A Sunday stroll in Zollikon park

A lovely opportunity to take a bike ride up in Zollikon before starting a new week at kindergarden!

...we took peak into the forrest...

... and cycled through all the park with a view on the lake until the last ray of light shone upon us!!

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Mamma und Tino macht Weihnachten Kleingebäck

... once back to sub zero Zurich we quickly re-adapted and started getting well into the Christmas mood... click on the link below to see Mamma teaching me to make Christmas cookies!!

http://youtu.be/_CknoEmMYVc

Arrivederci South Africa!

Last lap in the colorful Cape Town... 

...then off to the Waterfront for a bite with Mamma and Dadda!!

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Gosh I enjoyed my holiday!!

Where are we going next Dadda!?

... the next long haul trip is Costa Rica / Panama for Nati's wedding next year so better pack up these flip flops as it sounds like we're on for a snowy spell when we get back home!!

Time to say goodbye.  Dadda says he isn't likely to come back to South Africa again with so many other places to see out there.. I can't comment for me just yet..  Who knows what lies ahead of me!!!

Spier in Stellenbosch

... on our last day in South Africa we headed out to Stellenbosch to spend the day in the Spier establishment offering a great mix of experiences from the Cheetah Farm, the Bird Farm, their vineyards, restaurants, gardens and much more!  

Here we are at the Bird Farm taking a close look at the Owls.. can I touch them!?

apparently we can.. look at Mamma holding a huge example!!

... we could even have a bite on a tree house... how amazing!!

so up we went with Mamma and Dadda and our friendly waiter even offered to paint our faces!!

Mamma and me posing on the tree house!

I couldn't hold myself from a healthy bit of cheeky vandalism.....

and then of course I had to give my hands a thorough wash to get rid of the dirt!

Lucky me!  I even got a lolly pop!!

What more could I ask for in South Africa!!!

Franschhoek

... a spectacular start to the day... clouds appeared to softly cover the mountains nearby like a foamy blanket!!

...then off to the playground to mess about with Dadda... this is us in a driving competition although it might appear like a farting one!!

... the threat of clouds soon disappeared leaving us with yet another immaculate day of sunshine!!

As we strolled through town we bumped into the cutest kid riding his tricycle like nobody else's business!!

... we eventually stopped in for some lunch at Le Quartier Anglais which was lovely and cosy giving us a chance to appreciate the scenery from the terrace where we were seated...

... and once we settled the bill...

... I could enjoy some time relaxing on their super comfy sofas!!  Great opportunity for a power nap!

In the afternoon we couldn't hold ourselves from a peak in the vineyards...

 

... and some time to take in the beauty of the place from up the hill!

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Monneaux Show

... The Monneaux restaurant at the Franschhoek Country House is famous for many reasons... but now it may well be famous for yet another one.. find out what I was up to at dinner.. you shall call me a little lord  after you'll witness how well mannered I have become!!

Last Stop: Franschhoek

This is our last stop in South Africa before we head back to Cape Town for our return flight so better make the most of it!!  This place appears to earn it's reputation for the vineyard of South Africa (alongside Paarl and Stellenboch)... sounds like Dadda and Mamma will have plenty to explore out here!!

Not a bad sight Franschooek!

... good hotel pick uncle Fabio!!!!

...what lovely lemons they have on display everywhere.. such as shame I don't react well to them!!

...oh and what a lovely pool!!

A nibble in Montagu

... after the long journey we all felt pretty hungry and just happened to bump (that's a lie.. Dadda had inserted the Four Oaks guesthouse itinerary days before!) into a very pleasant establishment in Montagu... not far from our Franschhoek, our next destination....

...gnocchi... yummy!!

I  didn't even have the chance to finish my first mouthful that I accidentally knocked Mamma's glass of chardonnay on the floor before we could even have a toast!...  I was gutted and ashamed and stuck myself into the corner with my head down in disgust...

...a little cuddle from Mamma helped me get back on track and luckily they replaced Mamma's drink too... 

