Six days and counting…It was great to get out and see our friends!…

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A kindly passerby took this photo of the four of us.

It was fantastic to go to lunch with our dear friends Linda and Ken, whom we hadn’t seen in about six years. Time has a funny way of slipping by, yet when we finally met again, it felt as if no time had passed at all. We first met them years ago in Marloth Park at a dinner party at Kathy and Don’s home along the Crocodile River.

Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch, sharing adventures, stories, and laughter along the way. The last time we were together was in Wales, where we spent an unforgettable day exploring castle ruins and savoring a long, leisurely meal filled with good conversation and plenty of laughter. Seeing them again brought back a flood of wonderful memories from that carefree day in the Welsh countryside.

My first glass of wine in five weeks. Notice the skimpy pour. It couldn’t have been more than three or four ounces.

Over the years, we spent time together in Marloth Park on various occasions when our visits happened to overlap—a happy coincidence that always led to laughter, storytelling, and shared sundowners on the veranda. Then, in 2017, our paths crossed again on the other side of the world, when we enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Linda and Ken at the famous Fortune of War, a historic pub established in 1828, tucked in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Sitting in that old establishment, with its worn wooden bar and walls steeped in seafaring history, we reminisced about our adventures in the bush and marveled at how our travels continued to intertwine in the most unexpected corners of the world.

Yesterday, when we reunited at El Tribut, an oceanfront restaurant not far from our current location, it felt like coming full circle. The restaurant, perched above the sparkling sea, offered breathtaking views of the coastline, a perfect backdrop for an afternoon of reminiscing. The Mediterranean breeze drifted across the terrace, carrying the scent of salt and grilled seafood. There’s something so comforting about the familiar energy of friends who share your passions, and Linda and Ken are very much kindred spirits. Like us, they have a deep love for travel, cruising, and discovering the world one port at a time.

Tom ordered the Beef Wellington and thoroughly enjoyed it. No bread or potatoes were served with this entree.

El Tribut doesn’t open for lunch until 1:00 p.m., which is typical in Spain and many parts of Europe. We arrived a few minutes early and waited near the entrance, chatting and catching up on recent adventures. It reminded me how different dining customs can be around the world. While Americans often have lunch by noon and dinner by six, Europeans tend to linger through their afternoons, with lunch stretching well past 3:00 p.m. and dinner not beginning until 8:00 or later. There’s a certain rhythm to this lifestyle, a slower pace that encourages relaxation, conversation, and savoring every bite.

By 2:00 p.m., the restaurant was packed. Locals and tourists filled every table, their voices blending into a pleasant hum of conversation and clinking glasses. We ordered a leisurely lunch, each of us choosing something different so we could share tastes, as travelers so often do. The food was excellent, fresh, flavorful, and prepared with care. Between bites, we shared stories from our respective journeys: ports we’d loved, favorite cruise lines, unexpected challenges, and funny mishaps that only seasoned travelers could truly appreciate.

Linda, Ken, and I ordered this fish, croaker, with a side of aubergine (eggplant) and marinated grape tomatoes.

Linda and Ken had met us from their current cruise, on their port of call to Barcelona, and they spoke with such enthusiasm about their experiences. We compared notes on itineraries, ships, and destinations, laughing at how small the cruising world can be, how often travelers cross paths without even realizing it. We also talked about how travel has changed in recent years, with fluctuating prices, evolving visa requirements, and the ever-present balance between adventure and comfort.

What I appreciated most about our time together wasn’t just the conversation. It was the feeling of connection. After years of moving from place to place, friendships like this become treasures, reminders that the world can feel wonderfully small when you find people whose spirits align with your own. We may go months or even years without seeing one another, but when we reunite, it’s as though we simply picked up where we left off.

It was wonderful to see our dear friends, Linda and Ken, once again.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, casting golden reflections across the water, we reluctantly said our goodbyes, promising to meet again, perhaps on another cruise or in some unexpected corner of the world. The meal, the laughter, and the warmth of old friends reminded us once again why we travel: not just to see the world, but to share it with those who understand the joy of exploration.

