Blue Horizon Travelog

Amka Afrika Site is Live

2011-11-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

Our good friend Ann is back in Tanzania living the life of a local in Babati, helping out at the school while waiting for the shipping container of school donations to arrive.

To keep up with the happenings at Amka Afrika please visit the foundation page: http://www.amkaafrika.org/

Amka Afrika School

2011-08-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

While we were in Tanzania in March, we visited the Amka Afrika school, a new school built by the Bushdrifters, our safari guides, in an under-served area in the city of Babati. What started as just a few hours spent with local children has now become a non-profit foundation and a shipping container full of donated school supplies (white boards, desks, books, etc).

To get an idea of how the children at Amka touched our hearts please watch this video.

Here's a few pictures of some of our Tanzania team packing school supplies in the Quad Cities as well as the packed shipping container in the Chicago suburbs. The Amka Afrika Foundation will have their website up and running soon. It's amazing how quickly things have come together for this project. As Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Tanzania

2011-03-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

Jambo!

We just got back from a great trip to Tanzania, with some of the group extending their stay into Kenya for a few more days in the African sunshine.

The main tour (not including Tarangire or Kenya) included:
Fly into Kilimanjaro Airport, overnight at the Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Two nights at Gibb's Farm.
Drive through the Ngorongoro Crater, with one night at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.
Drive into Serengeti National Park, with two nights at the Serengeti Serena Lodge.
Drive to Lake Manyara, with two nights at Kirurumu Tented Lodge.

Our guides:

In Tanzania, you tend to drive from place to place, so you'll have the same driver/guides for the duration of your trip as you bump along ("African Massage") in your Toyota Land Cruiser. We worked with Bushdrifters Tanzania, a small, local company owned by Tanzanians, and 5 of their guides for our group of 25. Patrick, Simon, Jeremiah, Daniel and Alphayo were all fantastic and a lot of fun.

Stories, Stories, Stories:
Rather than duplicating posts, you can link over to the blog of one of the travelers to see pictures, video and stories from Tanzania. Click here.

Sorrento

2010-10-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

Italy Photo Update

2010-07-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few pictures highlighting our travels the past few days.

Orvieto - Duomo

Plaza of the Gods - Pompeii

Emperor's Seat - Rome Coliseum

Hercules Fountain

Pope's Window - Rome

Dome - St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Square - Rome

Mt. Vesuvius - Sorrento

Trevioli Fountain

Umbria Countryside

Vino!

Exclusively Italy 2010

2010-07-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

Benvenuti in Italia!

It's been a while since we've been blogging about our adventures, but are happy to be back and letting you know about our current trip. We just started Exclusively Italy with our departure from the US on Friday July 23. Posts and pictures about our vacanze will be coming soon.

A little about what we are doing in the next few days...

Saturday July 24 - Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
Wine Tasting at Cantine Sammarco
Lodging at La Residenza Hotel - Sorrento

Sunday July 25 - Excursion to Capri

Monday July 26 - Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Rome
Guided visit of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, Rome by Night Tour
Lodging at Hotel Barocco - Rome

Tuesday July 27 & Wednesday July 28- Rome

Thursday July 29 - Siena, Orvieto, Tuscany
Tour of Orvieto including the Cathedral and Pozzo di San Patrizio
Lodging at Athena Hotel - Siena

Buon divertimento!

Brilliant New England

2009-11-27T18:41:00.000-08:00

Entering the city at dawn was a beatiful site.

Our pilot boat guided us along the Manhattan skyscape.

The Halifax harbor with lighthouse

The public gardens on Halifax were groomed perfectly and we

all had free time to explore the grounds with time for a coffee as well.

Peggy's Cove in Halifax is one of the most visited villages.

The famous lighthouse is perched high on rocks.

This group really enjoyed days at sea with our cocktail parties

and get acquainted games.

Along the Bay of Fundy in St. John New Brunswick we

happened along a friendly fox who was willing to be photographed.

A lobster village outside of St. John, New Brunswick.

Note the fall colors are just peeking out.

In St. John the ocean tide and the St. John River meet at the famous Reversing Falls.

The Carnival Triumph docked right in the city center of St. John

It was rainy the morning we arrived is St. John. Lots of historic architecture.

We bribed our driver and guide to stop at this famous Episcopal Cathedral as it was the largest gothic church in the city. Breathtaking, and we were glad we got inside.

