Author: Minette Visser

April 28, 2010 / / BLOG

So it’s been more than a week and I only got round to unpacking my bag this morning. It’s good to be home again, but as Franz Ferdinand so eloquently puts it: “It’s always better on holiday.”

Our trip took us to many places and we met a lot of people. The impression of Italy and the Italians I am left with is this:
Never have I met friendlier, more helpful people. They are warm and joyful and never mind if we don’t speak Italian and they don’t speak English: we’ll have long conversations over cups of coffee (which is so strong, you don’t really drink it as much as chew it.)

Italy is a beautiful country and we took over 1300 pictures. I won’t make you look through all of them (I haven’t even, yet, so why should you?) This is a short summary of the places we have been:

1. Venice

Venice

Despite a hitch with the accommodation,

April 21, 2010 / / BLOG
April 21, 2010 / / BLOG

Travel for days to take pictures of you and the wife and kids next to well-known landmarks. Try to fit in as many landmarks as you can into your itinerary.

By following these essential guidelines, your trip will be remembered for years to come. Eventually your memory will start to fade and you’ll remember your travels with fondness.

April 20, 2010 / / BLOG
April 16, 2010 / / BLOG

When in Verona, break out in spontaneous sonnet.

April 15, 2010 / / STORIES
April 14, 2010 / / BLOG

Yes, the attendants look at you funny. But do you really need another plastic bag…

April 13, 2010 / / BLOG
April 9, 2010 / / BLOG

When in Rome, do the Roman Boogie.

April 8, 2010 / / STORIES
April 7, 2010 / / BLOG

The process to recycle glass is more efficient than the plastic recycling process.

April 6, 2010 / / BLOG

If everything went well, today is our first day in Naples. Yes, tonight we are…

April 2, 2010 / / BLOG

If you are traveling with children, drag them to as many museums as you can fit into a day. Be sure to skip rapidly over interactive exhibits and make them listen to all the tracks on the audio guide. Better yet, make them read all the descriptions.

April 1, 2010 / / STORIES
March 31, 2010 / / BLOG

Thank you Texo

March 30, 2010 / / BLOG
March 26, 2010 / / STORIES

Jake woke up slowly.

He did not know where he was.

He could barely remember what had happened: he had been stalking a fly but then there was an owl… and a cat? He got knocked down, that’s for sure.

The little chameleon looked around him, first with his one eye, then with the other. He was inside a cottage of some sort, warm and cosy and not too bright. A girl walked in with a mealworm pinched between her fingers. She walked up to Jake and said in a soothing tone “Hey, little guy! Are you hungry yet?”

A chameleon and a girl


Leila was very relieved:

March 26, 2010 / / BLOG
March 26, 2010 / / BLOG

I always assumed all people did this. Not so.

March 26, 2010 / / STORIES
March 26, 2010 / / BLOG

If you find you must travel (for work purposes, or to visit a distant relative who just had a baby and your wife insists on delivering the hand-knitted socks herself) there are certain, very important things to keep in mind.

Travel Tip for the World-Weary #1

Start complaining about how expensive travelling is as soon as possible. From airplane tickets to the price of coffee (“R50! For a coffee!”) there are many reasons to suddenly become stingy.

March 25, 2010 / / STORIES

The girl stared out the window. Well, she could hardly be called a girl anymore. She recalled, many decades ago, wishing that she were an adult. Her mother had replied “No, you don’t.”

Eventually the girl’s wish was granted. She got married and raised three beautiful children. Now, her long hair was thinning and required chemicals to maintain its dark colour.

By no accounts was she still a girl. She was a woman. And yet, she always had a thought: “One day, when I am all grown up, I will know what I want to do with my life.”

February 25, 2010 / / BLOG
February 23, 2010 / / BLOG