In a mere six days, we’ll be heading to that same Barcelona port where Linda and Ken arrived and begin our 47 nights of cruising. We can hardly wait.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 21, 2015:

Several emergency vehicles were on the hospital property. Locals don’t hesitate to call in an emergency and feel the local care is adequate for many conditions. For more photos, please click here.

Not so easy ordering a taxi…Out to lunch today!…

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Not our photo.

This morning, I attempted to order a taxi for our ride to El Tribut Restaurant, located only about 1.5 miles from here. It wasn’t as easy as you’d think.

We have found that using credit cards online in Spain hasn’t been as easy as you think, either. Often, our cards are declined or the processing never goes through. When ordering most taxis, they verify a credit card before confirming a reservation. I have called our credit card companies, and they have stated there is nothing wrong with any of the cards (which we knew), and they can’t even determine if an attempted charge was made.

This same experience happened when ordering groceries online from the same supermarket each time. The processing often took a few hours of trying off and on, to process. I kept trying over and over again, as I did this morning when I attempted to order a taxi.

Finally, I found a taxi company that didn’t require a credit card to confirm the ride and arranged our pickup for 12:45 for our 1:00 pm lunch reservation with Linda and Ken at the oceanfront El Tribut Restaurant, close to the port. Once in the taxi, we won’t have any trouble paying for our ride using a credit card.

Each month, we pay off all our credit card balances to ensure we never run into issues. However, all of our credit cards have high credit limits, so it’s unlikely we’d ever encounter an issue, regardless of any recent holiday home or cruise transaction.

Even in South Africa, where we seldom experience such issues, we ran into similar problems when we placed orders through the Amazon-like equivalent, Takealot. Invariably, processing a purchase required the same several-hour, back-and-forth process to get the transaction to process.

I often wondered if these issues were due to WiFi problems with the company’s end or simply poorly run and operated online payment systems.

In Spain, we’ve used Amazon.es (for Spain), placing several orders, including, most recently, two large suitcases to replace old and worn pieces, including one with a broken wheel. With all the traveling we continue to do, it’s no wonder that our suitcases only last for four or five years. Amazon processing was relatively easy, with no credit card issues.

Thirty minutes ago, we received a taxi confirmation, and soon we will head down those scary steps to the street to await our taxi.

We’ll be back tomorrow with photos and details of our much-awaited get-together with dear old friends.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 20, 2015:

Colorful ocean view in Fiji near our holiday rental house. For more photos, please click here.

What are we doing for meals in Sant Marti, Spain?

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Tom had to make two trips on the 30 steps to get the groceries since the delivery person didn’t bring them up the stairs.

We’d intended to post photos of the apartment today, but instead, we are doing laundry and more organizing. At some point, we will include pictures, but please bear with us. As it turned out, the laundry soap used for the bedding has caused me an allergic reaction around my neck. As a result, it became necessary to wash the bedding on the hygiene setting on the washer using the hypoallergenic laundry soap we purchased that arrived with yesterday’s grocery order.

When we placed the online grocery order, as shown in today’s photos, we didn’t order any meat other than chicken breast. Beef is costly here. Instead, we ordered basic household supplies, such as toilet paper, paper towels, coffee, and the ingredients to make coleslaw and chicken salad: mayonnaise (without bad oils), celery, onions, cabbage, carrots, and a few seasonings.

Since we will only be here in Spain for another 39 days, it makes no sense to buy a large quantity of ingredients to prepare our usual meals when we’ll have to dispose of them when we leave.

Over the next few days, we’ll prepare the chicken salad and coleslaw, which will be enough to last for two or three days. We will make such a meal once a week and do takeaway for the remaining days of the week. So far, since we arrived, we’ve ordered takeaway each day.

The total bill for these grocery items, with chicken as the only protein, was €120.96, or approximately US $143.18, which is twice the amount we would have paid in South Africa.

