The Sweet Service Award goes to Bahia-Sub in Vilanova de Arousa, and its skipper Santiago. The boat company uses its rubber duck, seating about twelve Camino pilgrims at a time, transporting them on the Rio Sar, from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures, a journey of about one hour, but we were on the water for 90 minutes. Skipper Santiago was a true gentleman, slowing down or stopping the engine to show and inform us about interesting sights along the way, including the mussel farming outside Vilanova de Arousa, the second largest in the world, clam fishing, crosses in honour of Saint James and two other holy persons on a little island on the river, and ruins of a church and a castle on the river bank, with a replica of a Viking boat that pilgrims used to travel to Santiago de Compostela. The real spoil was a tea break, with hot tea and a mini muffin served.
Tag Archives: OR Thambo airport
WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 4 September
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Our economy is struggling, business confidence having fallen to its lowest level in 16 years. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Confidence Index fell from 88 in July to 84 in August! This scenario may cost the country’s workers 60000 jobs.
* Given that the 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in Durban, Continue reading →
WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 2 – 5 January
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The Daily Mail journalist Gary Edwards visited Cape Town just at the beginning of December, to tie in with the launch of the movie ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom‘, his first visit in 10 years. He found that little has changed in Cape Town, although the exchange rate was not as favourable as when he visited in 2003, despite being attractive now. He praises the sunshine, and highlights his experiences of visiting Table Mountain, Cape Point, Bungalow in Clifton, Cellars-Hohenhort, the Twelve Apostles Hotel, the V&A Waterfront, the Coffeebean Route, Robben Island, and other ‘Seven Wonders of Cape Town‘, a name he made up. He gives the beach at Camps Bay a mention too, but uses a photograph of Clifton!
* OR Thambo airport was the largest port of entry into South Africa during December, and the airport, Beitbridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg, and Oshoek had more persons crossing the border than arrived at Cape Town International airport. International arrivals were from the UK, the USA, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, France, India, China, Nigeria, Sweden, and Canada. In total there were 4 million border crossings, roughly half entering and leaving the country.
* Retail outlets selling alcohol will have to offer free condoms and water too, if Continue reading →
Toro Wine Bar Sweet and OR Tambo Airport Sour Service Awards
The Sweet Service Award goes to Toro Wine and Aperitif Bar, for their generosity in inviting us to join the birthday table of Renata Cinti, mother of co-owner Matteo, when we went there on Monday evening. The table included Renata’s friends Giorgio and Simonetta Dalla Cia, and good friend and former Bridge House School lift club mom (with Renata) Lyndall Erasmus. Grazie!
The Sour Service Award goes to ACSA and its OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, nominated by Mike Said: “Without fail there are no smoking signs at each and every entrance/exit and without fail there are people leaning against these signs and smoking. This makes entry and exit through those doors a most unpleasant experience not to mention a health risk. I am certain that it is contrary to some law but it is not so much for that reason that I bring it to your attention. Walk out of any of the doors and you are met with plumes of smoke and discarded cigarette butts scattered over the ground (is there anything less considerate than a smoker?). Now I have also noticed the EXCEPTIONAL job that the traffic marshals are doing in ensuring that nobody is able to park for a second longer than is permitted. I have seen cars being chased away and towed away. In fact I myself have had to wait as my driver circles the airport if my luggage is fractionally delayed. Now you may sight that this is a safety aspect and I fully agree but then so is the health of the millions who must pass through (the) doors every month”.
The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog. Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com. Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.