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Travelling Photographer

Photos and commentary from my travels around the globe

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 24 – Italy – Volterra, San Gimignano & Certaldo

Volterra is a walled town southwest of Florence, in Italy. The central Palazzo dei Priori has medieval frescoes and a bell tower with expansive views. Volterra Cathedral has a marble entrance and a gilded coffered ceiling. Nearby are the remains of the Etruscan Acropolis. The Guarnacci Etrurian Museum has a rich collection of archaeological artifacts. The Roman Theater complex includes the ruins of 3rd-century baths.  Check out Alabaster Carver – wonder what his lungs look like.

 

San Gimignano is an Italian hill town in Tuscany, southwest of Florence. Encircled by 13th-century walls, its old town centers on Piazza della Cisterna, a triangular square lined with medieval houses. It has a skyline of medieval towers, including the stone Torre Grossa. The Duomo di San Gimignano is a 12th-century church with frescoes by Ghirlandaio in its Santa Fina Chapel.

 

Certaldo in Tuscany Italy is famous for being the birthplace of the poet Giovanni Boccaccio. The name comes from the Latin ‘cerrus altus‘ which translated literally means ‘hill covered with oaks’. This medieval town is currently divided into two parts, Certaldo Basso (Borgo) and Certaldo Alto (Castle), connected by funicular for those who cannot or do not want to do the ‘pettata’ (steep uphill) walk! Certaldo Alto is the old part of the citadel that is rich in monuments, churches and scenic spots that are very striking.

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 23 – Italy – Siena & Montariggioni

 

Our first full day in Italy covered Siena –  Siena is distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. The fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo, is the site of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a slender 14th-century tower with sweeping views from its distinctive white crown. The city’s 17 historic “contrade” (districts) extend outward from the piazza. Siena Cathedral is a medieval church  dedicated from its earliest days as a Roman Catholic Marian church, and now dedicated to the Assumption of Mary.

From Siena we headed to Montariggioni –  Monteriggioni is a walled town in Tuscany, Italy, known for its medieval fortifications and watchtowers. The castle walls offer views of the surrounding Chianti region.

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 22 Welcome to Italy – Orvieto

After log overnight flights from Johannesburg to Rome we headed by car to our B&B in the little town of Gavignano near Siena. Along the way we stopped for lunch in Orvieto (a town we visited over 30 years ago).

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 21 – Our final day in Africa — Morning Game Drive – Botswana – The Leopard was found

We finally did it – got the last of the big five — the  LEOPARD  was finally found. Fitting end to our African Safari – off to the airport – we fly Botswana to Johannesburg to Paris then to Rome – long afternoon, night and morning.

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 20– Botswana – Morning Game Drive — LIONS finally & Evening Game Drive

6:00 am into Chobe National Park – bouncing and sliding along rutted dusty sandy roads but we finally found the Lions.

 

Then in the evening more of our friends.

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 19 – VF Sunrise hike, Vulture feeding – travel to Botswana & Sunset Game Viewing Cruise on Chobe River

Early wake-up and bus to Victoria Falls for a Sunrise hike to see the suns magic on the falls along with the possibility to see rainbows. Back to our lodge for the 1:00 vulture feeding (these birds are near extinction because of limited natural food). Then on to Botswana and an evening game cruise.  A 2 hour + cruise along the Chobe River watching the wild animals return to the river for their evening drink.

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 18 – Mosi-oa-tunya (Victoria Falls)

Packed day today – starting with a 2 mile walk along the falls eastern bank. Then a walk with 9 mo old lions followed by a rollicking dinner & drum show.

The falls are running at their low water flow mark (spring rains have not arrived yet) but still the amount of water generates a heavy mist. Our guide tells us when flowing at full force the best view is from a helicopter.
Continuing our packed day – we went to a lion rehabilitation reserve for a stroll with 2 – 9 month old cubs then rushed to a dinner show where we were given some African garb and were treated to the tastes of Africa. Grilled lamb, impala, guinea hen, crock, kudu and wort hog. Everyone received a drum and tried to play with the group. A face painter was painting African animals on faces but he screwed up when he came to me.

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 17– Johannesburg to Victoria Falls

Today’s travel was by air to Livingston Zambia (formerly Rhodesia) and across the boarder by bus to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe. Unemployment here is above 50% & the currency has been changed to the USD – no matter how much paper money they printed – it wasn’t worth the paper it upon which it was written. The largest bill the government printed was a 100 trillion note.  Staying for two nights at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. After check-in we boarded a boat for a sunset cruise and wildlife viewing along the Zambezi River (4th longest river in Africa). The elephants were taking their evening bath & the hippos were playfully fighting. Our late dinner was Wort Hog – really delicious!

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 16– Johannesburg

Today we did a city tour of Johannesburg and headed to Soweto to visit the Mandela House (http://www.mandelahouse.com/ ) and the Apartheid Museum ( http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/ ). Not a lot of photos because of restrictions so please visit the websites. Both were sobering – that said South Africa has come a long way in 25 years almost as far as the USA in 150! Muslims only make up 1.5% of the population of Johannesburg but there are several mosques – the one shown is a smaller version of the Blue Mosque built buy a Turkish businessman active in South Africa.
Off to Zambia and Zimbabwe tomorrow.

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