With Tom’s picky taste buds, it’s not easy to find foods he’ll like from restaurants nearby. Fortunately, we are in an area with many restaurants, but when we looked up menus, we discovered we couldn’t dine out for anything less than US $100. Additionally, given my dietary preferences and Tom’s limited options, we decided it was easier and less expensive to order takeout four days a week than to dine out. Then again, there are those stairs.

Since we’re both doing OMAD (one meal a day) to lose weight before the cruise, we’ll manage fine with ordering takeaway. I ordered some fantastic healthy “bowls” from a local restaurant. We are using Uber Eats, which offers free delivery with a small service fee. Ultimately, this plan may cost us as much as dining out or buying more groceries. However, this is what we believe works best for us at this time.

When we stayed in Cleveland for four months for my medical appointments, we followed this same plan, and it worked out well. The only difference here is the menus in Spanish, and the options are very different than those offered in the US or other countries. Spanish meals typically consist of a lot of starchy foods, such as bread, pasta, and rice, none of which I can eat.

It only took a few minutes to put these items away.

In any case, we’re settling in and working our way into a comfortable routine. Of course, I’m anxious to get out, but as Tom says, my getting injured would put a quick end to our plans. We’ve already visited Barcelona in the past and participated in some sightseeing activities.

As we’ve often mentioned, we’ve seen enough historic buildings to last a lifetime, and visiting more is not on our radar. As much as we’d like to share lots of great photos of touring the area, we have to consider my limitations and make the best of our time in Barcelona.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 18, 2015:

Fiji’s coral reef is second to none in the world and a favorite location for scuba divers. For more photos, please click here.

Fun night at Ngwenya with Dawn and Leon…

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A bloat of hippos at Sunset Dam in Lower Sabie.

We’ve been making reservations for four people over the past few months, at La Fera Restaurant at Ngwenya Resort, a short drive outside of Marloth Park, every Thursday for their weekly buffet. We started this routine when our friend Lisa arrived from the US in April, staying for one month.

A young giraffe is grazing in the treetops.

After we returned from the US for granddaughter Maisie’s graduation, friends Kady and Rich arrived from the US, a few weeks later, at the end of June. Once again, we visited Ngwenya every Thursday evening for the buffet. After they left in mid-July, we continued this routine, inviting other friends to join us for the buffet, which filled our four-diner reservations.

The food is consistently fresh, hot, and delicious, and we all enjoy part of the evening on the veranda searching for wildlife on the Crocodile River and reveling in the beauty of the sunset. Once dark, we all head indoors to the restaurant, where a table is awaiting us with “Jessica” written on a reservation plaque.

Hippo mom and youngster walking to the shore.

The staff has come to know us, and we’re treated with good service throughout our evening. However, when we first arrive on the veranda, there’s always a wait for a server to take our drink orders. We don’t complain. We wait patiently.

No, it’s not Jabula, not like the ambiance and playful nature at the Cheers-like bar, exceptional food, and exemplary service. Nor do the owners of Ngwenya spend as much time with us as owners Dawn and Leon do, each time we walk in the door, throughout the evening, and when we finally walk out the door.

A grazing hippo at Sunset Dam.

Last night, we had the fun opportunity to spend an evening at Ngwenya for drinks on the veranda, followed by the buffet with Dawn and Leon filling our two extra seats.. It was such fun to be with both of them, and their undivided attention meant we could laugh and talk without interruption – and laugh and talk we did. It was a lovely and fun evening.

Back at our holiday home before 9:00 pm, we hunkered down for the night, watching another episode of “The Chosen” on Amazon Prime, but I nodded off a few times and will re-watch the episode in the next few days.

A yellow-billed stork at Sunset Dam with two crocs in the photo.

On another note, we are required by law to comply with the following on our site:

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Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 8, 2015:

Deadman’s Gully in Australia is aptly named, as several runners/walkers have been attacked by crocs in this area. For more photos, please click here.

Introducing our friends to a lively night at Jabula!…Tourist transportation hazards…

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Last night, we had a fantastic evening at Jabula.

