Namibia Wildlife Images, Etosha National Park and nearby reserves

Cheetah in Africat Centre ©Solange Hando

This is the most endangered big cat species in Africa.  This cheetah is enjoying a rest but with their long legs, cheetahs can reach a speed of 70 miles per hour.  

Rhino in Mount Etjo ©Solange Hando 

There are two species of rhinos in Namibia, the 'black' rhino, long endangered but now recovering, and the more common 'white' rhino, identified by wider lips.

Giraffe Family, Mount Etjo ©Solange Hando 

Early morning and time to look for food. Grasslands are unsuitable but acacia trees are perfect and as giraffes feed from the top leaves, pollen is spread around.

Zebras in Etosha ©Solange Hando

Mountain and plain zebras have slightly different stripes but in both cases, the contrasting black and white colours protect them from tse-tse flies.

Making Friends in Etosha ©Solange Hando

With a daily diet including up to 200 litres of water and 260 kg of forage, elephants are amazing and very family like protecting babies in single file herds and mourning their dead.

Leopard in Etosha ©Solange Hando

Leopards are thriving in Etosha though they are rarely seen. Unlike the cheetahs with full black spots, some of the leopards' spots have a light-coloured centre.

Oryx in Namibia ©Solange Hando

This large antelope is the country's national animal featuring on the coat of arms. Proud and resilient, it symbolises Namibia's values.

Almaty in Kazakhstan

Panfilov Street and Opera, Almaty ©Solange Hando

For visitors and tourists alike, this is the heart of Almaty, Kazakhstan largest city and former capital. Lined with trees and traffic free, it's a lovely place to wander around, sip a cool drink on a shaded terrace and watch the world go by.

It is also a favourite spot for musicians and artists as it leads to the Abay Opera and Ballet, the largest theatre in Eurasia, fronted by elegant columns.

Almaty Independence Square ©Solange Hando

This wise old man and god of the sky sits on this spacious square. The nearby female represents the mother earth while two children on horseback symbolise the unity of the country's many tribes.

Independence was achieved in 1991 and the first military parade was held in Almaty to mark the fifth anniversary.

.Museum in Almaty ©Solange Hando

Contrasting with a modern background, this colourful wooden building dates back to 1908. It is dedicated to folk music instruments, displaying some 40 different types from Kazakhstan and further afield.

Most atmospheric is the background music which brings back to life the traditional throat singing of nomadic tribes. There is also a concert hall.

Ascension Cathedral in Almaty ©Solange Hando

First erected in 1904, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral is said to be one of the tallest buildings of its kind in the world. Current renovation means a lot of scaffolding but it is highly colourful nevertheless, surrounded by the fragrant flower beds of Pantilov Park.

Shymbulak near Almaty ©Solange Hando

Set at around 1000 metres in the Tian Shen mountains, Almaty has its own ski resort just a short drive out of town. There are three cable cars to the top, level 1 is at 2260 metres where you will find restaurants and cafés and the president's mountain retreat, level 2 reaches 2860 metres while level 3 takes you to 3200 metres within arm's reach of eternal snow and glaciers.

There are rambling paths and 22 km of skiing trails, most of them challenging with a height difference of over 1000 metres.

View of Almaty from Kob Tobe ©Solange Hando

Back in town, another cable car takes you up to Kob Tobe -the blue mountain- for a bird's eye view of the city framed by extensive rose gardens. Relax in the tea house then look around the art gallery and find the popular statues of the Beatles sitting on a bench for ever more.

Namibia Kalahari Anib Lodge near Mariental

Kalahari Anib Lodge ©Solange Hando

Near Mariental, south of the Capricorn, this lovely lodge beckons in the middle of nowhere on the edge of the Kalahari desert.

The swimming pool is hard to resist and there are fragrant flowers and palm trees around the quiet and spacious grounds.

Twin Room at the Kalahari Lodge ©Solange Hando

Rooms are set in low rise bungalows with private terraces meandering around the open ground. They are simple but comfortable with all facilities, including nets and bottled water.

