Room is their casual restaurant that also serves daily breakfast which if you are MY client...is a Virtuoso amenity. The second restaurant is their world reknown, The Tasting Room which I will write about in a few days. Last night, we were exhasted so we decided to eat in The Common Room. Dinner is served "tapas style" with the exception of chicken or steak served a la carte. We enjoyed 2 different salads and Jeff had a short rib pizzette which was so good and I had probably one of the best wild mushroom risottos that I've ever eaten. Hats off to The Common Room.

There is one all purpose spa room which offers various kinds of facials, body treatments and manicures. It is very peaceful and the therapists were quite good.

To orient yourselves...Franschhoeck is one half hour away from Stollenbosch and Stollenbosch is 45 minutes away from Cape Town. My next blogs will be more about the food and wine...better than I ever expected!

Stay tuned!!

Mari

Our 35 hour LA to the Wine Lands of So. Africa adventure

...well, we made it! 3 planes later and a few delays. Here are some surprises...
British Air was very nice. The staff couldn't have been more friendly. So thank you, British Air.
We landed in Cape Town and were driven to Franschoek. The airport was outside of Cape Town so went through rolling hills, past shanty towns that the driver was embarrased by through Stellenbosch to Franschoek. The routing reminded me of a smaller Sonoma/Napa. Stellenbosch boasts 300 wineries and Franschoek has less. Stellenbosch has a 30,000 student college. The city is compact with cute little boutiques. Of course, I HAD to stop at a children's boutique for my first purchase...dresses for my new granddaughter, Maddy.
Tomorrow, I will describe our wonderful hotel, Le Quartier Francais and it's lovely General Manager, Linda Coltart.
Mari

SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

I remember our first cruise. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the guest lecturers. One of the lecturers showed us how easy it was to pick pocket someone. There were about 400 people in the audience. He showed us a taping of how he had just pickpocketed 15 people from the audience. He had pickpocketed watches, wallets, jewelery and even someone's silver buckeled belt.

Here are a few scans:

1. "Fake Baby" - a few people are gathered around you and a woman with a baby "trips" and throws her "baby" into your arms. That "baby" is a doll and while you are grabbing for the baby, other people - sometimes children will be taking your wallet or camera from you.

2. "Pizza Anyone?" - In hotels around Disney World, people were finding pizza delivery menus conveniently slipped under their doors. There was a line for your telephone, credit card and delivery time. Oops...you just got duped by identity thiefs.

3. "Don't take that Rap" - in NYC, a singer stands on the corner and shouts, "Check out my music" and hands you a free copy of his CD. He seems nice and even offers to autograph it. Great, right? NO, once you are holding the autographed disc, his buddies surround you and demand that you pay him for the disc.

4. "Watch out before you grab your cab in Las Vegas" - One of the common scams in LV is a cabbie who INSISTS on unloading your bags when you arrive to your hotel or airport. He says he is in a hurry, slams his trunk shut and speeds away. When you turn around and recover from his rudeness, you realize that he sped away with a piece of your luggage. ALWAYS note the driver's name, name of the cab company and cab number.

5. "But it was free" - Free massages by the water sounds relaxing, right? One of my dearest friends had their wallet stolen as he enjoyed his "free" massage by the water in Thailand.

If you have any stories to share, please let me know.
The more that we share these stories, the safer we will be!
Mari

SOUTH COAST PLAZA: BE PAID TO SHOP!!!

My clients have an opportunity to enjoy many value added amenities because of my association with VIRTUOSO. An example of this is at SOUTH COAST PLAZA in Costa Mesa, CA. South Coast Plaza is one of the few malls in the country that are a part of Virtuoso.

The Virtuoso amenities include:

****Complimentary daily valet parking

****Entrance to ACCESS VIP Suite offering complimentary refreshments and a dedicated

concierge

****Gift of a South Coast Plaza leather luggage tag

****BEST OF ALL!!!! $50 South Coast Plaza gift certificate to guests staying at:

Montage Laguna Beach

Pelican Hill

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

St. Regis Monarch Beach

(one certificate per room per hotel per year)

This fun opportunity is for people who live outside of Orange County. So, for ANYONE who loves to shop...please contact me about "Shop 'till You Drop" at South Coast Plaza or staying at the hotels that I've listed.

Happy Travels!

Mari Marks

mari.marks@protravelinc.com

FIJI and The Bachelorette

I'm really not much of a reality tv person. Last season, I was surprised to see one of my favorite resorts in the world, LA TAHA'A featured in ABC's The Bachelor. Silly show ... perfect choice of location though!

