Tag Archives: Switzerland

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 30 of Level 1, 30 October 2021.

 

Saturday 30 October 2021, Day 30 of Level 1 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for a lovely relaxed carefree day, despite not starting off well due to a very restless sleep, worried about Minsky gallivanting elsewhere until 7h00 this morning, getting up regularly to see if she had returned; for a busy start to the day, doing a Spring clean, adding a good number of steps to my count today; happy to see Gary Peterson when he arrived early, amazing that he offered to take over the vacuuming of the lounge, the last task I had to do before Rose Klein and Hans-Werner Klein Continue reading →

SA Winners of 2022 Great Wine Capitals Global Network Best of Wine Tourism and Ambassadors Awards announced!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The winners of the South African leg of the 2022 Great Wine Capitals have just been announced by Wesgro. Two wine estates won in two categories each.

Added to the local Awards are Tourism Ambassador Awards, not an official category in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network annual awards, but added to the South African awards only.

South Africa is one of 11 wine-producing regions of the Great Wine Capitals network. The regions are Adelaide in Australia, Bilbao and Rioja in Spain, Bordeaux in France, Cape Town and Cape Winelands in South Africa, Lausanne in Switzerland, Mainz and Rheinhessen in Germany, Mendoza in Argentina, Porto in Portugal, San Francisco and Napa Valley in the USA, Valparaiso and Casablanca Valley in Chile, and Verona in Italy.  Awards are presented annually in a number of categories pertaining to Best of Wine Tourism.

The 2022 winners of the South African Great Wine Capitals Global Network Best of Wine Tourism Awards are the following:

#   Accommodation: Delaire Graff in Stellenbosch – the accommodation offers opulence, views of the Banhoek Valley, a relaxing stay, a private patio, and a pillow menu.

#.  Wine Tourism Restaurants : Creation in Hermanus  – wine is paired to food, instead of the other way around at Creation, its latest pairing being a CanapĂŠ Pairing Menu. It also offers a Brunch Pairing, a Wine and Chocolate Pairing as well as an aromatic tea and food pairing.

#.  Architecture & Landscape: Vergelegen in Somerset West – recognised for its Octagonal Garden, the Camphor Forest, the Reflection Garden, the Sundial Garden, and the Fynbos Garden.

#.  Arts & Culture : La Motte in Franschhoek – recognised for its history and curated art shows, and Cape Dutch architecture.

#   Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences : Babylonstoren in Franschhoek – recognised for its wine tasting offered to visitors arriving with the Franschhoek Wine Tram, going on a cellar tour, and visit the new wine tunnel, representing centuries of wine making and storage.

#.  Wine Tourism Services : Creation in Hermanus – recognised for their Voormanhuis accommodation, local art, commitment to sustainability, and sourcing locally.

#   Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices : Vergelegen in Somerset West – recognised for the 20 year journey of its commitment to sustainability and rehabilitation, presented as an Environmental Tour to visitors. It is self-sufficient in water, and the meat and seafood used in its restaurants are locally sourced and ethically raised.

#   Ambassador Awards, celebrating ongoing Transformation:  AA Badenhorst, Paardenkloof Estate, and Dewetshof Estate.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide

 

 

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 92 of Level 1, 21 December 2020.

 

Monday 21 December 2020, Day 92 of Level 1, Day 271 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏 

#Grateful for a sunny day, feeling cooler than 26C due to it being windy from this morning onwards; for getting my writing done in a shorter time than normal; for spreading the dishwashing of yesterday throughout the day; for collecting sandwiches and coldrinks from The Bay Hotel for the Christmas function which was held for the Camps Bay Community Stewards (car guards and my cleaners), borrowing a Pick n Pay trolley to transport them to the SAPS parking area; for trying out the new Crème de la Crème Gourmet Dessert outlet in Camps Bay, which has just opened; for collecting a plaque from Pagliari engravers in town for my client, produced efficiently and just in time before their Festive Season closing tomorrow, and dropping it off; for a spontaneous drop-in at Dinkel Bakery, which still had some poppyseed rolls for me; for both lanes of Geneva Drive having reopened  in Camps Bay; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙 Continue reading →

Mutated Corona Virus causes travel havoc in and out of the UK, affecting S A Tourism too!

 

A mutated Corona Virus variant, which has appeared in the UK, and now is evident in South Africa, is causing havoc in that most European countries as are other countries, are banning flights from the UK from today, and South Africa has been added to this list by four countries to date too.

The new Virus strain is not said to be any worse than the current one in terms of its symptoms, but it is spreading 70% faster. It has led the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock to state that the Corona Virus in that country is ‘out of control’, and for a harsh Tier 4 Lockdown to be imposed in London and Southeast England. Yesterday the country recorded its highest number of new infections, at 35928 cases.

Continue reading →