Last night couldn’t have been more fun. We arrived at Jabula a little later than usual. We wouldn’t have been sitting at the bar, given the vast number of sports enthusiasts watching the rugby game, so we headed directly to our assigned table on the veranda.

The service, the food, and the ambiance couldn’t have been more perfect, even amid the vast, rowdy crowd. The staff provided exemplary service and food. Thanks to Dawn and Leon, Corrine, and all the staff for a superior experience. We even got into the exuberant dancing on the dance floor to the lively popular music after the game ended. What a fun place to share with our friends.

On another note, here’s an important article that may be of interest to our readers who rent portable personal transportation while traveling.

From Travel & Leisure at this link:

“Major Tourist Destinations Have a Hidden Transportation Hazard That Leaves Travelers and Locals Vulnerable—What to Know

Are micromobility devices a growing safety crisis? By Staff Author, Published on July 5, 2025

  • E-bike and scooter injuries have surged, according to researchers at UCSF.
  • Many tourist cities are restricting the use of micromobility devices due to an increase in accidents and safety concerns.

The newest travel hazard in cities might be something you aren’t expecting at all.

Electric scooters and e-bikes are ubiquitous throughout many cities worldwide, and they aren’t inherently dangerous. But the sheer number of them, combined with the potential for serious accidents, makes them a real and serious travel hazard for visitors.

The setting sun was a perfect backdrop for some photos.

A 2024 study by researchers at UC San Francisco found that injuries from e-bikes have doubled every year from 2017 to 2022, and injuries from scooters have risen by 45 percent annually.

“This increase in accidents not only introduced a demographic shift but also underscores an urgent need for added safety measures,” co-lead author Adrian Fernandez, a chief resident with the UCSF Department of Urology, said in a statement on the UCSF website. “There are undeniable health and environmental benefits to micro-mobility vehicle use, but structural changes must be taken to promote safe riding.”

In response, many major tourist destinations, including New York, Madrid, and Paris, have taken steps to ban or severely limit e-scooters, while others are on the verge of becoming scooter-free. Often, e-bikes and e-scooters behave in ways around pedestrians that put both riders and walkers at risk of injury.

Though serious injuries are rare, they do happen. In 2024, a woman was severely injured in West Hollywood when she was hit by a motorized scooter, suffering a fractured skull and brain swelling that required hospitalization. An American man in Sydney nearly died after being hit by an e-bike that was being ridden in an area where it was not permitted. He needed emergency brain surgery and spent weeks in a coma.

We had a fabulous time with Kady and Rich.

And most run-ins between people and micro-mobility devices go unreported. Many more people have close calls or are injured by speeding scooters, and these experiences can make people nervous in cities, which in turn affects tourists. Tourists can also be responsible for close calls, as they rent e-bikes and scooters to joyride around unfamiliar cities, leading to potential accidents. Riders of e-devices might feel unsafe riding on main streets alongside cars but then become a hazard to pedestrians on sidewalks. Designated scooter lanes can be helpful, but they are not always available.

“As micro-mobility vehicles become more embedded in our daily lives, understanding and addressing the safety challenges they pose is critical,” corresponding author Benjamin N. Breyer, MD, MAS, the Taube Family Distinguished Professor and chair of the UCSF Department of Urology, said on the UCSF website. “By doing so, we can harness the full potential of micro-mobility to create more sustainable, healthy, and safe urban environments.”

Today, we’ll stay in and enjoy the bush, along with an excellent homemade meal. Perhaps we’ll play cards, and without a doubt, the conversation will be lively and animated.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 6, 2015:

The house we rented in Phuket, Thailand, was built around its private pool. For more photos, please click here.

Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere…WiFi came back this morning…Meat market blast…

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All of this meat including four steaks, seven pounds of sausage, two flattie chickens, four packages of ground beef, four packages of chicken breasts, two large hake (fish) fillets, and two bags of beef biltong (best beef jerky in the world) at a cost of Zar 1853.19, US $102.49.

“The June 21st date refers to the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, not an equinox. It marks the longest day of the year and the beginning of astronomical summer. The term “equinox” refers to a point where day and night are of equal length, which occurs during the spring and autumn equinoxes.”

