If you love to collect junk, then this is just the thing for you. Junk shops are really a little more than just collected “junk” – they are in fact the repository for a whole chunk of South African history which is so often overlooked by the fine antique collectors brigade on the lookout for yellow wood and fine bone china.

Plan a route that would unearth a treasure-trove.

The places you simply have to visit freshly out of Cape Town are Worcester, Victoria West, Kimberley, Petrusville which is close to the Orange River, Steynsburg (near Middelburg), then Cradock, and  then back onto the R62. Try to avoid all the commercialism of the N2 and the Garden Route furniture shops – there are simply hundreds of other shops that you can browse through.

Plan your own junk shop route. The secret of your success lies in how flexible you are. Visit little guest houses along the way and strike conversations with the locals to find out a little more about places that are new to the neighbourhood. It is a treasure hunt and an exploration into small-town life, and is best done with a blank itinerary, an open mind and a huge smile plus a spirit that loves to rummage.

Worcester

In Worcester the town’s architecture is more Art Deco and has a history which is mid-century and modernistic. Worcester is perfect if you are looking to find that wonderful piece of furniture dating back to the last century – browse through Ian Gillespie’s AAA Furnishers which is at the bottom of Durban Road. The inside will enthrall, resembling a cosy cove that is akin to Aladdin’s Cave.
The shop has been there for the past 30 years and has survived through thick and thin, and has one room leading into another, offering sweet delights.

If you have the desire to be a refugee for a while from the busyness of city life, and have a yearning to see the horizon, then visiting other little spots such as Victoria West’s Anita Botes’ Kontant Winkel is the perfect place.

Plan your route and discover junk that everyone will admire. This way you will find treasures and see the horizon.
 

Now imagine unzipping your tent in the morning at looking up at the Mont Blanc mountains, some of the most beautiful snow capped peaks in Europe. The air is crystal clear. You have your own flat grassy plot to call your own. Where are you? At the Camping Mer de Glace near Chamonix in France. It is a lovely rustic traditional campground open in the summer. It even has free WiFi. And you are only a walk away from great hiking trails and from the lively city of Chamonix.

For something completely different, why not consider a full service almost resort-like family campground? Les Deux Vallees in Vezac the Perigord region of France has a tent campground, tents you can rent, mobile homes you can rent, free WiFi, bike rental, washing machines and dryers, 3 huge pools, a lake, a boule court, children’s playground, bar, TV, pool table, BBQ and Disco nights in the summer, and small food store to pick up fresh croissants in the morning. This is a very very affordable way to take your family away, pitch a tent or two, and soak up the sun and local ambiance.

For the top of the line camping experience in France, try the beautiful Esterel Campground in Saint-Raphael along the French Riviera. This site is restricted to motor homes only and caters to a crowd that wants all the amenities including swimming pools, restaurants, bars, evening entertainment, jacuzzis, disco, riding stable, beach, and really everything you could ever want in a holiday getaway in the sun.

Huttopia is a very cool concept company that builds lovely small wooden huts on their campground properties, including one very close to Paris in Versailles. You are only 30 minutes from the center of Paris, yet you have found peace, serenity, nature, and the ability to take your family to Paris for an affordable price. The little wooden huts have beds and a kitchen area so you don’t have to eat every meal out. This is a great option when visiting Paris.

What about camping in a gypsy caravan wagon or a rustic little forest cabin or in a tree house? In the Loire river valley to the west of Paris you will findLes Roulottes du Domaine de Dienne. It has all of this plus pools, a fitness center, and lovely restaurant. Camping will never look the same to you again!

Alex is a travel writer and blogger. He loves touring the world’s best cities, expanding his belly on all the great foods. He also blogs regularly about travelling around Europe and he writes for www.kefalonia.co.uk. For more about Kefalonia, check out his site.

Here Are A Couple Of Pleasurable Things To Do In The Cederberg

Did you know that the Cederberg is not only for hiking enthusiasts, although there are some terrific trails and walks on offer? Take your family along for a fun-filled family break.

