Abroad Magazine - Issue #5, September - October 2003
- Food and wine South Africa is the longest established wine producing area outside Europe, and Tom Doorley finds it is ideal for a good flavour at a modest price.
- Out from the duvet Two years ago I went on a book-tour of South Africa. It was the beginning of my love affair with this magical continent. Before the work started, I had a day and a half in Johannesburg
- Cape Town’s Big 7 Michael Collins visits southern Africa’s most romantic and most visited city, and outlines the seven things not to miss in the region.
- The best hotel in the world? Michael Collins visits Cape Town’s finest hotel, some would say the world’s finest.
- Kruger Park Safari The great symbol of southern Africa, Kruger National Park conjures up images of Bushmen, gold prospectors, poachers, and vast herds of game migrating with the seasons. Inside the park there are several luxury private game lodges, including Singita where Michael Collins stayed.
- Lion Sands and Lukimbi Lodge Two or three days of Safari, which by the way is the Swahili for ‘journey’ can do us urban-dwellers the world of good. You’ll be astonished how watching animals in their natural habitats (a trip to the Zoo doesn’t really qualify) can clear the head, and even shed light on human behaviour.
- Melrose Arch Hotel Deirdre Mulrooney visits Johannesburg’s most HIP hotel.
- Driving the Garden Route Deirdre Mulrooney explores South Africa’s Garden of Eden.
- Six of the Best! Matthew Pearce presents his favourite golfing half dozen in South Africa.
- South African property still cheap, but prices rising Hugh Oram reports on the growing interest in South African property and finds prices low, but rising.
- Battle of the books Which guidebook should you bring with you on your next trip to South Africa? Deirdre Mulrooney examines five and gives her verdict.
- First lunch in Durban Paul Hopkins gets a taste of South Africa’s third largest city, and its luxurious neighbour the Zimbali Lodge and Country Club.
- Writer’s Top 10 Some works of fiction tell more about a destination than any guidebook. They take the reader into ‘the interior life’ of a city, achieving moments of clarity and insight no guidebook could master. Pól Ó Conghaile offers ten novel ways to travel.
- Taking the slow boat Once associated with folks who wore a blue rinse in their hair, luxury cruises are becoming increasingly popular with a younger crowd, and ships are changing to reflect this. Laura Byrne hitched a ride with two or Europe’s more popular cruise companies, Norwegian Coastal Voyage and Silversea.
- The Dylan Thomas trail This November will be the 50th anniversary of the death of the poet Dylan Thomas. Here, Taragh Loughrey-Grant travels to Wales and visits the Thomas’ birthplace, and the majestic Boathouse where he wrote most of his great works.
- The Rhineland Industrial Germany for a weekend break? You must be joking! No, says Olly O’Neill, who finds high fashions and good food in three German cities.
- Shannon cruise A cruise on the Shannon – one of those trips you always meant to do but never got round to doing? Gerry Mullins takes the plunge on Ireland’s longest river.
- Over the sea to Skye The Isle of Skye seems more Irish than Scottish to John Moran, but he still gets that faraway feeling.
- A Virgin wedding Gerry Mullins visits ‘America’s Caribbean’, an ideal spot for a wedding or a honeymoon.
- Le Body helps le mind On the lush tropical island of St. Lucia Ita O’Kelly finds shamless indulgence in Le Sport health spa.
- Me’n’my Hols Former Irish Times journalist, and author of The Rough Guide to San Francisco Restaurants, Elgy Gillespie tells of her most memorable holiday moments.
- Gourmet London Tom Doorley has eaten some of the best meals in his life in the British capital. Here he explains where you might eat yours.
- The last frontier Tom Galvin contemplates the wonder of Alaska and its challenge as the last frontier