Gosh, being without WiFi is a big hassle for us. Not only were we unable to prepare a post, but we also couldn’t look up information that came to mind throughout the day and evening. Fortunately, yesterday, early in the day, there was a weak enough signal for me to post a notice that the WiFi was out.

These are two chicken flatties, each whole chicken cut in half, weighing 1.35 kg, or 2.98 pounds, costing ZAR 93.70, USD $5.18.

But that weak signal soon disappeared, and we had no signal at all. The fault was all the way to Komatipoort and included thousands of users. It was tough during the night, as I had trouble falling asleep and didn’t nod off until 2:00 a.m. On the other hand, Tom has been having awful issues getting enough sleep since we returned.

His first night here was good, but Wednesday and Thursday nights were awful. He didn’t sleep more than two or three hours each night and was exhausted. Additionally, he was experiencing symptoms of a cold, including frequent coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose.

Doc Theo had given me a prescription for Ambien to use when we were trying to sleep on the plane. Neither of us took it, but I thought last night would be a perfect time for Tom to take a pill when he went to bed. It worked! He slept through the night and feels more rested today, although he still has cold symptoms.

This is a pork chop weighing .45 kg, 1 pound, at a cost of US $2.27. South Africans like fat on their meat. We cut it off after cooking.

Hopefully, he’ll be better by next Saturday, when friends Karen and Rich arrive from Florida. Of course, I am staying as far away from him as I can, praying I don’t get it. He’s using a nasal spray, cough medicine, and antihistamines. Having pulmonary fibrosis only exacerbates the coughing. Thank goodness, he quit smoking nine months ago.

A few days ago, we went to The Butchery to purchase a variety of meats, as shown in the photos. As always, we were thrilled with the excellent prices on protein sources in South Africa. The prices are comparable to the prices we paid in the US 30 or 40 years ago.

Now, we have plenty of meat to last while Karen and Rich are here and will only need to make a trip to Komatipoort next week to round out some items they use that we don’t consume, such as orange juice, fruit, milk, and more. We’ll ensure that we have everything they typically eat while here, as long as it’s available at the Spar Market.

This is a porterhouse steak weighing .72 kg, 1.59 pounds, at a cost of ZAR 107.60, US $5.95.

Of course, we’ll be dining out often, but typically they eat breakfast and lunch. Today, I made Tom breakfast, hoping he wouldn’t eat so much candy from the remaining 11-pound load, as he had been doing over the past several days. I have returned to my OMAD (one meal a day) eating routine, which consists of a single meal rich in nutrients.

Now I can lose the 5 pounds, 2.3 kg, I gained back while in the US, eating “big” food often twice a day. I even succumbed to eating snacks during the day and evening, all healthy, but way too much food for me. This style of intermittent fasting may not be suitable for everyone, but I feel my best when I eat only once a day. Please check with your medical professional before you embark on such a plan.

Last night, we headed to Jabula for dinner. It was such fun to spend time with Dawn and Leon, owners of the lodge and our dear friends. We had a fantastic evening.

Tonight, we’ll return to Jabula again for dinner. I suggested we stay in tonight since Tom is under the weather, but he insists he’ll be fine going out again. I am feeling good and rested.

That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 21, 2015

Tom’s homemade dinner last night in Trinity Beach, Australia, included one pork chop, three gluten-free cheese sausages, one gluten-free knockwurst on a bed of sautéed onions and mushrooms, a side salad, and a muffin with New Zealand grass-fed organic butter (muffin not shown). This is a typical meal for us. For more photos, please click here.

A final dinner with old friends…Dining out a lot with much more to come…

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Last night, Don, Kathy, and Kathy’s sister Connie joined us for dinner at Jabula. It was our last evening together before they returned to their home in Hawaii in a few days. We will miss them.

In 20 days, we’ll arrive in Minnesota for granddaughter Maisie’s graduation on May 29. Her graduation party will follow on Saturday, May 31. We’ll have three days to recover from the long journey before the festivities begin.

