Tag: December 2002

Festive food and fellowship was shared at the December Texas branch meeting.
The scheduled slide show of Portugal was postponed to the January meeting.
In addition to the slide show we will share our 2003 travel goals during
the January meeting. Hope to see you – same time, same place!

New Braunfels Public Library 700 E. Common Street, New Braunfels,
Texas 830-620-5482, at 2pm, January 11th 2003

As the year 2002 comes to an end, the Texas Branch of the Globetrotters
Club continues to flourish. If you have not yet joined the Globetrotters
Club, now is the time to do so.

Go to http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/join/
and today! If it is time to renew your membership, do that today! Make
sure you welcome 2003 as a member in good standing with the Globetrotters
Club.

Dates of future meetings: January 11th, February 8th

The Globetrotters Club is encouraging anyone interested in writing articles

• without pictures for the free monthly Globetrotters e-newsletter,
  contact the Beetle on beetle@globetrotters.co.uk
• or with pictures, contact the editor of Globe on editor@globetrotters.co.uk

Learn more about Globetrotters at www.globetrotters.co.uk.

For more information about the Texas Branch: please Contact texas@globetrotters.co.uk or call Christina
at 830-620-5482

Meetings are held at 2pm at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E.
Common Street in New Braunfels, Texas. The meeting ends at 5 p.m. If you
would like to continue travel talk on a more informal basis, we plan to
adjourn to the Hoity-Toit, a local New Braunfels establishment. If anybody
would like to enquire about meetings or help Christina, please contact
her on: texas@globetrotters.co.uk

---

Wandering amongst Pisa’s famed sights, I found myself eased culturally
back into Italy and following the big, rounded taste of the evenings Rosso
Di Montepulciano I felt readied (or should be that steadied?) for the
imminent return. The year that had passed seemed all too long to be away
from such a good friend as Firenze…

No alarm call was needed to wake me from the darkened Sunday slumber
of Pensione Rinascente – the bright, cool morning had already been
disturbed by medieval equivalents! Whilst masses filed through splendid
church facades, my own calling came from Pisa Centrale and as I found
myself being drawn across the Arno a thought occurred – would the famed
Italian trains be on time? My answer was forthcoming as the 9.18 was only
a couple of minutes late and was already busy transporting people going
about their Sunday lives. Moving away from the platform a certain sensation
I had felt when travelling on warm, early morning trains across India
flitted through my consciousness once again – a good omen for the
journey I smiled!

Stops such as Pontedera disappeared behind the train as a hazy sun opened
up a landscape of smallholdings, allotments and vine trails. Surrounded
by the languid Italian chatter of our fellow passengers, I felt suitably
drawn away from everything of the previous working week – a fleeting
travel moment to be cherished. Further along the journey, the archetypal
Italian station of Empoli and the ever changing faces of fellow passengers
also reminded me of previous travels – this time of Inter-rail journeys.
Playing that old game of guessing people’s destinations, I wondered
whether the young Scandinavians were heading south or and whether the
Africans were heading business like to northern destinations. Our route
to Firenze narrowed through a rising valley as it progressed and as in
many photos and films, I glimpsed some of the traditional Tuscan imagery
– hill top villages connected by winding roads that twisted through lush
green countryside and trees stretching skywards. Almost as the quickly
as the track had risen did we descend down through the last few suburban
stops and onto the final destination…Firenze!

I hadn’t thought what I’d wanted to see of my old friend
again, but first thoughts were drawn along a slow loop through the heart
of the city, across the Arno and up to the panorama of Piazzale Michelangelo.
Familiar sites greeted me as Kate and I sped across the expanse of the
rather unvisited Piazza Dell’ Unita Italia– the still petitioning
HIV charity, the market where I purchased a most expensive wallet and
then onto a renewing glimpse of the Duomo’s bell tower and Battistero.
What struck me this time about the magnificent cathedral of Santa Maria
del Fiore (to give the Duomo its consecrated name) was not the beautiful
façade but how the turret like bastions sat atop, allowing all comers
to be seen. Being a Sunday we couldn’t undertake the winding climb
to dome’s top (thankfully appreciated by my apprehension of heights)
and the slower start to the day allowed us more space and time to enjoy
the walk across Piazza del Duomo and onwards.

