Johannesburg, South Africa

Even though a short visit, I finally got to Johannesburg this past week. I didn't see much for safari's, but the city was pretty cool. 30+ hours to get there by plane with one stop over in Dakar (for one hour). They spray this nasty stuff when the door closes to kill bugs (which when they don't warn you taste really nasty).

I visted the "african market" which was basically a low key shopping mall with 60 of the same vendors all selling wood carvings and such. I finally found a cool mask and painting that I ended up bringing home. I mean you can't go traditional shopping and not get anything!

The shopping was great and the sunrise and sunsets were such beautiful colors of orange and yellow. A lot like Australia and Japan when I flew there overnight. The hotel was nice and the people not so bad. Next time Cape Town is our visit.

Dusseldorff and Bonn, Germany 2011

I had never been to Germany, and I got to go (for work!) in May. The first stop, for a day, was Dusseldorff. Small, quant and very quite. I walked along the riverside where an unlimited number of bars and resturants lined the riverside. I can only imagine how fun that is in summer and during the World Cup. Cute churches and artistic work along the streets made this city a great first stop before I headed to Prague.

Thank goodness my family lived in London for 2 years as trains don't scare me one bit! I just need to learn a lot of languages now. Ha!

Prague, May 2011

A last minute trip to Germany sparked the need to go back to Prague for the weekend. Although too short on time, the experience of going back to the cool places we visited 4 years ago was a great motivation. Arriving the day before my collegue, I got to walk around the square and think about all the chaos going on at the time I was last in the square. The same store I bought my wine glasses from last time was still there- and yes, they have even more and prettier glasses this time. =)

Prague- you will always hold a place in my heart.