We’ve decided we won’t be cooking our meals while in the US, so we are staying at a Marriott Residence Inn that will have a small kitchen. Why won’t we prepare meals in a convenient kitchen with a full-sized stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher?

From our past experiences, these short stays, in this case, three weeks, isn’t long enough to warrant buying spices and other ingredients required to make our keto meals. Sure, on occasion, we may order from GrubHub or a similar service, without a delivery fee from our membership in Amazon Prime.

But, overall, we’ll be dining out with family and friends. Undoubtedly, we expect to pay a minimum of US $100, ZAR 1839, daily for the two of us to dine out for dinners, even in the most modest restaurants. The cost will increase exponentially when we take our kids and grandkids to dinner.

We won’t eat out for breakfast since the hotel offers a complimentary breakfast with eggs, bacon, or sausages. We continue to avoid eating lunch, except when we get together with friends or family. On those days, we won’t eat breakfast.

However, to continue on our path of healthy eating and hopefully lose more weight, we will observe the following to maintain our ketogenic lifestyle.

Dining out on a keto diet can absolutely work with a little planning and confidence. Here’s a practical guide to help you stay low-carb without feeling restricted or awkward at restaurants:

1. Choose the Right Type of Restaurant

Some cuisines are more naturally keto-friendly:

  • Steakhouses, seafood places, BBQ joints – Easy to order meat + veggies.

  • Mexican – Skip the tortillas/rice/beans, go for fajitas or taco salads without the shell.

  • Burgers – Ask for a lettuce wrap instead of a bun, skip the fries.

  • Asian – Choose stir-fry without sauce or with minimal sauce (ask for steamed instead of battered). Be wary of hidden sugars in sauces like teriyaki, hoisin, and sweet chili.

  • Breakfast spots – Omelets, eggs, sausage, bacon, and avocado are your friends.

2. Master the Art of Modifying Your Order

Be polite but assertive:

  • Swap starchy sides (fries, rice, mashed potatoes) for a side salad, sautéed greens, or steamed broccoli.

  • Ask for no bread, no croutons, or sauce on the side.

  • Many places will accommodate custom meals if you ask kindly.

Example:
“Could I please have the grilled salmon, but instead of rice, could I get a side of spinach or another vegetable?”

3. Watch for Hidden Carbs

Be cautious with:

  • Sauces and dressings – Often loaded with sugar or starch. Ask for oil & vinegar, ranch, blue cheese, or Caesar (but double-check).

  • Soups – Many are thickened with flour or cornstarch.

  • Breaded or fried items – Stick to grilled, roasted, or baked options.

4. Alcohol: Yes, But Mindfully

  • Stick to dry wines, clear spirits (vodka, gin, tequila) with soda water or on the rocks.

  • Avoid beer, sweet cocktails, and liqueurs.

5. Be Prepared and Stay Flexible

  • Check the menu online beforehand if possible.

  • Eat a small keto-friendly snack before dining out if you’re unsure of the options.

  • If nothing fits perfectly, aim for the closest option and don’t stress – one meal won’t derail you.

6. Speak Up – You’re Not Alone

Restaurants are used to food restrictions (gluten-free, vegan, etc.), so don’t be shy. You might even inspire someone at your table to think twice about their own choices!

Once we leave Marloth Park in September, we won’t be cooking meals again until December after we arrive in New Zealand. In the interim, we’ll continue to be mindful of what we eat and how it’s prepared, if possible.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 4, 2015:

Tom’s hair stood up before a haircut in Kauai. For more photos,  please click here.

Dear friends coming for dinner tomorrow…Plus, an 11:00 am dentist appointment…

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When we last visited in 2023, we called a starling Vega. They are commonly seen but iridescent and pretty.

We will have our first dinner guests tomorrow night since we returned to Marloth Park three weeks ago. First, we had to recover from the long travel days, and shortly thereafter, I started having allergies, including asthma, hay fever, and itchy eyes.

