Antigua & Barbuda Feb 2018
So nice to escape the cold winter by heading down to the Caribbean! After about a three and half hour flight, we arrived in Antigua of Antigua and Barbuda, an island in the West Indies. Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1493 and named it Antigua in honor of the Virgin of La Antigua in […]
Doha Oct 2017
We made a pit stop in Doha, Qatar on our way back from Africa. Qatar Airways has very good connections from Asia to the different African countries. We had two days to explore the city. Of particular interest is the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M. Pei, located on an artificial peninsula off the […]
The Himbas of Namibia Sep 2017
From Swakopmund, we were transferred by light aircraft up Skeleton Coast to Serra Cafema Camp. Serra Cafema is located on the Kunene River across from Angola in the far northern corner of Namibia and is one of the most remote camps in Africa. It is made up of 8 canvas and thatched chalets. Most people […]
Swakopmund, Namibia Sep 2017
From Sossusvlei, we fly by light aircraft to Swakopmund. We took the scenic route passing by Deadvlei, and then heading up the Skeleton Coast passing by numerous ship wrecks and seal colonies. Swakopmund is a city on the western coast of Namibia. It is a charming seaside town heavily influenced by German colonial architecture and […]
Sossusvlei, Namibia Sep 2017
From Victoria Falls, we go west to Namibia in southern Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean. We fly into Windhoek which is the capital of Namibia after it gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Windhoek was once part of colonized Germany and the German presence can be strongly felt in the architecture, food, and beer. […]
Victoria Falls Sep 2017
From Rwanda, we flew to Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River straddling Zambia and Zimbabwe. This waterfall is often referred to as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world and is also the largest waterfall in the world. It is a bit of a challenge getting here from Rwanda as the network of […]
Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda Sep 2017
The long awaited visit to Rwanda to see the Mountain Gorillas has finally arrived. In order to secure the limited permits and rooms at the desired lodges, I had to book everything in the beginning of the year for my visit in mid-September. When I booked, the permits cost US$750 each for an hour long […]
Iceland South Coast Part 2 July 2017
The first day of our two-day drive along the south coast of Iceland took us to Vatnajökull National Park. This national park occupies about 14% of Iceland and we visited the Skaftafell area. Skaftafell used to be a manor farm as well as a national park. The farms were mostly abandoned after two volcanic eruptions […]
Iceland South Coast Part 1 July 2017
Driving in Iceland is relatively stress free and there is only one main ring road going around the island with little traffic. There are clear signs to all the main sights along the road. We rented a 4×4 (actually a normal car would suffice during the summer months especially if you are not planning to […]
Golden Circle Iceland July 2017
The Golden Circle is a popular day trip for visitors and includes Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Haukadalur Geothermal area with the Strokkur Geyser. This circuit can be easily done on your own but I chose to join a tour out of Reykjavik which also included a stop at the Secret Lagoon. First […]
Into Thrihnukagigur Volcano July 2017
Thrihnukagigur, literally translates to Three Peaks Crater, is a dormant volcano about 30km southeast of Reykjavik. The last eruption was in the 2nd century BC about 4,000 years ago. Ever wondered what the inside of a volcano looks like? This is the only volcano in the world where you can descend 120 meters into the […]
Reykjavik & Blue Lagoon July 2017
From Helsinki, we carried on to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland and the world’s northernmost capital. It is believed to be the first human settlement in Iceland in 874 and was officially founded in 1786. Today it has a population of about 120,000 making this young city both cosmopolitan but at the same time a […]
Tallinn Old Town July 2017
After an easy 2 hour ferry ride south from Helsinki, we arrived in Tallinn, the capital and largest city of Estonia. Tallinn was founded in 1248 but the earliest human settlements date back 5,000 years making it one of the oldest cities in Northern Europe. Tallinn, with its prime location on the Baltic, was swept […]
Helsinki July 2017
Leaving Copenhagen, we flew to Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Helsinki was established as a trading port by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550 but was plagued by poverty and wars until Russia defeated Sweden in the Finnish War and annexed Finland in 1809. The Russian Czar moved the capital from Turku to Helsinki […]
The Castles of North Zealand July 2017
Today we drive about an hour to North Zealand which is an area north of Copenhagen known for its three magnificent royal castles and its sandy beaches earning the name Danish Riviera. The most famous of the three castles is no doubt Kronborg Castle which has been immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. […]