•    For those who are interested in all things historical, the residents of Wupperthal have been growing their own rooibos tea and have been making velskoens since the days of the first settlers in 1865. This quaint little hamlet boasts a thriving and eco-friendly economy and hiring out cottages and offering the kind of hospitality that only South Africans are renowned for at the little “Lekkerbekkie” tearoom, is generously shared.
•    The Cederberg Astronomical Observatory offers a star-spangled heaven for the stargazer enthusiast. The observatory is open from 8pm on Saturday nights, and is free of charge. When last did you spend a Saturday night gazing at the heavens?
•    Swimming in Maalgat is a scintillating summer experience and brain-freezing in the winter months. The fresh waters of Maalgat are simply one the most wonderful in the valley and a short walk from the Sanddrif campsite. Admire the waterfalls, or partake in swimming. Whichever one tickles you it is a worthwhile experience.
•    For the lovers of mountain biking this is activity is not allowed in the Cederberg wilderness areas, but there are a couple of excellent off-road options to enjoy.
•    The Cederberg is well-known for its stunning San rock art on the walls of numerous caves dating back 300 to 6000 years.

In the Cederberg one is aware of the vividly coloured towering walls of rock whose layers are sometimes vertical like the pages of a book standing upright, sometimes parallel and often marvelously folded like a blanked. The Cederberg offers the visitor a little bit of everything. This is certainly a place among places, where the magic trickles deep into your soul.

Instead of splashing out on expensive air fares and accommodation to travel to a destination and seeking out a European winter, instead settle for the Cederberg. It is a known fact that the Cederberg is one of Cape Town’s best kept little secrets.

The names of the peaks and valleys articulate their own stories. Names such as Frustration Peak, Consolation Peak, and Lauri’s Hell all have a tale or two to tell.

You will be blessed with azure skies, bubbling brooks and streams and mountain peaks stretching all the way to heave clad in emerald green fynbos, and if you are really fortunate you will find a bit of white snow sprinkled here, there and everywhere like fairy dust.

The Cederberg is an idyllic fantasyland and when the weather turns the clouds play tag across the sky and the deafening sounds of silence emanates with the faint music from the cosmos.

You will need to look after yourself when the weather turns, therefore an excellent map is a must-have and it is always advisable to pair up with someone who is familiar with the trails and routes of the mountain.

Bring along a wind-proof tent and excellent quality down sleeping bag in the event that the few huts dotted along the way are fully occupied.

One of the cosy Cederberg cottages will warm the cockles of your heart next to a fire offering the ideal respite far from the madding crowd for those wanting to escape.

Are you traveling to Johannesburg to Cape Town for some business deal and worry about the traveling mode? Do not worry! You do not have time and you are looking for car hire services from Johannesburg to Cape Town then your search ends here! Car Rental is the site that offers cheap Johannesburg to Cape Town car hire services to its customers. Business trips are regular or can occur anytime. You have to be ready to deal with the traveling methods while traveling to different places.

This is the place to find a car.

If you are traveling to Johannesburg to Cape Town, then there are many modes to travel. But the cheapest and the most admirable mode is travel through car. Of course when you do not have your own car then you would have to hire car to travel. You can take services of some reputed Car rental company to get a car for you and suits your traveling requirement.

When you are traveling for some big business then you should ask for limousine or some big car to create the impression on the client you are going to meet. Car Rental is the company that provides easy cars and every type of car that you are looking for from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

Giving a good impression at the time of meeting new people during business tours is indeed necessary. Johannesburg to Cape Town car hire services is readily available for you at affordable rates. For business dealings, it becomes important to keep in mind your business necessities and book a car accordingly!

You simply need to search the most reliable company that will help you in hiring a car at feasible rates. Contact Car Rental for more information on car hire services!

Rooiheuwel Holiday Farm sits in the foothills of the Nuweveld Mountains in the Karoo somewhere between Beaufort West and Prince Albert. You can’t get more rugged than this. This farm is sometimes used as a training ground for participants in the annual Endurance Horse Ride taking place at Smithfield in the Free State. So obviously horse-riding is number one choice of sport.

However, if you aren’t born to the saddle, you can also don those hiking boots and look for the anteaters.  The owners are proud proponents of ecotourism and as such they want visitors to gain an insight into the wonders of the Karoo. You will get handed articles on the history and farming in the area.

