We booked our September 14th flight to Spain…Not the easiest route from here…

Here’s the route we’ll be taking from South Africa to Spain on September 14th.

Finally, we took the time to research flights from South Africa to Spain, which were scheduled to depart in 52 days. It’s incredible how quickly our total six months in Marloth Park are soon coming to an end. Surely, in the future, we’ll return, but for now, we have other plans on the horizon.

We conducted extensive research to find the shortest time and best pricing, ultimately ending up on Expedia.com on our website at this link.

Following is our booking:

Nelspruit to Barcelona

5:20 pm

  • Departs Sun, Sep 14
  • Nelspruit, South Africa (MQP-Kruger Mpumalanga Intl.)
55m duration

6:15 pm

  • Arrives Sun, Sep 14
  • Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB-O.R. Tambo Intl.)
  • Terminal B
Qatar Airways 5699 operated by AIRLINK
Economy / Coach (S)
Layover: 2h 10m

8:25 pm

  • Departs Sun, Sep 14
  • Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB-O.R. Tambo Intl.)
  • Terminal A

5:45 am

  • Arrives Mon, Sep 15
  • Doha, Qatar (DOH-Hamad Intl.)
8h 20m duration
Qatar Airways 1378
Seats 17F, 17H
Economy / Coach (S)
Layover: 3h 10m

8:55 am

  • Departs Mon, Sep 15
  • Doha, Qatar (DOH-Hamad Intl.)

2:40 pm

  • Arrives Mon, Sep 15
  • Barcelona, Spain (BCN-Barcelona Intl.)
  • Terminal 1
6h 45m duration
Qatar Airways 145
Seats 18F, 18H
Economy / Coach (S)

Total duration: 21h 20m

We’d hoped to book a shorter flight, but this was the only option available. No, we don’t look forward to another Red Eye, but from here, it’s unavoidable.

In the meantime, we will continue to live in the moment and enjoy every remaining day in the bush, surrounded by our wildlife and human friends. Today at 4:30, we’re meeting friends Roz and Les at Ngwenya or sundowners on the deck and the dinner buffet inside the lovely restaurant.

We’ll be back with more.

Be well.

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

A long stretch of uninhabited beach in Cairns, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Fun and exciting news for wine drinkers…Four years of free wine…For our Spanish readers and residents…

Free Vectors | Cheers! Wine glass illustration

From Travel & Leisure Magazine online at this link:

You Can Get 4 Years of Free Wine to Help Scientists Study the Effects of Moderate Drinking

A dream job for wine lovers. By Stacey Leasca Published on July 22, 2025

  • Researchers in Spain are conducting the world’s largest clinical trial on the health effects of moderate alcohol consumption, tracking 10,000 adults aged 50–75 over four years.
  • The study, funded by the European Research Council, aims to provide clear evidence on whether moderate drinking is beneficial, neutral, or harmful—but volunteers must live in Spain to join.

Do you enjoy sipping a glass of wine each evening? If so, scientists in Spain are looking for your help—and will give you free wine in exchange.

In May, The Olive Press shared the news that researchers at the University of Navarra’s Alumni Trialist Initiative (UNATI) are currently seeking volunteers to participate in the world’s largest clinical trial on alcohol, aiming to understand the effects of moderate drinking on human health.

As the volunteer intake form explained, participants will be tracked for the next four years to “determine whether moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial, neutral, or harmful to health.”

The research, funded by a €2.4 million (about $2.79 million) grant via the European Research Council, will track 10,000 people aged 50 to 75 split into two groups: one group who will consume alcohol daily (moderate amounts equal to fewer than seven drinks a week for women and 14 drinks a week for men) and the other who will completely abstain from any alcohol throughout the research period.

Those who sign up must be prepared to join either group, as they will be randomly assigned to either arm. Both groups will undergo in-depth health surveys at the start and end of the trial, be asked to join quarterly meetings, and be willing to work with health coaches.

“Policymakers and clinicians are currently perplexed on how to reduce alcohol harms in drinkers, because of contradictory guidelines: abstention is proposed as the healthiest option by many health advocates, stating that ‘there is no safe level of alcohol intake,’ but most nonrandomized studies found lower all-cause mortality and other beneficial outcomes in moderate drinkers than in abstainers among subjects over 50,” the research plan’s abstract explains. “However, potential biases may compromise these latter studies, particularly when effects are null or moderate.” Thus, it’s pulling together its “large pragmatic randomized controlled trial” to really get to what’s what.

“It will provide first-level evidence to confront the harms of one of the most widely used substances by humankind,” it added.

Both groups will receive “gift foods and beverages.” The abstainers will receive “0%-alcohol beer, and extra-virgin olive oil to foster adherence to the Mediterranean diet.” In contrast, the moderation group will receive “red wine (1.5 l/mo) and the same amount of extra-virgin olive oil to foster adherence to the Mediterranean diet as in the other group.”