The new drug has controlled the asthma, but the hay fever and itchy eyes continue. As requested, I will call Doc Theo today to determine what to do next. Yesterday, the pharmacist in Komatipoort suggested 24-hour allergy eye drops, which I used, providing some relief last night. However, I must wait until tonight to take another drop in each eye.

I think this is a bush shrike, but I could be wrong.

This morning, I left Theo a WhatsApp message with the update he requested. By the end of the day, we’ll see what he recommends for the hay fever and proceed from there.

Since we have dentist appointments for teeth cleanings tomorrow morning, we’ll be busy in the afternoon when our dear friends Kathy and Don and her sister Connie arrive around 5:00 pm for sundowners, followed by dinner shortly thereafter.

This young female bushbuck visits daily.

On Friday, we’ll post the menu, which is light and casual since none of them are big eaters. They like small portions and have food restrictions, so I let Kathy help with menu suggestions. As a result, the prep for this simple meal will be easy. Having them here with us again will be wonderful after they’ve been away from Marloth Park for three years to deal with medical issues.

Their friendship is way more important than serving them food. Still, as we all know, socialization often centers around food and drink, especially in South Africa, along with lively conversation. Over the past years, they’ve been gone, most of which we also spent in the US and stayed in close touch.

Norman stops by almost every day. We are always thrilled to see him.

We even planned to return to Marloth Park at the same time to spend time together. We are fortunate to have many friends throughout the world, some Americans, some not. We love making memories with our friends and family members. (It’s hard to believe we’ll be back in the US 60 days from today. It feels as if we just got here.)

Today is an easy day, with a little prep for tomorrow. We’ve decided to go out to Giraffe Pub and Grill for dinner tonight. We haven’t been there yet. They have a few dishes I can eat, including a delicious salad, which I’ll most likely order. Tom will decide when he gets there.

The fine white hairs on his back stood up, and a large male animal was nearby. At this point, Big Daddy was standing outside the fence watching Norman.

A few days ago, I baked some Keto Lemon Poppyseed muffins, and tonight, when we head out, we’ll stop at Louise and Danie’s home to drop some off for them. They are keto-conscious like us.

We had a busy morning in the garden today, with at least six species visiting simultaneously. We tossed pellets, carrots, and apples to our animal friends, including Norman and his family. What a delight! Photos will follow in the next post.

That’s it for today, dear readers/friends! We’ll be back with more.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 26, 2015:

In Kauai, the colors in this scene took our breath away. For more photos, please click here.

Grocery prices in South Africa…

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This was our meat haul from The Butchery in Marloth Park at the Bush Centre. See below for details and cost.

We purchase most animal protein from The Butchery in the Bush Centre in Marloth Park instead of the SaveMor here or Spar Market in Komatipoort. We find their meats to be fresher and superior in quality and pricing, although the selection may be limited since they don’t handle large roasts, which we enjoy from time to time.

We’ve been shopping at The Butchery since 2013, when we first visited Marloth Park during the three months we were here. We didn’t return to South Africa for four years, and when we did, we continued to shop there, never disappointed in our purchases.

Alternate view of the protein sources.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t recall the individual prices on each item and hadn’t taken a receipt. These days, to save on clutter and needless paper use, we don’t ask for a receipt since we carefully watch the checkout process. We will provide a total for the meat purchases.

  • 4 packages of ground beef (referred to as mince in Africa)
  • 3 New York steaks
  • 1 1.26 kg, 2.78 lb, beef tenderloin (filet mignonon) at ZAR 199,99 per kg, US $10.36 per pound!
  • 2 packages of wild-caught hake (fish) with four large filets
  • 3 packages Texas spiced seasoned pork skewers (sugar-free)
  • 4 packages of chicken livers and chicken hearts
  • 1 800-gram, 1.7-pound bag of peeled, cleaned, deveined prawns at ZAR 249.95, US $13.74

Enough meat for meals for the three of us for nine dinners (when Lisa arrives next week)

Total ZAR 1415.07, US $77.79, at a daily cost of ZAR 157.20, US $8.64,  ZAR 50.79 US $2.79 per person per meal

Also included in the meat haul was this whole beef tenderloin. See details above.