Of interest is the most southerly recorded corbelled hut in SA which is located on the farm Vlieëfontein and built by the Kruger family in 1850. The Kruger’s were part of a group of 9 families who migrated from the Cape via Ceres and whose ambition it was to settle in the Karoo. The hut has been declared a national monument but was built then as an overnight stop for the families trekking their herds.

There are 3 accommodation options: Boplaas, Kliphuis and Middelplaas. Kliphuis – once a cottage for shepherds and built high in the hills is the most unusual of all of them and is definitely not for those seeking 5-star comforts. Entrance is through a low door into the sleeping quarters under an even lower lintel and a narrow passage. The furniture is simple – but the views are special.

At Middelplaas – a half hour drive to an adjoining farm – the accommodations are set deep into the mountains. This enormous comfortable farmhouse was once a family residence and the water is still heated in a “donkey”. The hiking trails are all clearly marked with ant bears painted on the rocks. Two of the trails go along riverbeds and three into the mountains.

Mountain bikers and birders are also catered for. It’s a beautiful time of the year to visit with black springbok abounding and the wild flowers in full bloom. So head off into the rugged but tranquil Karoo for a different kind of holiday experience.

The grazing gemsbok gleam with good health thanks to the succulent vegetation and are so laid back they barely move out of the way of vehicles. On the game drive we climbed even higher into the rocky mountains above the lodge and the views were spectacular. At sunset we spotted a fine caracal, three rhinos foraging just a stone’s throw from our vehicle, spring hares bounding along, a spotted eagle owl sitting sleepily in the tree and
a genet. On our return to the main lodge we were welcomed back with a glass of hot chocolate laced with Nachtmusik – yum yum!

The dining room can be transformed according to the seasons. In summer it is left completely open to catch the tiniest of breezes that prevail and in the evening tables are even set on the lawns. In winter a heavy tarpaulin is lowed and the tables placed beside the fireplace.

Breakfast in the boma warmed by an open fire is a lazy affair. We started with oats cooked with honey and whisky, an omlette plumped out with summer vegetables and camembert and a basket of fresh bread.

The owners are planning a facelift for both the main lodge and Kaai’s Camp – deep in the mountains – is already closed for renovations. With all of this at your disposal, you will quickly chill out and we can only hope that the petroleum companies don’t go ahead with fracking for gas which would obviously ruin it all.

1. Visit the Museum of Body Parts - Yes, it sounds gruesome, and actually it is a little bit gruesome. It is known as the Hunterian Museum and is housed in The Royal College of Surgeons. It contains surgical instruments, dentistry tools, and preserved body parts dating back 4 centuries.

2. Shop in Camden Market - Oxford Street is the main shopping street in London, and is full of big name stores selling the same things you can buy in most High Streets in the country. For a different experience visit Camden Market where you’ll find quirky gifts, handmade jewellery and vintage clothes, among other treasures. Also with stalls selling food from almost every part of the world, it’s a great place to mooch about on a Sunday morning.

3. A Jack the Ripper walking tour - Guided walking tours are common in London, as are the ubiquitous open-topped bus tours. But for something a bit different, try a tour around the area where Jack the Ripper murdered his victims in the late 19^th Century. Learn about life at the time, and find out how the area has changed.

4. Highgate Cemetery - You may be forgiven for thinking this list is a little macabre, but Highgate Cemetery is a popular tourist attraction that is often missed out of the guidebooks. The burial site of a number of famous people such as Karl Marx, Christina Rossetti, Henry Moore, Michael Faraday, Beryl Bainbridge and even Jeremy Beadle, the cemetery offers regular and fascinating tours. During the week you need to book in advance, and at the weekend the tours are on a first come, first served basis.

5. Coram’s Fields - From one extreme to the other, Coram’s Fields is a playground for children only. Any adults who enter must be accompanied by a child, and there are staff on site to ensure this policy is adhered to.

Of course there are a myriad of alternative tourist attractions in London, to suit every taste and age. Just a little research before you visit will take you away from the queues and high prices to activities which are just as enjoyable, and a little more original too.

Alex is a writer and blogger. He writes a financial blog for his day job, covering everything from credit cards to mortgages to tax reduction, but in his spare time he loves to write about touring and exploring the UK and Europe.