Favorites: the Wanderlust Edition

In honor of the conclusion of my time in Africa,

I've compiled a collection of my favorite photographs I've taken while wandering around this earth the past four years--

those wanderings that took me out of Africa (with the exception of the first photo...).

For my favorite photographs from my years in Zimbabwe: go here!

For my favorite photographs from my years in Senegal: go here!

For my favorite photographs of animals: go here!

The Harbor at Sunset - Alexandria, Egypt - Egypt: Selected Photos

The cloisters at Toledo, Spain's Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes -- Toldeo's Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes

The Cherry Blossom in harbor in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, United States - Sapphire sea the sun sails like a golden galleon

The sun through a storm of hail, thunder, lightning, and rain in Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming, United States

Yellowstone: The Sun Through the Storm

Peleș Castle - Transylvania, Romania - Peleș Castle...what a palace should look like!

Thomas Jefferson's Serpentine Walls near the Gardens, the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

The Lawn in Summertime

The beyond breathtaking dome of Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, Spain

Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena Cathedral

The Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and the Tidal Basin with the Washington, D.C., skyline.

Washington Monument: The World's Tallest Stone Structure

Hot air ballooning in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains!

Snapshots From the Air: Blue Ridge Mountains Ballooning!

Thermal area near West Thumb on Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming, United States

Yellowstone: Danger Thermal Area

A covered bridge in Woodstock, Vermont, United States

A wanderlust into the snows of New England

Sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Blowing Rock, North Carolina - Blowing Rock

The majestic snow-capped Rila Mountain, Rila Monastery - Bulgaria

Snow Capped Mountains? Stunning Monastery? Yes, please.

The Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia - The Old Town Alexandria Waterfront

Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the U.S., Washington, D.C. - the Lincoln Memorial

That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Traveling along the stunning Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina - The Blue Ridge Parkway

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The Cape Town Waterfront

After visiting Stellenbosch in South Africa, we returned to lovely Cape Town.
Table Mountain as seen from the waterfront.

Cape Town's waterfront is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll, something Harare's not really built for.

The waterfront's clock tower, such an old world charm and a reminder of Cape Town's strong sea-faring history.
Its bottom floor holds an old tidal-gauge mechanism to check tide levels.  I really like clock towers---it had been awhile since I had seen one here.

We tried to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was in prison for decades but the weather was too choppy to take the ferry.
I'm always looking for an excuse to return to Cape Town---this may be it!

Oh! Dakar! How I thought of you immediately, what a strong sense of Senegal being worlds away.

I couldn't resist a few photos of Majeka House where we stayed in Stellenbosch--isn't the breakfast area just adorable? Love the blue.

The view from the breakfast nook.

Absolutely loved the ceiling in our room, a splash of fun color.

The hotel was lined with cactus fences, I thought they were so ingenious.
(Side note: would completely recommend Majeka, it's small, beautiful, and just perfect tucked away in wine country.)

One last shot of the waterfront!!  Then it's back to Zimbabwe....

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Stellenbosch - South Africa Wine Country: J.C. Le Roux

While touring Stellenbosch, South Africa's lovely wine country, we visited J.C. Le Roux.

Oh, Cape Town, be still my heart, how your mountains speak to me.

[This is the view of part of the estate's vineyards.]

J.C. Le Roux is a vineyard for sparkling wine.  We did a marshmallow and meringue tasting, paired with lovely sparkling wine.

The grounds were stunning, worth the visit alone!

The amazing marshmallows, with flavors like coconut and caramel, paired perfectly with lovely sparkling wines.
I had never done a straight sparkling wine tasting before and it was a lot of fun.

Returning to Cape Town, we passed the famous Table Mountain.

Another view of Table Mountain from the waterfront of Cape Town.

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Stellenbosch - South Africa Wine Country: Waterford Estate

While on a trip to Cape Town, I visited South Africa's wine country: Stellenbosch!

Our first stop was Waterford Estate.

On a dreary, rainy southern African afternoon, the coziness and roaring fire was absolutely perfect.

The vineyard was filled with lovely little spots with bursts of color

and an old world feel to it.

The estate was lined with beautiful orange groves.

Such a burst of wonderful color on a dreary day.

The wine was excellent, paired with amazing house chocolates such as rose geranium milk chocolate.

I already want to return to Cape Town (okay, okay, okay, I always want to return to Cape Town) and explore more of Stellenbosch.

Such a lovely change of pace from Zimbabwe.

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