My daughter, Michelle and her husband, Pieter, moved to Banbury almost three years ago and are so happy, that they have decided to stay. Suffice it to say, I miss them terribly, but on the plus side, I have the best excuse for visiting the Cotswolds regularly - that is, if our South African Rand picks up a bit against the mighty pound sterling. It is wiser to leave your SA Rands here when embarking on a visit to Britain and taking equal value Monopoly money with you instead!
From your point of view, SA is an inexpensive holiday destination, both in respect of R15,66 to the £1 and everything from accommodation, transport, restaurants and entertainment to clothing and footwear being fairly cheap.
I am afraid we do not have the ancient history of your region, as, although Stellenbosch, with its world-renowned Wine Route, is the oldest town in South Africa, it is a "baby" of only 350 years.
The Cotswolds holds mountains of interest for someone like me who has an unashamed curiosity about most things, including art, historical buildings, music, people and places. No mystery, then, the nickname "travelbug" which I use often as a password - well, I did, until I divulged it to half of Britain!
Your region has an abundance of sites to visit, with its many historic towns, equally at home as a picture-pretty jigsaw puzzle, or in paintings by some of the Masters. Gentle slopes, bubbling brooks, timeless villages, historic churches and manor houses offer the traveller a bankful of memories of an era past. Add to this magic mix the friendly, hospitable folk from the region and you will know why visitors from all over the world return time and again.
Perhaps our Webmaster will be kind enough to indulge me, by placing a photo of my region each week, giving you some idea of what the region and town has to offer.
I shall enjoy telling you a little about Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the quaint seaside town of Gordon's Bay, where I live, high up against the slopes overlooking the vineyards and wide expanse of sea, with Table Mountain as its backdrop.
I look forward to welcoming you to my little spot on the globe one day soon.
Cathy |