This cruise is in our rear view mirror, but we have wonderful memories to take home. We’ve traveled 5188 nautical miles on Silver Shadow. South Side Story, the Silversea World Cruise 2023, is sailing from Sydney to Fort Lauderdale from 9 January 2023 until 28 May 2023. There are 250 world cruisers and, on this segment, 71 “seggies,” as we are called since we are not doing the whole world cruise, but only a segment or two. You could call us footnotes in the South Side Story. We consider ourselves so very fortunate to have been able to see this part of the world even if it has not always been pretty or comfortable. We will always remember moments like snorkeling in Madagascar, tasting a mangosteen and rambutan for the first time, and seeing all the lemurs and chameleons. We are waiting to board our flight home and it promises to be one of those trips that seems to go on for days: the kind of journey when you don’t know what time it is or even what day it is. I will mark the passing of days by finding a new Wordle on my phone. I trust Wordle more than my watch on trips like this. Anyway, I will post some random pictures that I love while we wait for boarding to begin.
We stopped at a school of art and music in Zanzibar and this band performed for us. Their music is called Taarab. The violinists are brothers. Below is a picture of an adorable little girl who was at the school. Her mother sang with the band.
We walked down to the docks in Zanzibar to see the African dhows. They haven’t changed much in centuries. Below is a picture at the boatyard where the boats are still built by hand. They used to “sew” the boards together with rope because they were afraid a huge magnetic force under the sea would pull out all the nails and the sailors would perish.
Check out the huge black fruit bats hanging in the tree in a botanical part in Mauritius. Black fruit bats are among the larges of all bats. Somewhere in the world, can’t remember where right now, we have heard people talking about making a delicious fruit bat stew. No, thanks.
This massive old baobab tree was in the botanical garden in Mauritius.
When you drive an hour and a half up almost 7000 feet above sea level hoping the fog will clear and you can look down into the crater of Piton Maido on Reunion Island and it doesn’t clear, here is what you see. Then you get to drive an hour and a half back down. What goes up must come down.
Who’s up for one more elephant picture?
We spent yesterday morning at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town. It was beautiful. The Cape is one of the six floral kingdoms of the world.
We followed up our garden walk with a wine tasting at Klein Constantia, established 1685. Cape Town is a fabulous city. There is so much to see and do.
Today we hired a car and driver to take us out of Cape Town and into the winelands. Reza, our driver, had arranged a master tasting at a winery in Paarl called Fairview. The wines were so delish and each was served with cheese made on the farm. We are already eagerly awaiting about four cases to be delivered to our door. Then Reza took us to an incredible little hotel for a fabulous lunch. Waiting to catch a plane has ever been so much fun.
The view from out table at La Petite Ferme. This is one of those perfect little places that only locals know about. Notice that the grape leaves are turning colors. Remember, it’s autumn here.
Last stop before the airport: Ernie Els’ winery with the must-have green.
Safe travels home. It’s been delightful following your adventures.
We are enjoying your adventures, too. Let me know when you get home and we can plan to meet for lunch or something.
Welcome back home! Your pictures are wonderful!
We need to catch up over a glass of wine asap
Enjoyed all your adventures. Sure would love to have been along for the ride.
It was fun but we are ready to come home. I don’t know how those world cruisers do it for 5 months!
Safe travels home. Thanks for sharing wonderful stories and pictures with us.
Your exit was fabulous!