For the Cheetah Lover

For the cheetah lover, and you know who you are:

Three Thousand Kilometers Later

I've driven just over 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles) since I left.

I started in the cold with loads of snow in the fields but dry roads which was great. Well, dry roads on the main highways!
I spent my last night in Canada in Val Marie and had a chance to go and have a look at the buffaloes in the snow.

From there I managed to cross one state per day. All this because I was keeping track of the weather forecast and I wanted to be way south before the next wave of arctic air with its accompanying set of snow storms was due to hit.

First Montana (see: loads of snow but dry roads):

Wyoming

Colorado, where I managed to pass through Denver just before afternoon rush hour.

And then I hit New Mexico and I slowed down drastically. In fact to keep up with my one-state-a day rate I would have had to drive at least to Albuquerque the day I entered New Mexico but I stopped at the first little town south of the Colorado/New Mexico border, Raton, and stayed there for the day.
Raton is really a cute little town. There is nothing special really but people are friendly. There is everything you need, and some very nice buildings.

I stayed in an old and very cheap little motel.

And from there I went back to my regular way of driving, meaning very little driving, lots of stopping and looking around.

I stayed in Las Vegas New Mexico (not Nevada) where there are hot springs.

And then Santa Fe.

Santa Fe is really a nice town with great museums, hundreds of art galleries, etc etc, but it is VERY touristy. And it is really mostly designed for extremely rich tourists.
At the back of my mind I had thought that I might spend Christmas in Santa Fe but my obsession with running away from snow forced me out this morning since I woke up to a couple of inches of snow on the ground. Nicely 20 kilometers south of Santa Fe there was no snow and temperatures were much better.

Right now I am stopped in Sorroco. I am planning to stay here four days. I am basically lying low and letting Christmas go by. Here is the place where I am staying... not very busy.

Sorroco, at first sight, looks a plain little town, but again with everything you need.
It feels great to stop for a few days. I took the electric kettle out of the camper and I am making myself tea. I've already washed the outside of the truck and in the next few days I am planning to do tasks like laundry, but I am looking forward to it.
It really feels good to stop for a bit. Just the same I am sort of thinking of going to Texas (maybe Big Bend National Park) and then maybe on all the way to Florida.
Time will tell.

Today: from Liard Hotpsprings, through Watson Lake and beyond

I made it to Watson Lake. This is my first time in the Yukon.

Of course I stopped at Liard Hot Springs but I only stayed three nights which is very short for me since I LOVE hot springs and especially Liard Hotsprings.

Here is just a random shot along the Alaska Highway.

Bisons along the highway

The famous Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake

As you can see the weather finally turned nice, just yesterday really. The days are long long long and it is fabulous.
Alright, now I am going to shut down the computer without checking my email, just in case there is something in there I don't want to have to deal with (very mature I realize - sarcasm!).

This was posted from Watson Lake Rec Center, next to the visitor center, itself next to the Sign Post Forest. 

South African Airways shocking new luggage policy

Passing the time looking around the internet I stumbled upon South African Airways new baggage policy. It covers weight, which is normal enough, number of pieces of luggage and more shocking it includes size restriction. It goes as follow:

This is copied from their website.
"Excess baggage, ie. additional items, or where the baggage exceeds the weight and or size allowance, will be charged at a flat rate per piece of luggage. This is a change from the current policy where excess baggage is charged per kilogram

Under the piece concept, excess baggage charges will apply for:

• Each piece of baggage over and above the passenger’s baggage allowance
• Each piece of overweight baggage
• Each piece of oversize baggage

The excess baggage will be charged at a flat rate per rule broken, per piece. This means that if a piece of baggage is both overweight and oversize, two excess baggage charges will apply. Weight/size restrictions apply to all baggage pieces, including additional pieces over and above the baggage allowance.

 

Excess baggage rule – weight

An excess baggage charge will apply for each Economy Class bag weighing over 23 kg, but less than 32 kg. The one exception is for travel to/from South America, where an Economy Class passenger is permitted to take two pieces of baggage that each weigh no more than 32 kg.

SAA cannot check in any bag weighing more than 32 kg, for both Economy and Business Class passengers. This is due to baggage handling restrictions at airports, and as such is beyond our control. Any piece of baggage weighing more than 32 kg will either have to be repacked (in order to weigh 32 kg or less) or will have to be taken to the SAA Cargo counter and checked in as cargo. Cargo rates will apply.

Excess baggage rule – size

An excess baggage charge will apply for each piece of baggage that exceeds the maximum dimensions as stipulated in SAA’s baggage policy. The maximum dimensions are 80 cm x 60 cm x 18 cm = 158 cm (62 inches).

Excess baggage rule – number of pieces

An excess baggage charge will apply for each piece of baggage over and above a passenger’s baggage allowance. These additional pieces must still adhere to SAA’s weight and size restrictions. An additional excess baggage charge will apply for any additional piece of baggage that does not comply with these restrictions."

 

SAA’s new baggage policy

	Business Class	Economy Class
Domestic (Within South Africa)	1piece at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb)	1 piece at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb)
Worldwide – USA / Canada	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between Africa and South America	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each
Between Africa and Europe / UK	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	1 piece at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb)
From Blantyre / Lilongwe to London	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between Africa and Asia / Japan	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between Africa and Australia / New Zealand	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	1 piece at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb)
Between Africa and Africa: except Libreville / Douala and Lagos	2 pieces at a maximum of 32kg (70lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23kg (50lb) each
Between Africa and Libreville / Douala	1 piece at a maximum of 32kg (70lb)	1 piece at a maximum of 23kg (50lb)
Between Africa and Lagos	3 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	3 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50lb) each
Between South America and Australia/ NZ	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between South America and Asia / Africa	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each

Interestingly (also from their website):
"The excess baggage will be charged at a flat rate per rule broken, per piece. This means that if a piece of baggage is both overweight and oversize, two excess baggage charges will apply. Weight/size restrictions apply to all baggage pieces, including additional pieces over and above the baggage allowance."  nomention of amounts concerned though.

