Visiting Kruger Park

We recently spent a couple of days at Satara camp in Kruger Park. We did this so that we could take early morning and evening game drives from a spot more centrally located within the park as the rules are that cars must be out of the park or in a camp by 5:30 pm. One afternoon just before our drive we spotted a honey badger moving around our area tipping over garbage cans and searching the contents. Anne was able to get some good photos of him.

PEEK!!!!

Note his enormous claws. He can be vicious.

This elephant uprooted a small tree and carried it onto the road to munch.

He proceeded to eat both roots and leaves and to block the road in both directions. We were first in line in our direction so had plenty of time and advantage for good photos.

Elephants Up Close

On Sunday Anne and Yasent had an elephant adventure. We went along to watch and to take photographs. They began with a lesson on elephant anatomy and proceeded with meeting and touching the elephants and then walking with them, feeding them, and finally riding them. It was a fantastic experience especially for a ten-year old boy.




Below Yasent is getting an elephant kiss.

Return to South Africa

On May 21 after a long flight on Ethiad Airways with a stop in Abu Dhabi we finally arrive in Johannesburg and made the connection to Nelspruit. We then took our rental car and drove the last few miles to Hazyview and our marvelous cottage that will be home for the next five weeks. Here are some view of where we are staying. We have two bedrooms, two bathrooms plus an outdoor shower, a large living room and a large formal dining room plus a full kitchen with stove and microwave, frig and freezer. We are set. A swimming pool is being constructed for us but we can't imagine having the time to enjoy it.

Above is our outdoor shower and on the right of the photo is the door to our bedroom. We are on the second floor. Below are two photos of the deck where the outdoor shower is.


This is the view from our bedroom.

Brief Stop in Egypt

We stopped for only 2 and 1/2 days in Egypt on our way to South Africa. During that time we stayed in a fun apartment in a part of Giza that is very rural. Our apt. was on the 4th floor up what seemed like thousands of stairs. We were across from a camel stable and we had wonderful views of the pyramids and the sphinx.
This first photo is our view as we lay in our bed. That is our balcony just outside the door.

View from the balcony. We could see all three pyramids of Giza and if we went up to the roof above us we could see the sphinx.




No visit to Cairo could be complete without seeing a bellydancer. Bill was able to get very close.

Potpourri

May 1 was the annual Maritime Museum dinner and, as usual, Bill was the MC. Also, as usual he took daughters along. This year for the first time he was able to take all three daughters since Amy and Rostam are visiting for a few days.

Here are all three grandsons waiting for their lunch.

Rostam wanted to call his Daddy who is in Florida.

Success, he is actually talking to his dad, and using hand motions.

Maya has been at the school having the pre performance ballet photos taken.

Love of art

Saturday Bill was spending time with Lucas and Maya when Lucas stated "I have a creative thought." At that he went outside and pulled some dry grass. He proceeded to take paper and colors and glue and make an Easter picture. I took this photo of him with it on Easter Sunday. I'll also include a profile of Maya dressed for dinner.

The Colors of Spring

Today is Palm Sunday and the perfect day to dye the eggs for Easter. Children and grandchildren and loads of eggs and supplies arrived at our house for the big project. First thing to do was strip down for the coloring process.

Maya chose to finish an egg by plastering it with foamy shapes.

Lucas is enjoying the creative freedom.

Ester Bunny comes out once a year to preside over the egg projects. Maya decided she needs lots of extra hugs.

If you look closely you can see some very special eggs including Maya's foamy ones and Katie's feathered delight.

Brother and sister have had a lovely happy day.