For those that cherish Firenze, Via De’ Calzaiuoli’s opening
up on to

Piazza della Signora grandly displays much of what should be seen –
the splendid Palazzo Vecchio with its dominating tower, the near perfectly
copied statues of David or the beheading of Medusa by Perseus and the
Uffizi’s columned walk ways sheltering its snaking queues! Though
much of this grandeur owes its origins to the power of the Medici and
their egos, its subsequent evolution into a marvel of civic planning underscores
what the renaissance is depicted as representing. Even the mounted police
seemed proud to be part of this elegant cityscape. We had little desire
to enjoy the Uffizi’s always crowded galleries and somewhat cramped
displays and instead Kate diverted us off to the quiet of Santa Croce.
Previously I had strolled around this intriguing church with its incomplete
facade and had found that many of two hundred plus monuments commemorated
famous past lives – Michelangelo, Galileo and Dante I believe are
of the many. The adjoining convent turned museum and its cloisters echo
this silence and is a relatively unknown yet worthy destination for its
visitors.

As the climb upwards began, I noticed another of those travelling oddities
that catch my imagination – certain cities feature a building or
place that my wandering always seems to take me through or past! In London
it is the Embankment underground station, with Dublin it is O’Connell
Bridge and with Firenze it is the Biblioteca Nazionale! Whatever view
or late night revelry I have been party to, these buildings always seem
found themselves within view and I have no idea why! As we swiftly crossed
the modern Ponte Santa Niccolo we again had to pass this squared jawed
building before moving over to the quieter side of the Arno.

The steep route up through the steps and gardens of Guiseppe Poggi lifts
the walker onto a supreme vantage point! This perspective offers an unbeatable
right to left panorama – the view sweeps back across the trail I’ve
just described, over the Arno hunched Ponte Vecchio and through to the
old Forte Di Belvedere. From here I could imagine no better way to present
the city to visitors. Like many I sat awhile, allowing the warm breezes
to brush across my face and savour my return to this wonderful city. Somewhat
later our thirsts were indulgently quenched before moving on by visiting
one of the hilltop gelateria and selecting a double-portioned cone. Here
less cream and more ice is definitely better, with my favourite being
strawberry overlain with pistachio! Whether any sports dietician would
approve of such recharging remains to be seen but we were certainly ready
to move on…

If you’d like to contact Matthew about his time in Firenze or any
of his other travels, please e-mail him on: matthewdoughty@totalise.co.uk

---

Whitechapel is considered by some to be the heart of the East End of
London and over the centuries has hosted Jewish settlers, Irish dock workers
and Bangladeshi workers in the 'rag trade'. It’s a street
market right opposite the Royal London Hospital, and you’ll come
on to it from Whitechapel underground station as you exit from it. The
road is so-named because it led to the white chapel of St Mary Matfelon,
made from white stone around 1250. In the 19th century, Whitechapel Road
was the most important market in the area.

So what can you buy there? It is run predominantly by Asian traders and
this is sometimes reflected in some of the goods on sale e.g. sari material
and herbs and spices. You can find bedding, jewellery, clothing, tools,
fresh fruit and veg, electrical goods – all sorts, open six days a week
from Monday to Saturday from 8.00 until 18.00.

---

Everyone has heard of the Kruger National Park. It's the biggest
game reserve in South Africa. Its border stretches from the Limpopo River
in the north to the Crocodile river in the south. The whole eastern boundary
of the park borders onto Mozambique.

The park was established in 1926 and is over 2 million hectares in size.
Its size can be likened to that of Wales or the American state of Massachusetts.
There are a large variety of animals in the park, ranging from 122 different
species of mammal, 109 different types of reptile, 55 species of fish
and 422 species of birds.

The park is also home to 7000+ Elephants, 30000 Buffalo, 120000 Impala
Buck and 22000 Kwaggas (Zebras). To add to this list you will also find
giraffe, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hunting dog, hyenas, rhino and hippos.