I actually think that my good old duffle bag, with which I have been traveling for over 8 years will be too long! I honestly think that it is just a money grabbing move.
I wonder what they will do with all the wooden giraffes you usually see on the flights out of South Africa.

Another fabulous isolated road

I was just talking about another of my favourite roads, the one between Freycinet and the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania, and now here is one here in South Africa:
the road from Houthoop (a farm just north of Kleinzee) to Kamaggas.

The road is partially paved, but even when not paved generally good.

You drive towards the mountains for a few kilometres.

I have to admit that that morning was just glorious, the temperature was ideal, the air smelled nice, the light was brilliant. I was one of those morning where you know you are in glorious Africa, the Africa they write books and make movies about.

Once again: red dirt and blue sky.

The day had started with a beautiful but weird sunrise at Houthoop. (That was between Christmas 2010 and New Year 2011)

Bueno Aires

After over 4 thousand kilometres of driving and just under two months I am back in Johannesburg, but before I show you some pictures I want to should you something of Buenos Aires.

After Santiago Bueno Aires originally felt a lot less friendly and a lot more "urban". I know it seems silly to even use the word "urban" about a city because honestly what else could it be? But after slow-paced Santiago with parks full of people sitting on benches, children playing in the fountains and with multiple small neighborhood street markets Bueno Aires felt very different. However I should say right away that it was great, just great in a very different way.

As I saw it Bueno Aires is the city of multi-lanes avenues, fabulous architecture, culture, political protests (very civilized ones), dog walkers, museums, shows and restaurants. I though it was a pleasant juxtaposition of business like very elegant neighborhoods, bohemian streets with varied types of shows to be caught in very diverse venues: from noisy drumming procession along a narrow cobbled street to fantastic production of Falstaff in small old theater (both of which I saw).

You always hear how Bueno Aires is the Paris of South America and I have to say it is actually a good way to describe it, the Paris or the Barcelona of South America I would say.

But anyway here are some photos:

 

Santiago, Museo de Arte Precolumbino

The amazing thing about Santiago was that generally there was no signs or advertisement about museums and the likes.
The little guide I had mentioned this museum as "one of the best museum on the continent". I can't say if it is "the best" having seen only 2 cities on the continent but I can say that afterward I went to the Museum of Fine Art in Buenos Aires and their Precolumbian section was not a 10th of what I saw in this museum.. You would think that makes it a very famous museum but I had a bit of a hard time finding it and when I asked a couple of policemen for directions (and I was only a couple of blocks away from it) they had no idea where it was.

You could take photos as long as you did not use a flash. So here are some of the treasures you can see there.

Santiago, Chile - part 2

Not far from where I was staying (not due to any planning on my part) was the Plaza de Armas. Santiago is a city of benches, sitting in parks and people watching. People go to parks and spend time there. Plaza de Armas is one of the large and very popular parks.
By chance wandering around soon after I landed I came across the Plaza. An orchestra came and played music and people danced while other played chess and children played in the fountain. It thought right away that I would like Santiago.

Around the plaza you have mostly old buildings (here a cathedral) but with one very modern building. You can see how large the plaza is.

People wander around.

Children play in the fountain.

And generally people sit around.

What you see a lot of in Santiago is couples kissing and doing anything you can do with your clothes on. This was a tiny plaza behind my hotel where out of the blue (to me) a small orchestra started playing.

Santiago, Chile - part 1

I loved Santiago. I hope I get to get back to Chile and get a chance to go all the way north to the Atacama Desert, all the way south to the Torres del Paine (Patagonia) and all the way outboard and west to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)....
For now all I saw was Santiago.
I found it a very easy city to visit. The people were very pleasant. Spanish turned out to be as easy as I had hoped it to be for a Francophone mixing with friendly people. It was a real pleasure all around. I walked miles and miles and had a great time. I arrived at the peak of cheery and strawberry season. Food was nice and easy to obtain there was small street markets, restaurants and large grocery stores everywhere. Everything was so easy. It was a very relaxing city to be in.

Santiago is a very nice combination of old and new building. It is very clean, you see street sweeper all day long everywhere.

Here are some views of the town.

Just a typical street with a small plaza.

In town there is a very nice big park (called Cerro Santa Lucia). It is a very peaceful place to go and spend some time in the shade after a nice morning coffee.

As one would expect in South America, or at least as I fully expected, one of the hills in the town (and there are several) has a large statue of Mary protecting the town (the tiny white dot on top of the hill in the photo). This is also the hill of Parque Metropolitano) another great place to go to. You can take the "teleferico" to go up the steep hill and get great views. The park is quite crowded on the week end but it is so big that it does not feel overly so. 

Another of the hills of Santiago. (For those interested the little bit of rock I could see was obviously a mixture of andesite and volcanic breccias etc, no surprise there)

I don't know if I can convince you but in the background you can see the Andes. The humidity level in the air was quite high while I was there and I never had a really good view of the Andes, but it was nicely compensated by a fabulous view from the plane while flying to Buenos Aires from Santiago. What a flight! if you fly that route, aim for day time with a window seat.