Also, for the shown two large heads of cabbage and two heads of lettuce:

Total ZAR 104.61 US $5.75

There is no comparison to what we paid for similar items in the US over the past year in Minnesota, Ohio, and Nevada. Overall, I’d say the cost is 60% less than what we paid then.

Next, we headed to the Ingwe Market in the Marlothi Centre to buy cabbage and lettuce.

Undoubtedly, living costs are considerably lower in many African countries, including South Africa. What a nice perk, along with the joys of life in the bush with the fantastic animals and the people.

Hmm…Life is good.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 24, 2015:

Many of our photos were taken on Kauai at varying times of day with varying cloud cover. For more photos, please click here.

It’s a special day in our lives of travel…Last night, eight guys and me at the “Cheers-type” bar at Jabula…What a blast!…

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My first ever attachment to an impala. This is Mac. He hangs around our garden throughout the day and night. Most often, impalas graze in herds. Max is the exception. He’s learning his name and the sound of my voice.

We uploaded our first post on March 15, 2012, 13 years ago as of today. You can read the first post here.

It was an exciting day to upload that first post. Although our site wasn’t entirely designed then, I did my best to make it readable. We made many errors, many more than we make today, but I genuinely believe our readers understand that posting as often as we do, a certain number of errors are to be expected, although we both proofread each day.

Today’s post will be number 4172. It is not exactly one post per day; there have been times when we couldn’t post or took a day off during the 13 years since we began sharing our story.

Although we posted on March 15, 2012, we didn’t begin our travels until October 31, 2012, 231 days later. But, we thought we needed to share the process of unloading everything we owned and the emotions associated with letting go of so much we knew and love, including family and friends.

Mongeese drinking from the bird bath after eating paloney..

In the beginning, we included a few photos—for many days, there were no photos. However, as time marched on and our experiences grew, we purchased a cheap little automatic camera at a Walmart in Mexico, with virtually no expertise in photography.

Over the years, our interest in sharing photos increased exponentially but my interest in photography never increased. Thus, as much as we’d like our photos to be perfect, we spend little time editing photos while gaining little knowledge about how to take great pictures.

Tom’s dinner at Jabula last night was 300 gr. rump steak, baked potato, sour cream (which I used), and green beans. He said it was delicious.

After spending so much time preparing posts and photos, once I am done for the day, I have little interest in using my laptop or learning about photography to a greater degree. It is what it is, and I do my best with my limited ability. We hope you all understand.

We’ve found we like to spend the balance of our days experiencing the world around us instead of being educated on a topic for which I have little interest and skill. As long as I can upload photos for our readers to see, I am content and experience no frustration or angst for this topic.

We have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our stories and photos over these past 13 years and hope you will continue to enjoy them with us. Without all of you, I’d have had little motivation to spend every morning of my life sitting at my laptop documenting almost every detail of our lives. For this, I thank everyone of you.

This grilled chicken salad will be a regular for me. It consisted of a Greek salad topped with tender grilled chicken.

On another note, last night we had another fantastic time at Jabula, the South Africa equivalent of the Cheers Bar from the TV series from 1982-1993, about a bar, “where everyone knew your name.” I felt like a prima donna surrounded by eight men sitting at the bar with us, commiserating over our love of the bush, nature and travel. Dawn, the lovely owner, stood behind the bar and joined in with all of us.

Two men were British, two were from Mozambique, and the remainder were South African. What a lively group! The animated conversation, laughter, and interaction amongst the group were palpable. When we left, we received hugs, kisses, and handshakes all around. Surely we’ll see many of them again.

As always, our food was fantastic. We ate sitting at the bar, as usual, never missing a beat in the lively conversations. It was a memorable night. More will follow tonight.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 15, 2015::

In Kauai, we watched the life cycle of the Laysan Albatross for months. The beaks of the Albatross are used for preening and signs of greeting. They may also be used aggressively if an intruder threatens them or the nest. For more photos, please click here.