Restaurant and Terrace ©Solange Hando

The restaurant serves tasty local food, including game from nearby farms, and you can eat in or out. Be sure to see the lampshades inside, they are made of empty ostrich eggs.

Curious Zebra ©Solange Hando

Namibian wild life is just on the doorstep, from the odd zebra to springboks and other antelopes and birds such as courting ostriches, shrikes, love birds and sociable weavers whose enormous nests can shelter hundreds of residents.

Kalahari Treat for the Brave ©Solange Hando

Rambling trails wander close to the lodge but an experienced guide will improve your adventure, sharing his knowledge and pointing to all sorts of things you might otherwise miss.

Most popular of course is a sundown safari, taking you across the scrubland rich in wildlife then up on top of the dunes for your pre-dinner drink. Wow...

Our Safari Truck on the Edge of the Kalahari ©Solange Hando

Images of Sao Miguel, the Green Island in the Azores

King's View over the Crater Lakes ©Solange Hando

A scenic but winding drive from Ponta Delgada, the 'seven cities' refer to one small town and seven craters, dormant at the moment but still delighting visitors with four beautiful lakes.

The lake above is renowned for its changing colours from deep blue to turquoise and green  depending on shadows and light.

Mirador on the East Coast ©Solange Hando

Unlike much of the south coast, the north and east are rugged and wild, isolated until recent times so rich in endemic vegetation and birds, including the common buzzard.

They say the islands were named after the 'azure' birds though no one has ever seen them.

Tea Plantation in Sao Miguel ©Solange Hando

This is the only place in Europe where tea is grown and manufactured. It all started in the 1880s, soon reputed for its subtle taste thanks to a Chinese expert who encouraged polishing before packing.

According to legend, the 5 o'clock tea in England was introduced by a lonely Portuguese Queen, wife of Charles Stuart, as a way to make friends with the ladies and keep them away from her man...

Furnas Thermal Pool ©Solange Hando

Around 40 hot springs bubble and steam near the south coast in the Furnas area, all with different medicinal properties, but most popular is this large swimming pool, coloured orange by minerals.

A short drive away is a peaceful lake where you can relax on a boat while your lunch is being cooked in nearby fumaroles.

 Nature Park in Sao Miguel ©Solange Hando

The 'Nordeste' area is a great place to trek with views of  Pico da Vara by clear weather, the highest peak at over 1100 metres.

The Nature Park of Ribeira dos Caldeiros takes you to this picturesque village in a deep wooded valley and a cool waterfall tucked away in the trees.

Santa Iria Mirador on the North Coast ©Solange Hando

Sao Miguel has superb scenery  but most memorable are the hydrangea blooming along the cliffs, roads and trails and used in agricultural land to divide the fields, easy to maintain and far more colourful than fences or walls.

Images of the Azores, Faial and Pico Islands

Enjoy Horta in Faial Island ©Solange Hando

Framed by green hills, Faial's capital, is a delightful place with two luminous bays, a sandy beach and a harbour with classy yachts and art work designed by sailors from all over the world.

Colourful houses line the shore as visitors in the know head for Peter's café whose signature cocktail is listed among the top 12 in the world.

Capelhinos on Faial Island ©Solange Hando

But there is much to explore beyond Horta, most dramatic the Capelinhos volcano which erupted in the 50s. There is a trail right up to the top but also superb views from  the nearby lighthouse up 140 steps.

There are plenty of walking trails around this Nature Park which also includes a vast green caldeira with a new crater and lots of wild flowers.

Scenic Cove, Faial ©Solange Hando

The coast is equally spectacular, with great views from the hilltop chapel above Horta or along the shore from Horta to Feteira where waves crash relentlessly over volcanic rocks and archways.

Sailing to Pico Island.

It's only a 30 minute cruise from Faial to Pico, the second largest island in the Azores, yet a quiet and pristine place with few tourists around

They call it the Black Island for its volcanic hills, a source of pride which gives it a character all of its own, although of course the other Azores are also on tectonic plates.

Pico Island, Day Trip from Faial ©Solange Hando

You may not expect it but minutes from the harbour, you reach these enticing vineyards growing out of the lava rocks. They produce quality wines, including fortified wines, and there's even a wine museum nearby.