On our free Friday we all went different ways to see the sites of New York which were most important to us. Many went to Battery Park to take a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Several of the group headed right to the Metropolitan Museum of New York to see its famous Egyptian collection and the streets of New York and this famous Tiffany.

Seaport Village NYC

2009-11-27T18:12:00.000-08:00

After a long flight, we headed to Manhattan island and lunch in a harbor restaurant. Our guide met us there so we could begin our afternoon tour of the city.

Pictures Worth 1000 Words

2009-10-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

From our most recent adventure to New England

Statue of Liberty

Portland Head Light

Fox along the Ocean

Peggy's Cove

Tivoli Gardens

2009-06-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

Copenhagen, Denmark

2009-06-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

Kathleen and Joanna toured the summer palaces of the Danish royalty of the 1600-1800s and the rest of us toured the city palaces. Talk about opulence. We saw the Danish Crown Jewels as well. Then, of course, it was time for lunch at an open air cafe.

We are having our farewell dinner at the famous Tivoli Gardens which was the amusement park which influenced Walt Disney to create Disneyland. We are doing lots of walking in this diverse city. People watching is fun with lots of young people, music, and fashion statements.

After a morning flight to Copenhagen, we were joined by Hanna a local guide to understand the lay of the city and its history. Another perfect day--perhaps a little too hot! The palaces, the shopping, the canals, and the little mermaid.

Bergen, Norway

2009-06-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

Bergen was the medieval capital of Norway. After the Vikings left, the German Hanseatic merchants took over the city, building these houses for the apprentices.

All of us rode the funicular during our free time. There was a wedding reception at the restaurant on the top with guests all in the national costumes. We were also serenaded by opera singers in the city for a festival.

Before arriving in Bergen, we followed a journey called Norway in a Nutshell which included a cruise along the Sognefjord and two mountain rail crossings, the gateway to Bergen. Here is our last group picture.

Norway in a Nutshell

2009-06-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

We cruised the fjord, and took the Flan railway to see Norway in a Nutshell. We went cruising on the Sognefjord. Then on to the medieval seaside city of Bergen--a Hanseanitic City.

What exactly is Norway in a Nutshell? Check out this video from Rick Steves for more of the amazing views!

Stalheim Hotel, Norway

2009-06-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

This hotel was occupied by the Nazis in WWII. A good strategic position during the occupation and an amazing view. You can learn more about the hotel here.

I know it is strange to take a photo out of my hotel window, but I could not resist.We slept with our windows open and listened to the cow and sheep bells along with mountains. What a view!!

Fjording

2009-06-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

We have certainly had good weather mojo (thanks to Kathy Lundburg). After our fjord cruise, we took many switchbacks to the top of the mountains carved by glaciers and looked back at the harbor. Note all the cruiseships.

Norway, Part 1

2009-06-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

These children were a part of a dance troupe who stopped at our hotel. The little boy had the biggest dimples. We danced with them and then enjoyed a bonfire together. Isn't he the cutest??

Richard was so gracious in showing us his farm. He basically harvests wood from his forests. Check out the view of the fjord from his farm!

Richard is a farmer who is the fourth generation on this farm which overlooks a fjord. There has been a farm on this site since the 1600s.
Look at the keys he used to open the buildings!

Stockholm, Sweden

2009-06-24T18:48:00.001-07:00

We've been exploring Norway for the past few days, and will post the updates soon, but in the meantime, here are a few more pictures from our adventures in Sweden!

Stockholm Harbor

We saw various maypoles in the villages, but the finest was at the Stockholm island of Skansen. Skansen is the oldest living history site in the world.

As we watched the changing of the guard, Wava and Diane made friends with a mother who's son had the honor of serving in this platoon.She was so proud. The crowd was domestic and international!!

We are here at the height of the spring flowers. These lupin (although they pronounce it lu-pine) are my absolute favorite. The farms in the background are characteristic of all of the farms in the Haslingland province.

Linda and Sharon in Old Town Stockholm

The wildflowers and perennials are vibrant! (my prize poppy picture, enjoy!)