To avoid any conflict of interest, the free wine will come from a supermarket chain, not from any single winery or alcohol company.

To date, the Olive Press reported that 6,500 participants have signed up, meaning the team is still seeking 3,500 volunteers in the 50-75 age range.

There is, however, one major catch: you must live in Spain to participate. But now’s as good a time as any to move there, right? “

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 23, 2015:

In Cairns, Australia, once we were inside the long, narrow boardwalk, it took us deeper and deeper into the salt marsh. We never saw other people. For more photos, please click here.

Ship taking a detour today…Sick passenger being dropped off in Bermuda, plus rough seas…

Our ship, the Norwegian Epic is taking a detour today to drop off an ill passenger in Bermuda. 

This morning, the captain made this announcement as well as warning us we will be approaching rough waters today. He said, “Hang on, folks. You paid for this in your ticket.” Oh.

Plus, our Internet connection is really awful. We will write here with updates but will be unable to post any photos today for this reason.

The weather is very windy and cool. It doesn’t appear we’ll be enjoying any poolside lounging as we sail across the ocean. 

Last night, we had a one hour time change and will experience several more the closer we get to Europe.

Back in touch with updates throughout the day.

Be well.

We changed ships!…Heavenly!..Back to back cruises again, same cabin…

Our new huge ship, the Norwegian Epic with 4200 passengers and 1750 crew. 
Comfortable bed, covers, soft towels, huge shower and vanity area.
 Cruise #1

Norwegian – Norwegian Epic, departs 4/20/13, 11 nights
Day Date Port or Activity Arrive Depart
Sat Apr 20 Miami, FL 5:00pm

Sun Apr 21 At Sea
Mon Apr 22 At Sea
Tue Apr 23 At Sea
Wed Apr 24 At Sea
Thu Apr 25 At Sea
Fri Apr 26 At Sea
Sat Apr 27 At Sea
Sun Apr 28 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal 10:00am – 6:00pm
Mon Apr 29 At Sea
Tue Apr 30 At Sea
Wed May 1 Barcelona, Spain 5:00am

Cruise #2
Norwegian – Norwegian Epic, departs 5/1/13, 4 nights
Day Date Port or Activity Arrive Depart
Wed May 1 Barcelona, Spain 7:00pm

Thu May 2 Marseille, France 8:00am – 7:00pm
Fri May 3 At Sea Sat May 4 Palma de Mallorca, Spain 6:00am – 6:00pm
Sun May 5 Barcelona, Spain 5:00am

We couldn’t be more thrilled to be on board the Norwegian Epic as shown above to find it much more modern and classy than the Carnival Liberty.  Also, with a more mature crowd there isn’t the loud blare of rock music filling the air as in typical on Carnival Fun Ships. 

 Our mini suite with balcony.  Plush amenities.

Yes, we are old, preferring the more elegant, quiet, less frenzied pace of this ship.  Initially, we were concerned about the enormous size, but after wandering about for the past three plus hours, we feel we have a handle on the layout.

 Tons of storage space not only to unpack our clothing, but to hide our bags under the bed.
With over half of our bags already unpacked, soon we’ll run to the Internet Café to set up our wireless package.  Once we sail in the next hour we’ll lose our ability to use our MiFi connection and be subject to this ships $.40 a minute charge.  That’s the highest rate we’ve seen thus far. 
  Coffee in our cabin, not available in the past four cruises.
Having budgeted for these expenses, allows us to communicate with loved ones and of course, keep our blog and photos posted on a regular basis.  The connection is secure which enables us to do our banking, pay bills online and check our credit card balances.
All of our credit cards, do not charge an exchange rate.  Thus, we use them for everything we possibly can, paying them off every few weeks, to keep them from accumulating huge balances and avoid interest charges.  So far, we’ve yet to incur a single dime in interest or fees. 
 Easy to use safe, wine cooler/fridge.

Our final bill on the Carnival Liberty came to $672 which included $159 for Internet, $100 for dinner in the Diamond Steak House, $12.50 for contact lens solution, $44.98 for one bottle of Cognac for Tom, cocktails and beverages, plus, the cruise line charged our bill $161.60 for tips plus additional tips we paid as we ordered beverages. 

Oversized shower, vanity with lots of drawers and medicine cabinet plus, an outlet. It’s an odd configuration with the sink in the bedroom and having to walk through the two sections of the bathroom when entering the cabin.

In addition, last night, we handed out additional cash tips to our cabin steward, dining room service staff, restaurant hostesses and luggage handlers.  This totaled approximately another $180, leaving us over by $82. On the prior cruises we were under budget, making it a wash. 

Our balcony for the next 15 days.  Love the two little tables.
Have to run and get to the Internet Café since we’re about to lose our signal.  We’ll be back in touch soon with more photos of this amazing vessel. Tonight we have a reservation to see the Blue Man Group, included in our fares. 
Back in touch soon.