This season, ABC's The Bachelorette is featuring NAMALI RESORT AND SPA in beautiful FIJI. Getting to Fiji is a simple 10 hour red-eye flight from Los Angeles. Namali is a fantastic 5 star resort in the Northern islands of Fiji. The resort is offering a ROMANTIC 7 night package including air, meals, all beverages, lots of activities such as horeback riding and a dolphin day tour, spa time private candleight dinner and more. The price for this fantasy begins at $5400 per person. Fantastic, right? This special is for new bookings only from now until August 12, 2011.

Please call me for details and to check availability.

Mari

818-455-0078

mari.marks@protravelinc.com

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VIRTUOSO FOR YOU?

Here is the inside scoop into travel consortiums.

PROTRAVEL INC. is the fantastic travel agency that I am a proud member of. We have over 1,000 agents and are the 17th largest travel agency in the country. Our President, Priscella Alexander is one of the most respected travel consultants in the world. Her dedication to excellance and observing the highest ethics is part of our Protravel culture.


Protravel is a member of VIRTUOSO. Virtuoso's motto is "The Best of the Best". As a member of Virtuoso, my clients benefit from special amenities such as upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, food and beverage credits, spa credits and more. Many times, Virtuoso has special pricing as well. Click here to see our digital magazine http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/virtuosolife/20110708/#/0



How does this affect you...let me tell you a story.

A wonderful honeymoon couple asks me to help them with a trip to Italy. They wanted to visit Florence, Rome and Tuscany. I used my Virtuoso connections and my relationship with the hotels to secure 3 Virtuoso hotels and was able to get daily breakfasts (average of $40/person/day), upgrades at 2 of the hotels ($225 for one and $335 for the second) and one hotel offered $100 spa credit, the second hotel offered $85 food and beverage credit and the third hotel offered $100 food and beverage credit. They visited Italy for 10 days.

Their VALUE ADDED AMENITIES WERE $3,100.

Sounds good? Contact me so I can find these wonderful amenities for you!

HOW ABOUT OJAI THIS SUMMER?

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is one of my favorite places to get away in Southern California. Ojai is only 1 1/2 hours away from Los Angeles. Once you are in this pastoral region, you feel like you truly are away from all of life's hustle bustle. Ojai Valley Inn has something for everyone!
If you love to GOLF, the golf course is incredible. The SPA has everything that you would want in a spa. The services range from relaxation to body and face treatments as well as exercise classes. TENNIS anyone? In 2008, Ojai Valley Inn and Spa was listed as one of the top 50 Tennis resorts in the country.

You may ask, "What should I do with my kids?" Well, Ojai Valley Inn has horseback riding, CAMP OJAI for the younger children and TEEN OJAI with teen specific activities such as Teen Tennis Clinics, dance classes, Golf Clinics and mountain biking to name a few.

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is offering many PACKAGES which include complimentary rooms for the kids, complimentary rounds of golf or spa treatments and more!

Call me for details.
Mari

SPECIAL PRICING FOR TAHITI now until JULY 9th

FRENCH POLYNESIA or Tahiti as many people call it is only a 7 1/2 hour plane ride from Los Angeles! FP is also only a 2 hour time difference from the West Coast.

For those of you who are not familiar with FP, imagine Hawaii without condos, big box megastores or traffic jams. French Polynesia is wonderful to celebrate your honeymoon, anniversary or for families who love spending their time together in warm, beautiful, clear water. Most of the islands that make of FP are surrounded by coral reefs which create a lagoon that keeps the waves away from the beaches. These peaceful waters allow people who love to snorkel or scuba fantastic opportunities to see beautiful coral and fish. Also, for people with young children, FP is a wonderful introduction to native turtles and swimming with dolphines.


I have special access to a promotion for new bookings only with up to $500/couple off the total price as well as free nights.

Call me for details!
Mari

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

To me, airlines are rarely the hero. Here is an example of why Southwest Airlines WAS the hero. Southwest Airlines had a wonderful sale which ended on the 23rd of June. The low rates were celebrating their 40th Birthday.

We had already made reservations with our dear friends to go from Burbank to Sacramento for our daughter's wedding in the Napa Valley. I had purchased these tickets in March. I was able to revise the pricing LOWER online without any difficulty or penalty. Now, I have a $100 air credit to be used by mid-March! I was able to easily do this transaction on the computer without any change fees!

So the only question is...Where should I go?
Mari

River Cruise Special 2 for 1

After knowing me for awhile, most of you know that 2 for 1 pricing isn't always 2 for 1. Most of the time cruise lines market the 2 for 1 pricing off the brochure price rather than their promotional price. This promotion is a true 2 for 1 exclusively for clients of Protravel!
Avalon Waterways is a fabulous river cruise company. They have the newest river cruises on the market. Avalong Waterways is offering 2 for 1 pricing on 8 sailings this Fall along the Danube and Rhine Rivers and Paris to Normandy Beaches. The cruise must be reserved from now until July 27th for sailings July through October. All is based on availability and subject to change. Call me for details!