....a sit on the lap with Dadda as well and I was completely restored...

.... so while I couldn't quite fully pay back the damage by settling the bill I thought I'd improvise a song to get everyone's spirits in the right place before another couple of hours on the road!!

 

R62

... the best part of travelling is the trip!  Especially if on the road you have the opportunity to observe the wonderful changes of landscapes and sceneries... Route 62 from Outdshoorn to Montagu was quite spectacular!!  We waved goodbye to thousands of Ostriches...

...and then Dadda put his foot down on the pedal as we appeared to accelerate into nowhere's land...

... we crossed the countryside and eventually stopped for a little sightseeing in Barrymore...

...a coffee break and a wee at the Blue Cow

...then off we went again soon finding the dry nature of Outdshoorn transform into colourful vegetation...

...we crossed healthy looking vineyards...

...and not so healthy looking places... 

... makes you realise how lucky we are!!

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Dinner Dance

Dinner is not an excuse to hold myself from an improvised dance... check out the link below to find out what I was unto in Outdshoorn this night!!

http://youtu.be/eaDc3bwXkgU

Cango Caves

Between safaris and Ostrich farms we also took the time to explore the Cango Caves that displayed enormous underground ambients with some outrageously huge stalagmites and stalagtites which I could run around or have Mamma carry me through when I needed a breather!! 

...it was just like an enormous underground castle except with nobody living in it!!!  

...it was great fun!!

Safari Ostrich Show Farm

How exciting... an Ostrich farm!!  I'd only seen one ostrich before in my life I couldn't believe how many there were to be seen all in one farm!!

We took a guided tour to discover all we needed to know about Ostriches.... our guide even allowed me to touch an Ostrich egg where a little baby ostrich is waiting to come out!!

... we were even allowed to stand on them to prove they would't break!!! 

... here is a lovely example of an Ostrich...

..there were Emu examples with their little babies wondering round too!

...and Mamma even got to sit on one!

... finally the best bit... an Ostrich race... who would have guessed these animals could run that fast with people sitting on their backs!!!

Buffeldrift Game Reserve

...Dadda's expectations were high as we turned up for our game reserve drive early in the morning...

...it was good news when we saw a bunch of elephants show up almost instantly...

...then the sight of hippos in the lake in front of us!!  Though none of them ever bothered to expose any more than their ears and eyes out of the water!!

.. in our friendly group of inexperienced Dutch travellers the excitement at the sight of giraffes in the background took over the entire experience... from the moment we caught sight of these creatures marching orders were given to the driver to chase them into the wild and compromising any chance of seeing other creatures that morning... with just three of us, our desire (or rather Dadda's desire..) of taking our chances to see other animals were outweighed and that was the end of animal watching in the Buffeldrift Game Reserve!!

...we at least for the adults... I had plenty of amazing animals to explore in my brand new book which we picked up at the entrance!!!

...here is some more footage of what there was to see out there!!

...the drive did prolong with long pauses before we actually were able to see anything...

..but while Dadda's patience was running out quickly my enjoyment never ran short...

...I mean.. having travelled all the way out here from Swirtzerland I even got to see a turtle!!!

...the game drive ended there on a disappointing note but we had a chance to chill out in the reserve and have lunch there by the lake which was very well populated with colourful fish and lots of birds...

... and I even had an opportunity to make friends with another young European traveller!!

...oh!  And just before we left.. a quick visit to see the elephants and take a closer look at them!!

Dadda... are you sure we are safe here!?!?!  Not sure I really trust this guy?!

... 3 elephants, a few hippos ears, 2 giraffe necks, 1 turtle.. mmmm... probably not the best result but never mind... Dadda says he has other plans for me and we'll be back in Africa soon to take a much better look!!

Oh well!! There are lots of other ways to keep ourselves entertained aren't there Dadda?!

A dieu Buffeldrift... definitely not coming back here though I must admit it isn't a bad view!!