Spanish Advenchurro!

Last night was the first time since I was a child that I diluted my red wine with coke - yes we were allowed a little wine on special occasions. Our first encounter with Spanish wine was not pleasant but we were not about to waste a drop, after all we were not drinking for the enjoyment of it, we were drinking to forget.

Driving through Europe may not have been such a great idea after all. The steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car, everyone drives on the wrong side of the road and the highways in Spain seem to have been designed by a sadistic lunatic hoping to get visitors trapped in a never ending maze of slip roads and interchanges.

Then you get Madrid! I dare a Johannesburg taxi driver to go up against peak hour traffic in Madrid - at 20h00 at night - the speed and complication of the traffic system will leave even the toughest of taxi drivers weak in the knees and looking like a teenage learner driver on Louis Botha during a thunderstorm.

Needless to say, we were exhausted by the time we reached our destination. Red-eyed, a slight chest pain and a nervous twitch to rival Miley Cyrus' best twerk, to be cured only by a dose of alcohol. I could picture the crimson liquid cascading from my glass and slipping down my throat, warming my belly and leading me to a place of calm. Rich and delicious. Unfortunately the katemba would have to do. Gulped and not sipped, like medicine, sending us to bed, helping us forget.

To my family and especially my husband, I apologise profusely. However, the word "adventure" does come to mind and this one is epic. What would you call turning down the wrong side of the road into oncoming, peak hour traffic and surviving to tell the tale?

Four More Sleeps

We're just four days from departure and spirits are not as high, but that has nothing to do with our travels. We're still filled with expectation and a little trepidation. A little adjustment to our itinerary and we should be able to share the highs and lows of Sunday's funeral ceremony along with fellow South Africans. My heart aches deeply.

However, I feel even more strongly about opening my Italian family's eyes to the wonder that is South Africa.

I've made up my mind about the care packages. As mentioned before, the purpose is to encourage them to visit our amazing country. I'll do the usual stuff, the mixed cd/usb, a few bottles of wine (minding all airport restrictions) and two beautiful books; Picturesque South Africa and South Africa, both by Sean Fraser. But something that really made me feel proud is the new Eat Out Magazine, an amazing showcase of all our best restaurants in a stunning magazine. I just have to add a couple of copies to these gift packages. I am happy for our country to be judged based on the contents of this edition!

In fact,after browsing the pages of my copy, I even had a moment of doubt about going so far away on holiday when there's so much to experience right here, on our doorstep. I haven't been to Cape Town since 2010, yes really, and I'm truly longing for a visit. I've gotten over it though, I live here and I have all this wonder all around me all the time.

I just have no idea what I'm getting the little ones now, an 8 year old little girl and a 6 year old little boy. The minions I'm dying to buy will be too much temptation for my children and I and too much bulk for my luggage. Plus, they have absolutely no connection to South Africa. Maybe I should gift wrap our copy of the children's edition of Long Walk to Freedom, a tiny gesture for someone so great in stature.

The Hungry Kitchen Slave