A visit to this park is a must and if you are not an animal mad person,
after your first visit here you will find that you have become one.

Most visitors to South Africa do not have enough time so a quick visit
is what they opt for. To get to the park they either travel by tourist
bus or fly in and land at Skukuza, the largest rest camp in the park.
There are many others to stay at as well.

At Skukuza you can hire a car and drive yourself, or elect to go by coach
on a guided tour through the park. There are a couple of rules one has
to follow in the park.

• Do not leave your car under any circumstances except in designated
  rest areas.
• Keep to the speed limits.

There is a good reason for the rules. There are wild animals out in the
bush. You might get out of your car and walk slap bang into a lion lying
in thick grass right next to the road.

Guess who is going to win that argument! The lion initially, but once
it has killed someone it will kill again and become a threat, thus necessitating
its own demise.

The rest camp gates open at six in the morning and you are able to venture
out onto the roads. Suddenly 10 metres in front of you there is a movement
in the bush. You stop your car and one impala crosses the road. Sit still,
don't move, suddenly there are hundreds of them in the road. In about
10 minutes they have all crossed and the road is clear. Moving on you
come across a clump of rocks with some thorn bushes.

At the base of the thorn bush the grass is moving.

Taking a closer look you can see a largish animal lying on its side.
You've found a lion lying twitching its tail. It does this to rid
itself of the flies. Lions love to sleep in the shade in the heat of the
day and if you keep your eyes open you are likely to see more of them.

Leopards are very difficult to spot. Where there are largish trees, check
the higher branches and with a bit of luck you may spot one relaxing on
a branch.

At sundown its time to get to that water hole. Find a good spot where
you can see clearly, keep quiet and watch. The animals come from all directions
to drink. Impalas, kudus, warthogs and giraffe to name but a few. They
are very wary as they approach the waters edge. Have you noticed the log
floating close to the water's edge? It's a crocodile lying patiently
in the water with only its eyes sticking out waiting for its supper. If
an animal gets too close the crocodile will launch itself and grab its
prey, and drag it into the water where it will drown it.

The elephant in all its splendour arrives waving its trunk as it savours
the breeze. It's long white tusks glint in the evening sunlight as
it makes its way down to the river’s edge. Close behind come the rest
of the herd. Soon there is no place for the other animals, they must wait
their turn as the elephants suck up trunkfulls of water to drink and spray
over themselves.

It gets dark quickly so you need to get back to camp.

Along the way keep your eyes open for the nocturnal animals that should
be out and about. You would be amazed at what's out there.

When you get back to camp, have a meal, and hop into bed.

Before dropping off listen to the sounds of the bush. You'll hear
lions roaring and in the morning might even find their footprints around
your bungalow.

Love an experience like this?

Visit the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Geoff Fairman is the editor and publisher of Banker's Oldboys Ezine,
a free electronic publication. Subscribe to Bankers Oldboys Ezine for
more articles about Cape Town and South Africa by sending a blank e-mail
to BrerRabbit-subscribe@topica.com

---

Cardiff, home of the Millennium Stadium, city of so much more.

Sight seeing buses leave from outside the castle regularly throughout
the summer. However a tour of the Stadium costs £5 and can be pre-booked
and is a must. The highlight is a trip up the tunnel to the pitch with
the sound of the crowd roaring in your ears. I defy anyone to take these
steps without a silly grin!!

The shopping in the city provides all those shops you expect in a large
town, although there are a surprising number of music shops. However,
the old arcades off St Mary’s Street offer some interesting alternatives
to the large chain stores. I always show friends the “Kinky”
boot shop for a laugh, which can be a stunned silence!

On a hot summer’s day, the place to chill is Butte Park with some
of the best municipal planting I know. Or there’s the Mill Lane
quarter, for people watching while you chill.

There are a range of restaurants, wine bars, pubs and clubs to suit everyone.
And if you like a busy town, go on an International weekend, but be prepared
to sing!

---