Last Days in Sweden

2009-06-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Thursday after our visits to seaside villages we had a night in the forest with a bearded carpenter by the name of Stu ( He decided to take Sharon Mosenfelder as his third wife by the end of the evening). We boarded a covered wagon pulled by hearty draft horses and joined by 5 local Swedes who will be touring Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois in September with our guide Gun-Marie. Regional stew, a bonfire, and local musicians with a spiritual touch made the evening memorable.

Departing Haslingland was bittersweet as we said farewell to the staff at the gasthaus and Gun-Marie. She surprised us with the local newspaper with a feature story about us. The headline was Svarten fick traffa riktiga amerikaner i Landhed. Color photo too!

Full day of visiting the port city of Gavle, and then to the medieval capital city of Uppsala. The Lutheran high church was beautiful and we were able to see the final resting places of many royalty.

Then to Skansen for the Midsommer festival. The sun shone brightly for us and we gathering round the Maypole. Women and children made garlands out of fresh flowers and many dressed in their regional costumes. What fun!

We returned to the hotel in Stockholm to meet the others in our Collette group. They were definitely quiet compared to us. We really are having so much fun together-almost laughing until we cry!

Saturday morning we met a local guide named Eva and toured the city and Old Town. Highlight was Vasa ship which sank in the harbor in 1628 and was rediscovered and restored in the mid- 20th century. Saw changing of the guard in front of the Royal Palace and then a harbor cruise.

Alfta Countryside

2009-06-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

Our day in the Swedish countryside began, as many days do, with breakfast...

After a hardy breakfast of eggs, bacon, yogurt and lingonberries we headed out to an organic farm and to see the interior of farms built in the 1850s.

Gustaf and his daughter farm together and called the cows and sheep to meet us.
We did watch where we stepped...

left Gun-Marie our guide, Pete Madden, and Julie Rodell on the farm. Mia is the daughter of the farmer Gustaf and spoke very good English. Beautiful blond curly hair! Hand painting in a farmhouse living room. Hundreds of local farm houses built in the 1800s still have this--even Gun-Marie's house. The one pictured has applied for UNESCO status!

The locals have been so friendly. We visited a quilter and then met a man tending his family's grave plot in the local cemetery. His name was Lars.

Group in front of the Alfta museum which shares the story of immigration (10%of population in 1847) to Chicago and then walking to Bishop Hill. Beautiful sunny weather. Gun Marie has been wonderful.

Alfta, Sweden

2009-06-16T08:05:00.001-07:00

Group Picture
Ceramic Fireplace
Our Guesthouse

Victorian Cafe

Beautiful Alfta Architecture

June 16/17, 2009 Update

Live from Alfta, Sweden:

SAS departed and arrived on time although every seat was full. We were met by our guide Gun-Marie and Nicholas our driver. We took the back roads north through forests of pines and birches. We stopped at the home village of the soon to be husband of the Crown Princess (who visited Alfta yesterday) and visited a lovely public garden for a long walk and to sample our first smorgasbord luncheon.

What's Happening in Sweden?

2009-06-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

While it's easy to assume that whatever is the news headline here at home is the same elsewhere in the world, that's not usually true.

Right now on the Quad City Times website, the featured story is about Bettendorf sewer problems.

Right now on CNN.com, the featured story is about Iran.

And what's going on in Sweden? You can find out at www.thelocal.se a Swedish English language news page. (hint: it involves Swedish and American yachts)

Will our travel destinations be featured in the news? If they are, we'll let you know.

More soon, when we recover from our jet lag!

Swedish Saying: "There is no bad weather, just bad clothes." (let's hope we can avoid both on this trip)

Our Bags Are Packed....

2009-06-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

For those of us doing the pre-trip in Alfta, Sweden, we're packing our bags and getting ready for the fun to begin. Where is Alfta, you ask? Click here to see it on google maps!

We are staying at the Alfta Gastgiveri Hotel from Tuesday the 16th to Friday the 19th when we start our tour in Stockholm (much easier to find on a map, I admit).

Leave room in your suitcase for all the things you're going to bring home and change your ring back tone on your phone to "Leaving on a jet plane" and you're good to go.

We look forward to sharing the highlights of our first days in Sweden with you next week.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

2009-05-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

Many people keep journals when traveling, even if they never do it any other time. This is our opportunity to share the adventures of Blue Horizon Travelers with our family and friends. Our next trip departs for Scandinavia on June 15 and you can read about all it here!