Beautifully restored, this windmill can still pay tribute to ancient traditions, making the most of the Atlantic breeze.

Mount Pico ©Solange Hando

Giving its name to the island, this awesome volcano is the highest peak in the Azores, a challenge for anyone hoping to reach the top at 2351 metres, but as clouds come and go, the view across the water keeps you spellbound. Best times are early morning or late evening.

Azores Images, Angra, Capital of Terceira Island

St John's Festival on Terceira Island ©Solange Hando

In the true spirit of the Azores, Terceira loves its festivals, especially the Feast of St John celebrated for over a week every June in Angra, the capital.

Parades, dancing, concerts, bullfights and more,it is above all a local festival, though tourists are welcome, and a way to bring people together from different villages and even islands.

Former Jesuit Convent ©Solange Hando

Angra is the oldest city in the Azores and after extensive damage caused by the 1980 earthquake, it has been beautifully rebuilt in Renaissance style with pretty balconies, balustrades and pastel colours.

It is a UNESCO site spreading all up and down the main cobbled street where the cathedral holds centre ground.

Vasco de Gama in Angra ©Solange Hando

Illustrious visitors include Pope John Paul II who came in 1991 and Vasco de Gama who dropped anchor in Angra in 1499 to lay to rest his brother who had perished during their return journey from India.

Pretty Street, Angra ©Solange Hando

Beyond the most stylish buildings, it is well worth wandering through the lanes, as quiet as a village and lined with humble traditional dwellings. Colours are everywhere -blue seems a favourite- and there are plenty of flowers and greenery.

Angra's Botanical Garden ©Solange Hando

Small but carefully designed and maintained, this is an oasis of peace complete with water features, trees and plants along the paths paved with clever designs of birds, cats and butterflies.

The garden climbs up to the hilltop pyramid which offers fabulous views over the city and the adjoining peninsula of Mount Brasil.

City and Coastal View from Mount Brasil ©Solange Hando

Accessed by road or on foot, Mount Brasil rises above the fortress to a wonderful viewpoint and a network of scenic trails which can take you along the clifftop, where you might spot whales in season, or all around the crater rim from open land with ocean views to the forest twittering with birds.

See London from The Shard

The Shard, London Top Attraction ©Solange Hando

Opened in 2013, The Shard was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano as a 'vertical city' where people could work, live and relax. Above the offices, restaurants and bars, luxury hotel and residences, observation platforms on floors 68-72 are open to the public below the tall spiky arrow.

This most challenging top section was built in a Yorkshire steel plant, then taken apart, transported to London and reassembled on the site.

View towards the London Eye, Big Ben and St Paul's Cathedral nearby ©Solange Hando

Rising 244 metres above the city, the top platform offers all round views stretching from Heathrow airport in the west to the Thames estuary in the east. From the meandering river and its many bridges to London's main monuments, the panorama is unbeatable by clear weather.

Shard Shadow ©Solange Hando

Once you have reached the observation platforms, via the dedicated lifts (there are 40 lifts altogether in the building), you can stay as long as you wish  and on a sunny day, watch the Shard's shadow creeping along the river as if to reflect the passing of the time.

All windows are kept beautifully clean, fully enclosed on floor 68 but when you reach 72, expect the cool breeze blowing through the top open floors (not accessible). There are 95 floors in all.

View towards Canary Wharf ©Solange Hando

Equally good view on this side, from the Tower Bridge and beyond where the river seems to wind on to the horizon. The Shard is covered by 11,000 glass panels, assembled in the Netherlands, and cleaned on the top floors by climbing/abseiling experts. During the construction, up to 1450 workers from 60 nationalities were employed at peak times.

That says it all ©Solange Hando

What more could you want? Sip away the best champagne -at a price-  or a fabulous cocktail or treat yourself to a scoop of Italian ice cream.

One shouldn't  rush a visit to The Shard and if you can't get enough of the views, you can upgrade your ticket and return in the evening to see the London lights.

Enjoy and Take Care ©Solange Hando