Vol. 24 No. 10 December 2006 - The Travel Society

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EditorAnn Wallaceann@thetravelsociety.comContributorsYvonne WhyteNancy MacdonaldKatherine McIntyreJohn & Doreen BergBob & Jennifer HastiePublisherNigel D Raincocknigel@thetravelsociety.comAdministratorDebbie Philipdebbie@thetravelsociety.comMagazineGraphic Design & ProductionYong Parkyong@thetravelsociety.comThe Travel Society Magazine (ISSN#1717-242X) is an independent, consumer magazinepublished in Canada ten times a year. Althoughextreme care is taken to ensure the accuracy ofmaterial herein, The Travel Society does notassume any liability for errors or omissions, forchanges in fares or schedules, or for readers’decisions based on the opinions of the editor orwriters. Readers are advised to confirm all informationprior to booking.Rates for CANADA (GST included):1 year - $49.002 years - $95.003 years - $140.00USA: 1 year - $80.00 (incl. postage)World: 1 year - $80.00 (incl. postage)Back issues:1 issue - $5.00 3 issues - $10.00Copyright 2006 by The Travel Society Inc.Contents may not be reproduced in whole or partwithout written permission from the publisher.The Travel Society Inc.218 - 1033 Bay Street,Toronto, Ontario, Canada. M5S 3A5Tel: 416 926 0111 Fax: 416 926 0222e-mail: brit@thetravelsociety.comweb-site: www.thetravelsociety.comPostmaster: Please send address correctionsto the above address.Printed in Canada. GST Reg # R135785962Publications Mail Agreement:# 40063904 & # 09925Customer # 2289997Mail preference: From time to time, we make our membershiplist available to specific reputable companies and organizationswhose products and/or services we believe will be ofinterest to you. If you do not want your name to be madeavailable, please enclose your mailing label and initialhere_____We acknowledge the financial support of theGovernment of Canada, through the PublicationsAssistance Program (PAP) and the CanadianMagazine Fund of the Department of CanadaHeritage toward our mailing and project costs.December 2006 Vol. 24, No. 10contentsReaders’ LettersMosetlha Bush Camp, South AfricaCalifornia Coast North of San FranciscoWinnipeg Airport LoungeRafting to an Eco-lodge in Costa RicaDestinationsWinnipeg HighlightsDubai … Gold Souks and Aquamarine WatersA Return to GreeceCooking up a Storm in MoroccoWalking the Camino de SantiagoNewsGetting “Bumped”Index for 2006editor’s letter ...This final issue of the year takes us to some varieddestinations; from our own culture-richWinnipeg to the beaches and souks of Dubai. Ormaybe you’ll get out your atlas to see where thosetravels in Greece may take you, or maybe you’llresolve to walk off a few pounds in the spring onSpain’s famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimageroute or add a few pounds on an exotic cookery course in Morocco.Whatever interests you, I hope you enjoy this last issue of theyear.I’m sure many of you will agree … the older one gets the fasterthe festive season seems to roll around. We feel we’ve barely putour festive music and decorations away when they all have to bebrought out again. So, yes, it’s time to wish you all happy end-ofyearholidays. I wonder how many of you are staying at home andhow many heading away? If it’s the latter please remember thetips: if you’re flying, get to the airport early and don’t pre-wrapyour presents. If you’re driving you will, of course, check theweather reports but don’t forget to prepare a ‘survival kit’ foryour car in case you’re caught in an unexpected storm.So whether you spend the festive season looking back on pasttravels, sharing memories and photos, or looking ahead and planningnew adventures, all of us here at The Travel Society wish you ahappy and safe holiday. Please keep your letters, tips and storiescoming to us in 2007 and we, in turn, will circulate themamongst you all as we look forward to bringing this magazineto you in 2007. See you in the New Year! Happydays!33446111316181920A diorama in theManitoba Museumillustrates a Metishunting buffalo onthe prairies2 www.thetravelsociety.com
eaders’lettersMosetlha Bush Camp,South AfricaIf South Africa is in your plans youmay like to consider including a stayat Mosetlha Bush Camp in your itinerary.Located in South Africa’sNorth West Province (with Botswanaas its northern border), MadikweGame Reserve is a 3½ hour drivefrom Johannesburg and Pretoria andunder an hour from Gaborone,Botswana. It also has a gravelairstrip for those who wish to fly in.Those who drive must leave theirvehicle at the gate of the Reserve,where a guide will pick you up andtransport you to the Bush Camp.Madikwe, the fourth largestgame reserve in South Africa, is some70,000 hectares of rugged anduntouched beauty. The Reserveoffers the ‘big five’ (elephant, lion,leopard, black and white rhino andbuffalo) plus the endangered wild dogand cheetah. It also has 340 speciesof birds to keep birders happy.Mosetlha offers a real bush campexperience, so if you need a swimmingpool or air conditioning, read