Single Supplement Special

I love a great value. Single supplements are frustrating to those who want to experience travel by themselves. Abercrombie & Kent has a tour to Kenya in September and they are waiving the single supplement! They also are reducing their Turkey tour in September to 75% and their tour to China in July and August to 50%. Feel free to share this with any singles who love to travel and are interested in these exotic destinations. Singles rejoice!

Everyone Needs a Jack

Everyone needs a special person in their life like my dearest friend, Jack. Jack fixes all things computers. Not only does he fix computers, he patiently (unlike my daughters and husband) teaches me about computers. Jack says, "Computer people will inherit the world...not the meek".
Here's what happened while I was away. My mini-computer wouldn't let me work on blogspot!!!
Java (whatever that is) was corrupted and my husband, Jeff couldn't fix it. Frustrating when you are in the mood to write. I had to write on the hotel and river cruise computers which were not as convenient. In comes Jack.
For the past few years, Jack and Ellen (my best friend and Jack's special someone) and Jeff and I have been having Tech Night. I cook, Jack techs and answers ALL of our questions and fixes all of our problems. Tonight is Tech Night. I have 6 computer issues and by the end of dinner, they will be fixed and I will have learned a little more about computers.
So, lesson learned... Take care of the Jack's in your life!

Prague II & The Augustine Hotel

We found Prague to be a city with fantastic energy, history and beauty. It is a must see for anyone who loves history, loves food and loves music. Very happy that we went. We loved our private guide Peter who made the city more understandable and was able to explain the history of the Czech Republic as well has Prague's history. Prague, Budapest and Vienna are each unique and I loved the 3 cities very much.

We stayed at the Augustine Hotel which was a 10 minute walk across the river from the Jewish Quarter. What a very interesting hotel. Each room that I visited was completely different from the other. The hotel incorporates 7 different buildings and is a working Augustine Church. The service was impeccable. I loved the soft linen bedding - after a long day of touring Prague, there is nothing like a comfortable bed! The bathrooms were huge with duo sinks and a separate shower and bathtub. The restaurant has outside seating with heaters and the bar is fantastic. The hotel is a 10 out of 10!

This trip was full of firsts for my husband and I. It was our first time to Central Europe and our first time on a river cruise. Watching the people and societies from various cities and countries coming out from Communist occupancy was intriguing. Some vacations are joyful and fun while others are thought provoking. This vacation was definitely thought provoking. I learned a lot from Anna in Budapest. After her family was released from the concentration camp and returned to Budapest to search for the remaining family members who were still alive, their next challenge was watching the Communists paint their beautiful city inside and out grey. Families were moved to apartments - 4 to a room and had to share their kitchens and bathrooms were other families. I can't imagine surviving the Holocaust and returning to years and years of grey.

Vienna was awe inspiring. It is a city of music and beauty and I can't wait to return. Nuremberg has different areas that remember WWII and honor those who lost their lives.

River cruising a a wonderful way to see Central Europe. I would definitely recommend this mode of travel and AMA Waterways as a wonderful river cruise line. I admired how AMA Waterways looked after their guests from the moment they arrived at their initial airport and returned them to the airport on the way back home. They are a wonderful company that puts their guests first.

I'm home now, ready to go through a lot of pictures.
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mari

Prague Day 1

We arrived into Prague on a rainy afternoon. This city is unlike any other city because of the fantastic architecture. More about this later after my tours.

I have to talk about the FOOD. Last night, my foodie sister-in-law, Andrea suggested that we go to Pasta Fresca in the older part of town. We went down 3 levels below the street level. This restaurant is so authentic - full of Prague residents. We enjoyed fantastic food in a great relaxed setting. Pasta Fresca was reasonably priced with a great wine list from Italy. The restaurant is part of the Ambiente restaurant group and I would give it a 9 out of 10.

We woke up this morning, had a quick breakfast at our hotel, Hotel Augustine (more later) and off we went on a quest for comfy closed toe shoes. Prague is a city of cobblestones and in some places, VERY slippery cobblestones made from marble. After dodging puddles last night, I needed better walking shoes. Our quest ended at the Ecco store. After my successful purchase we went in search of the Astrological Clock. We arrived 10 minutes before noon. What a zoo of humanity! The clock must have given Disney his inspiration for "It's a Small World". Groups of people were dancing regional dances in costume - it was a blast.

