South Africa - Cape Town and others

It's been a good two months since I posted a Blog. Sorry.

Life has been busy!

Thinking back......, we found Rio Dulce to be very hot, humid, and it rained every night and most days. As our boat Aircon is water cooled, and only runs when the Generator is on, or we are on Shore Power, (which is Very Expensive here, ie 4x's the cost of South Africa or USA), Nicholas bought a Air cooled Aircon, and spent a hot week installing it, so that we could have reasonably priced Aircon as it can run off our Inverter and Batteries. 

We simultaneously decided to do our planned trip to South Africa sooner than later, and much time was spent by me with Internet searches for Air Routes, Flights, Accommodation, and Car Hire. Whilst there are about 2000 yachts in Rio Dulce, everyone has the same problem of how to get out of here to Guatemala City where the International Airport is, and that's a 6 hour drive away.

We decided on using the Luxury Litegua Bus to get us to Guatemala City, but as the 6 hours cannot be guaranteed, due to Single Lanes almost the entire way, and the possibility of an accident, not to mention trucks and other busses, we decided to spend a night in Guatemala City and catch our Flight next day. We found the Bus to be pleasant with Aircon, reclining seats, Wifi aboard, and an Loo. A mid-way stop for Restrooms use, lunch etc added a half hour to the trip but was fine, (and was included in the expected 6 hours).

Litegua Bus

Inside the Bus

As we had an afternoon in Guatemala City we walked around a bit, we were situated opposite a huge park, and we went in search for Coffee and an early meal.

Our Hotel in Guatemala City

Next day, was an early morning with a Hotel Shuttle ride to the airport and the Long Haul began. I happily found the only Amex Platinum lounge at GUA airport, and we fortified ourselves with coffee and breakfast.

Superb Zacapa Lounge at Guatemala City Airport

Our flight was delayed out of GUA, and hence on arrival in Atlanta, we had to hustle to clear Customs and Immigration into the United States, and get to our boarding gate to make the connection to Cape Town. We flew Delta all the way, so our luggage was at least checked through to Cape Town.

I'd recently purchased Apple AirTags, and placed tags into each of our bags. As we sat onboard waiting to takeoff, I checked for our bags and was dismayed to see that one AirTag was sitting on the opposite side of the Airport, where we had disembarked our previous plane.

The flight was terrible as usual. Like catching a bus. On arrival in Cape Town, one bag arrived on the carousel, and the did other not. On reporting it to Lost Baggage for Delta, the Lady gave me a run-around, until I showed her the Apple AirTag, which STILL showed the bag in Atlanta. By this time I had established that Yes, Once Again, My Bag had been delayed/lost. It's the umpteenth time - about 15x's this has happened to me. I am jinxed.

Arriving in Cape Town. Iconic Table Mountain.

Apple AirTag showing My Bag still in Atlanta Airport

Beautiful Sunset, overlooking the Freeway Off-ramp into Cape Town,  but you could not hear it.

More Sunset, this time from Bossa Restuarant on Woodbridge Island

My Good Friend, Melissa

Another lovely friend, Derryn

Our days henceforth was filled with Pre-Booked Medical appointments, getting our Drivers Licenses Renewed (in RSA they only issue for 5 years), and getting Replacement Passports, as our existing ones will expire at an inconvenient time whilst overseas for Renewal.

As it happens, an MRI showed that Nicholas' first surgery on his Shoulder in Miami did not fix the problem, and so additional surgery was scheduled for a few days later. I hustled from one Cancer Scan to the next, MRI's - Bone, Breast, Brain and Liver. Pet Scans, Mammograms, CT scans. I also had a Tooth Implant done.

Nicholas surgery was successful. My Scans results are similar to 2 years prior (which I am enormously happy with), and my Dental Implant went well.

Drivers Licenses applied for, and typical Africa, the only machine in South Africa which prints the Driver License cards (which are acceptable world wide as a source of identification), broke down. So, we were issued with Temporary Licenses.... My sister-in-law, Penny will kindly collect of Permanent Driver Licenses, once available, and courier them to us.

Our passports applications went smoothly. Due to Taxi Strikes, (ie: the workers could not get to work, and couriers were not delivering), our Passports collections were delayed, and after much pleading at Home Affairs, (as Passports have to be collected in person), a kindly employee went the extra mile, to find our Passports in the back room, and have them ready for us to collect on the Friday, as we were flying out of Cape Town on Sunday.

We also flew to Johannesburg. Nicholas to meet up with company staff. Me to visit my mum.

My Mum, Genevieve

I flew to Durban to visit my family, fabulous time with my big sis Tania, and an amazing Family get-to-gether at my niece Lauren's house. It was awesome. Thank you all for coming, and Thanks Tania and Edward for hosting me.

My sister's excellent Milk Tart

My Great Nephew William

Zach, Lauren, Abi, Danny, Theo and girlfriend

My sis, Tania and her Granddaughter Abigail

Fun times

Abi and William

My Wonderful nephew Warren

My Amazing niece Lauren and Fab nephew Theo

Back in Cape Town, prior to flying out, we joined Penny and Mike in Hermanus at their lovely cottage for the weekend.

Ficks Pool Sunset Drinks, Hussar Grill for great Steaks, Craft Market shopping, Hills-Side walks watching the Whales with their calves. Morning Coffee and Waffles overlooking the Bay. Good times with Nicholas' sister Penny, and Mike. What Fun! Thank you!

Stunning Ficks Pools in Hermanus. Location doesn't get better for Sunset drinks

Mike, Penny me and Nicholas

Fun in Hermanus

And so, it was time to start the Long Haul back to Meshugga. We decided to make a 24 hours stop in Atlanta, as Nicholas needed a few spares, which he ordered on Amazon and delivered to our Hotel. After that it was the same procedure in reverse. Except that we used a Taxi to drive us from the Airport to Meshugga, as we did not want to spend another night in Guatemala City. The drive was terrible. Traffic horrendous, and a slow driver, and hair-raising watching him negotiate whether to try overtake in an aged car. I preferred the Bus to the Taxi drive! Both took 6 hours. The Taxi cost $200, the Bus cost $45 for both of us. Unfortunately we arrived at Guatemala Airport too late for the bus departure, only later finding out that there is an Overnight bus, which does not stop at all between Guatemala City and Rio Dulce - but that info is too late. Hopefully we will not be repeating this trip.