Paris - France

The event: Attended the 16th International Energy Accounting Forum in Paris along with a few colleagues.
Some features: Took some time out to rent a bike and cycle along the Sienne passed a few of the sights including Notre Dame. Enjoyed some fine dining at Le Fines Gueules on rue Croix-des-Petit-Champs near the Louvre. Before returning to London, stopped off to see the Moulin Rouge before enjoying a beer at Sacre Coeur.

Fishing in Horsley - England

The Place: Spent a weekend in Horsley, not far out of London for a weekend of camping, braaiing, fishing and snacking.

Some features: Caught 16 fish on the Sat and ate 16 packets of crisps between us. Liz and I tried out our new tent while Karen and Jamie camped in Reggie, their bright and shiny red VW campervan. Jamie's knowhow had a lot to do with the rate we pulled in the fish - all carp, which we threw back in the lake after catching.

Taghazout - Morocco

The Place: Just outside the town of Agadir, Taghazout sits on the coast between some cool surf spots. We stayed 6 days at 'Surf Maroc' villa where we met other travellers, some surfers, some first timers, and some just there to soak up the sun and the good vibes!
Some features: Started with some nice clean and easy surfing at 'Panoramas' close by, a popular beach for soccer, surfing and camel rides. Stronger waves the next day at 'Onze', next to a local surf competition taking place on the adjacent beach. 3rd day (excl. 1st day travelling in), a long beautiful beach drive out to 'Tamri' then 'Boilers', known for its big reef break, where we watched the some of the surfing but didnt attempt to brave it, then back to Panoramas for the afternoon. Last day before heading back went out to some great waves at La Dalle, where we surfed, chilled out on the beach, surfed some more, then stayed till the tide came up and forced us to move - so back to the villa and Panoramas for a last surf. Great food daily at surf maroc, cooked each day by a local chef, and one night ordered some good food topped off with mint tea. Experienced the town closing on friday at lunch for noon prayers, where loud speakers bellowed out from the local mosque for all to hear.

Prague - Czech Republic

The Views: Apart from the joys of wandering around the city (as mentioned below) I was particularly impressed by the city's beauty. We took most opportunities to find a tower or hill to climb from which to view the city. The castle with its St Vitus cathedral sitting in the middle is a great sight from the opposite side of the Vltava river. Crossing the Charles bridge (the world's largest open air statue exhibition) there is a tower offering more great views including the dome topped library and many red roofs and churches (giving Prague the nickname - city of a hundred steeples).

Old Town - Prague

The Place: Spent four days in and around the bohemian city of Prague in the Czech Republic.
Some Features: We arrived a week before Easter so the old town square was filled with food stalls containing lots of a meat and some interesting baked goods including 'trdelniks' (pronunciation??), which is a pastry baked while wrapped around a wooden bar resembling a rolling pin. In the middle of the square was a stage with various Easter performances, some traditional Czech and some from around the globe. Every hour on the hour a skeleton rings the bell forming part of the astronomical clock which tells both the time and indicates the relative positions of the sun, moon and various zodiacal constellations. Wandering around the town it became clear they love their colourful glass art, madryoshkas (3rd pic from top), classical music (Mozart spent allot of time in Prague), marionettes, beer (cheaper than coffee or bottled water), and absinthe! (it burns). We watched a marionette opera which was very entertaining though very long (which did make me respect the puppeteers considering they had a movement for every note of the opera that brought the puppets alive). We went out at night and got to experience a few old traditional pubs, some live blues music and jazz, as well as some dance clubs. Also visited the Franz Kafka museum which was well equipped with Kafkaesque props which gave some insightful background into his books such as 'The Castle', ' The Trial', and 'The Metamorphosis' which are written before the Austro-Hungarian empire became the communist Czechoslovakia.

Sedlec - Czech Republic

The Place: Close to Kutna Hora, and an hour and a half outside of Prague lies the tiny town of Sedlec.

The Feature: Sedlec is known for its Ossuary, a chapel decorated using thousands of human skeletons. The story behind it is that one of the abbots was sent to Palestine in 1278. He brought back with him 'holy' soil from Golgotha and placed it in the cemetery. Believing that the soil was blessed it became a popular burial ground for europeans and was enlarged through the burial of over 30000 people. Between 1400 and 1500 a new church was built on the spot and the bones were dug up and kept. Much later, around 1870, a woodcarver was commissioned to put the heaps of bones in some order and resulted in him making artworks including a chandelier containing all the types of bones of the human body, big cups made out of skulls and bones, a coat of arms including a persons eye being pecked out by a rook, and in all four corners of the chapel tall pyramids of human bones bound together loosely.

Cape Town - South Africa

The Place: Spent four days in Cape Town staying on the beach in Muizenberg.

Highlights: Our busy agenda was as follows with everyday beginning with a surf at surfer's corner. 1st day: Morning surf after a breakfast at the Empire. Hanging out at Rob's with some beers and then going out on the town in Cape Town's long street (Neighbourhood and Zula bar) with Liz, Rob, Grant, Jo and Tiz. 2nd day: Morning hangover surf at Muizenberg, a quick stop at UCT's campus (to reminisce and take some photos), a quick browse through green market square in Town, and then an afternoon at the beautiful Clifton 4th beach followed by a dinner with Colin, Caryn, Ryan, Jenna and Gran. 3rd day: A day out at the wine farms of Stellenbosch with Gordon, Jason, and Liz after the mandatory morning surf, followed by sundowners at Cape to Cuba, an amazing fish braai meal at 'The Outspan' near Kalk bay, and ending with a night out in Obs for old times sake (Scrumpy Jacks and then the Roots (previously Cool Runnings)). 4th day: The last day was spent chilling at Muizenberg beach after our late morning surf and then taking the very very scenic drive back to the airport - via none other than the incredible Chapmans Peak.

Rhenosterpoort - South Africa

The Place: Near Ryman's pass in Limpopo, spent an active 8 days in the relaxing game farm Rhenosterpoort.
Some Highlights: Day hikes through the waterberg, so named because of how the water seeps through the hillside rocks. Spending time at the waterfall which is great for swimming, cliff-jumping, swinging into the rock pool and bird watching. Game drives to see the wildlife as shown below. Hot sun and plenty of natural swimming spots. Helping Anton on the farm, one day with his sheep and the other herding the bramen cattle to get their tick spray. New years around a camp fire. Potjiekos, corn on the cob, biltong, potbrood, braaied lamb, boerewors and ribs! Spectacular sunsets, night walks to spot bushbabies, playing card games at night (up and down the river) and brilliant company!