A tiny Lucerne hotel

Everything is just a bit more expensive in Switzerland than anywhere else...

When we looked at hotels to stay in we were quite surprised at how expensive it was. Eventually we found the inexpensive  'Etap Hotel Lucerne City'. It is situated at the back of the railway station and one has to walk over a bridge that spans across the railway lines as they converge at the station.

Mozambique accommodation

Tiger fishing in Mozambique

Towards the end of last year my wife Cheryl and I were invited by our very good friends, Johan and Margie to go with them to Mozambique on a fishing safari. We travelled there by car and it is about 550km away from our home in Centurion, close to Pretoria. The trip itself turned out to be quite an adventure as the last 100km's or so was very slow going as the road was very muddy and wet from recent rains and I was not sure if my trusty Volvo Cross Country was going to make it at times...

                                  

Bethulie accommodation

I have posted quite a few images and thoughts about our photographic journey to Bethulie and Philippolis.

Undoubtedly the non photographic highlight was our stay at the 'Old Watchmakers Guesthouse and Bistro'. We only stayed there for one night, and I am sorry we couldn't stay for more..

When I phoned to book I jokingly mentioned that I must be the only person in the country that would travel all the way from Centurion to Bethulie to celebrate his wedding anniversary...! The owner of the Old Watchmakers, Mrs M Frewen,  immediately offered to put flowers, champagne and dark chocolate in our room....she also asked if we would  like to have dinner...not knowing whats available in town I accepted the dinner reservation.

When we arrived there late the Saturday afternoon we warmly greeted as only South Africans can and shown our superb room. In our room was the champagne, flowers and Lindt dark chocolate..as promised! One must understand that Bethulie is about 200km from the nearest large town where luxury items like this can be purchased... it must have been some effort to get all this for ready for our arrival. The Karoo lamb meal that evening was also superb and was personally made  by Mrs M Frewen, the owner. So was breakfast the next morning...

But our biggest surprise was that all this came to a grand total of about R700-00 ( about 70 euro)...!

I can heartily recommend this establishment, and I can honestly say that we were treated like royals!

Check out their website at..http://www.oldwatchmakers.co.za/.

regards, Ivan...

Philippolis accommodation.

I can heartily recommend the Starry Nights Karoo Cottages ( http://www.starrynights.co.za  ) in Philippolis. The cottage was spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated in old farm style furniture. The cottages are in the centre of town and within walking distance from all the sights and restaurants. We had a large one bedroom cottage and at R440-00 (44 euro) per night is not bad although there are more affordable rooms and accommodation available. The old jail cells have been converted into guest rooms and apparently is very quiet at night, not that the town is noisy at all...

click image to enlarge...

Typical Karoo cottage, similar to the one we stayed in...