Of course, being just past noon, we needed lunch. We needed to meet friends in 90 minutes and found a fantastic 10 out of 10 restaurant near the Augustine Hotel. Restaurant Tbilisi serves Georgian (not the U.S. state of but the country of) cuisine and this restaurant is a must. It was CLEAN, the menu was in English, the service was perfect and it was reasonably priced. Please put this on your list of restaurants to try as well.

We met up with our friends, Grant and Kathy who have been wonderful traveling buddies and our beyond amazing tour guide Peter for a 4 hour (ouch) walking tour of the Prague Castle and Mala Strana. Peter was a wealth of knowledge. We saw magnificent views of Prague from the top of the Castle as well as walked through gardens and even saw albino peacocks. We heard the history of the Czech people and how life was like during the Communist years.

Having a personal guide rather than a book (sorry Rick) made my experience more personal and in depth. My questions could be answered. Hearing someone else's life story is meaningful to me and will become a part of me. A book can only do so much and having Peter and his personal insight was worth every penny. Tomorrow, we will be visiting the Jewish Quarter with Peter in the morning then joining the AMA Waterways group for a visit to the Terezin concentration camp so stayed tuned..

Nuremberg and the AMA wrapup

I quick word about Nuremberg. This was the one tour I really didn't want to see. I couldn't imagine honoring the gathering place where the Nazi's stood in formation responding to Hitler. We just returned from a very interesting tour given by a representative from the Historical Museum. Werner explained how the Nazi's came into power and how they used propaganda to further their cause. Throughout the tour, he explained how important it was to educate children so they can be aware if a Nazi like situation should it arise again. Interesting man!

Tonight is our last evening on the Amalegro. It has been a very good experience - and I would definitely sail with them again. Our ship was kept exceptionally clean. The timing and organization of their itinerary and tours works very well. Our room was small yet comfortable. I especially liked the shower doors rather than shower curtains. It's the staff that really makes this a wonderful cruise experience. Thank you Kate our wonderful and funny Cruise Manager!

For the most part I enjoyed the AMA Waterways tours. It is my rule of thumb never to take ships' tours but because AMA includes most the the tours in their pricing, I wanted to experience the tours myself. One has to be aware that the pace of the tours takes longer than an individual tour because of the time spent to organize 20 people plus delays for bathroom breaks. Normally, I really don't have the patience for this. The tours were more overviews rather than in depth with the exception of the concert in Vienna. At least I know which cities I would like to revisit and spend more quality time in. I will return to Vienna and Budapest. I would love to drive through the Wacher Valley in Austria as well. Prague is tomorrow and I'll follow up with Prague in my next blog.

I would definitely recommend AMA Waterways to my clients. River cruising is different from traditional cruising. It is just so much more relaxed.l Right now, I'm writing this blog in my room with the "French" balcony open. I've been watching small villages go by, been through a number of locks along the Danube River, have watched floating ducks and swans and heard birds singing in the trees. Is this a 5 star experience? No, the the accommodations are too small for this and while the food is plentiful and good, it's just not great. The service and attention to making sure that you are enjoying yourself balances everything out. AMA Waterways is known as a premium river cruise company and I would give this a 4+ star rating out of 5.

Austria - Vienna and Salzburg

I was amazed by Austria. BTW, they have great T-shirts that say Austria doesn't have kangaroos! I saw quite a few Aussies from our ship buying those T-shirts.

We visited Vienna (Wien) on a Sunday. Great for Jeff and devistating for me - all the shops were closed! What a dynamic and interesting city. Vienna is gorgeous. The boulevards are meant for walking. Everything seems grand. The churches, the buildings and the museums. The buildings are Baroque style and so elegant. This is a MUST city to visit in Europe. The people were friendly and most of them spoke English. Getting around was easy as well. Don't forget to try a Sacher Torte - this is where they were first created at Hotel Sacher and they are delicious. In the evening, we went to a Mozart and Strauss concert. Even this was a surprise. There were 9 people in the orchestra, 2 dancers and 2 opera singers. It was amazing the hear the sound that those 9 instruments made.
Vienna was a 9.5 on the Mari scale.

Salzburg was interesting but too touristy for me. The drive there from Linz was quite pretty. We drove through Austria's Lake District with views of beautiful rolling hills and tiny villages. The drive was over 2 hours via bus with a 1 hour stop in a small village. EVERYTHING in Salzburg is about the Sound of Music. I wonder if Julie Andrews would feel like singing after hearing about it ad nauseum. Mozart's birthplace was crowded and hot. Definitely a 4 on the Mari scale.

Next blog an AMAWaterways wrapup