It has been four days since I last did an entry -- problems with Wifi access and we've been pretty busy. We spent two nights in Knysna (silent K). It is on a protected harbour so lots of sailboats. The entrance is very, very tricky so no boat is insured while going through it. We had a harbour cruise then went out for dinner. We went to an elephant park which was more interesting than I thought it would be as we got to feed them. Funny watching my elephant tell the next one to butt out when his trunk came over and tried to take the fruit I was holding. These are rescued elephants (orphaned by poachers). Our touring around in this area was along the coast.
We left Sunday morning for Stellebosch which is in the winelands area. What beautiful country as it is green with vineyards everywhere. Also fruit trees -- pears, peaches, apples. Lots of water here. In Port Elizabeth water is rationed. On the way we stopped at an ostrich farm. Saw how their managed it plus learned a lot about ostrich. Eg They mate every day and the hen lays an egg every other day. The keepers take the eggs away and raise then in an incubator. They leave her one, and because she can't count, she keeps laying trying to get to the right number for sitting on (about 15). They have to do the egg retrieval carefully as the ostiches get very aggressive. Two or three people go into the pen. One has a long tree branch which has lots of thorns on the end. Since the bird does't want his/her eyes damaged, that keeps them at bay. They have razor sharp (7cm long) claws so one doesn't want to make contact!!!
After all the info, we got a chance to ride them. My hand was first up so I got to ride first. I had no idea what to expect. Thought I'd go for a walk around the pen area. So the guys got me positioned correctly -- feel clamped around the bird, leaning back and hands hanging on to the wings. Then they started hooping and hollering so the bird took off at a full run!!! Very exciting!! Then when they tried to get me off the bird I still was hanging on tight till I realized what they were trying to do. What I didn't realize was that they were right beside me the whole way. Six of us got to go -- had to be under 150 lbs. (which I still am!! )
We then had a delicious lunch of salad with ostrich strips on top.
So after a very long day (830 to 6) we got to our hotel. It is supposed to be one of the most prestigous in the world! Very nice. Meals are an experience -- appetizer, special treat from the chef (raw salmon), main course, palate cleanser, dessert (beautifully arranged). Our room is huge with the longest tub I've ever seen.
Today we did a wine tour and tasting plus some shopping in some lovely little towns with neat shops. Also went through a museum showing houses from 1700 to 1850. The early one has an interesting feature -- the chair and table legs were very short. Since the floors were made of cow dung, the feel used to rot so they gradually had to cut them off. Another interesting feature -- in the attic was a coffin in which they stored their dried herbs until it came time to use it.
Enough for today.
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