On a business trip to Johannesburg, South Africa - one of my favorite places on earth - I took a little detour for the first time and flew down to the Western Cape for the weekend. I stayed at the Western Cape Resort & Spa, a member of the Sheraton/Luxury Collection chain and managed by the German company Arabella. It was in an idyllic nature reserve - the Bot River Lagoon area - and was about an hour east of Cape Town. It's about five years old, I'm told, and it is a vision of luxury. The architecture is neatly fit into the landscape, and the suites are large and generously appointed. I had a lounge, a walk-in closet, a bedroom, a huge bathroom with a bathtub next to the window overlooking the lagoon (with a TV!), and a huge balcony running the length of the room. I spent a whole day enjoying the spa and it's services (massage and facial!), and spent the next day running around the Hermanus area, seeing the Southern Right Wales, and seals, the tortoises, penguins and beautiful flora - including the national flower: the protea.
I was knackered after many long months of traveling, so this represented the "home stretch", as I now get to stay home for a while, which I'm overjoyed about! I can't wait to go back and spend more time in this beautiful area with its charming and courteous people and amazing landscapes. Tot siens!
