A fascinating city in troubling times. New friends, history and art. There is much more to be seen!

When you’ve just come off a nine hour flight, faced with a seven hour layover, you take the long walk way—doesn’t everyone? Apparently not!

Johannesburg artsy hotel as my beginning

More fascinating Jo’Burg to follow!

No stories yet, just photos of my next adventure.

This is a time of year that I don’t travel, I let others come to me. It is good fortune that they still want to do so. Being an honorary member of the Kids’ Club could be a factor. Or, the Grandma sleepover with movies, pizza (or, sometimes an unusually formal meal, candles and all), and the favorite ice cream sundae with as much whipped cream on top as one could desire. Perhaps it’s that there is often a ridiculous allowance like the time we roasted penne pasta and asparagus spears over the candle flames. There is the suggestion that what happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s but somehow the stories get told. I am scolded but always forgiven.

There are lots of memories stored from this holiday. The oldest child is now 45, the oldest grandchild now 14. There are tree decorations from all of those years, many hand made by a grandmother/great grandmother who is no longer here but fondly remembered for these elaborate, colorful felt characters. It’s a tradition that stopped with her, those every year additions to the Christmas presents, but I did manage to make a fantastic stocking for each grandchild to complete the circle.

Christmas morning has gone from the utter chaos of children tearing at packages and counting to see if one received more than another, hardly looking at the presents, to that now eerily quiet iSomething concentration. Something to be said for the chaos, then again…. Mid-afternoon, the crowd moves on to my house for the family and friends meal. After a near disaster with a smoking turkey several years ago, the bird is cooked in the company of others and transported when ready to eat. Christmas dinner hasn’t changed although there are some who would like to try something different. Bacon/garlic brussel sprouts made an appearance this year. Maybe another “new” dish next year.

The apartment is quiet now but the glorious sound of laughter and the strains of Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas performed by saxophone, two clarinets, a violin and a five-year-old vocalist still echo. The neighbors will surely forgive.

Memories

Memories