nofurther. The camp offers comfortableaccommodation in raised woodencabins, which they refer to as “rustic.”Oil lamps, safari showers anddelicious bush fare prepared on theopen fire offers a mix of home comfortsand really being in the Africanbushveld.I loved every minute of my fourdaystay at Mosetlha. Being able tosit in an open 4x4 amongst a pride oflions was an experience of a lifetime.And while seeing elephants, rhinosand buffalo were highlights, getting achance to see animals such as an aardwolfand a wild cat were just asthrilling. And there were so manybeautiful birds, many of which couldbe seen right in camp. Our guide wasexcellent, as was the rest of the staff,in looking after our comfort. Thecamp accommodates just 16 people intwin cabins, ensuring the personaltouch. The rates include all mealsand refreshments (snacks, tea, coffeeand fruit) and guided walks and drives,as well as Emergency EvacuationInsurance. They do not include transportationto the Reserve, the parkentrance fee, alcoholic drinks and gratuities.If you go to their excellent website, ‘what you see is what you get’ asfar as facilities and services. What itcan’t tell you is how you feel after youlook into the eyes of a lion. You willneed to experience that for yourself.For further details and reservationscontact the Johannesburg office atphone/fax: [011 27] 11 444 9345, e-mail: info@thebushcamp.com or visitwww.thebushcamp.comYvonne WhyteTerrace, BCIn last month’s edition we brought youNancy Macdonald’s story of Carmel-bythe-Sea,California, located about 100miles south of San Francisco. However,Nancy also travelled on to explore northof San Francisco. Here’s the ‘scoop’ …Exploring the CaliforniaCoast North of SanFranciscoOff-season, 4 – 7 February 2006 to beexact, was sunny and spectacular oncoastal highway #1 north of SanFrancisco, California. The green ofwindswept trees, the blues and aquamarinesof the Pacific Ocean, the whiteof spray and the abundant cala liliesdelighted my winter-weary soul.Numerous parks and lookouts allow youto take your eyes off the winding road insafety. Pacific Coast Road #1 parallelshighway #101 and the wine routes ofSonoma and the Napa Valley. You canhead north on #1 from San Francisco ortravel up one of the other routes andcross west on highway #20 through redwoodforests to join highway #1 justsouth of Fort Bragg as I did.Fort Bragg is a value-priced alternativeto staying in Mendocino just 10minutes south. At the north end of FortBragg, I found the Beachcomber Motellocated on an ocean path with thesights and sounds of the crashingPacific waves. My room was $50(all prices US) with continentalbreakfast included and they offeredtwo nights for the price of one untilthe end of March. Other deals maybe possible at other times. CliffHouse is a spectacular restaurant onseveral levels overlooking the oceanand the river at 1011 South MainStreet, the south end of Fort Bragg.Famed as the home village ofCabot Cove in ‘Murder She Wrote’,Mendocino has countless charms.Among the many art galleries don’tmiss ‘Art That Makes You Laugh’ at45000 Main Street. Shops and restaurantsline this street. There arenumerous B&B’s in town and youwill notice many homes still retainingoriginal water towers. The colours ofthese homes and flowers are almostover-shadowed by the surroundingocean views, the especially spectacularsunsets and the tides meeting theBig River with crashing waves.A 2006 Visitor Guide is availableat www.mendocinocoast.com or byemail: chamber@mcn.org. TheMendocino Coast State Parks arenumerous and follow many of theriver canyons inland. Hiking andcamping are available. Write to themfor information c/o Russian GulchState Park, PO Box #440,Mendocino, CA 95460. Headingsouth from Mendocino, just belowManchester, turn off to Point Arena.Surfers test their nerves on either sideof the wharf there and after lunch onthe second floor deck I was almosttempted to join them! But I thoughtit better to check in to the WharfMaster’s Inn on a hill above the covewhere, after enjoying the hikes ontheir property, I relaxed in front of thefire or in the hot tub in my room.Prices here ranged from $79 to $200.My most luxurious off-seasonfind, however, was Seacliff on theBluff in Gualala, farther south. Trulyit is a romantic retreat with a jacuzzitub, bottle of champagne, gas fireplaceand king-size bed. From com-Decemember 2006 3
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Page 5 and 6: guests, arrive by raft. Designed wi
Page 7 and 8: highlights with time to visit some
Page 9 and 10: or ask directions to 375 Rue Descha
Page 11 and 12: DUBAI … GOLD SOUKSANDAQUAMARINE W
Page 13 and 14: A Return to Greecestory and photos
Page 15 and 16: fast during the shoulder season. Th
Page 17 and 18: Cooking up a Storm in Moroccostory
Page 19 and 20: For some, hearing the words “volu
Page 21 and 22: A new tourPerhaps you are one of th
Page 23 and 24: 22 days from $5,995A Traveller’s

Vol. 24 No. 10 December 2006 - The Travel Society

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