by Editor | Jan 1, 2011 | Africa, Mikumi, Simon and Baker Travel Review, Tanzania
Perched on a rocky knoll in the heart of the Mikumi National Park in southeastern Tanzania, Stanley’s Kopje was a vivid reminder of what compels me to endure endless flights in crowded airplanes and chaotic airport layovers to return time and again to the African bush. It had only been a few hours since the Cessna light plane had delivered me to the tiny airstrip at the edge of the park, but it could have been light-years earlier. I was lounging on the broad thatch-shaded veranda of my tent, taking in the sweeping view of the Mkata Floodplain below as it slowly melted into the dusk. At the far edge of the plain, the sunset sky was ablaze against the distant outline of the Udzungwa Mountains. Now and then, a powerful roar rippled up the hill, and with it recollections of our exciting lion sighting earlier in the afternoon.
by Editor | Jan 1, 2011 | North America, Quad Cities, Simon and Baker Travel Review, United States
This historic hotel originally opened in 1915 and had just remodeled and reopened in December 2010 shortly before we stayed there. We found the location of this hotel, in Davenport just a few blocks from the riverfront, to be excellent for access to the Quad Cities.
by Editor | Jan 1, 2011 | Africa, Rukwa, Simon and Baker Travel Review, Tanzania
Katavi Wilderness Camp delivered the ultimate safari experience, a pristine African environment unchanged for millennia, teeming with game and mine alone. The camp was an intimate enclave of comfort and gracious hospitality deep within the Katavi National Park, in the far western reaches of Tanzania. It took determination to reach Katavi, its main link to the 21st century being a twice-weekly light airplane connection with the Ruaha National Park. Road travel, for the daring souls who might consider it, was assessed in days. Which explains why despite its reputation for pristine wilderness and exceptional game viewing the 1,7270 square mile (4,471 square kilometer) park, the third largest in the country, only receives a few hundred visitors per year. The privilege of being one of them was obvious to me by the time I reached the camp.
by Editor | Jan 1, 2011 | North America, Quad Cities, Simon and Baker Travel Review, United States
The Quad Cities, Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa as well as Moline and Rock Island Illinois in the United States, have a combined population of around 379,000. The area is considered one of the top four viewing locations for the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), a bird of prey found in North America and the symbol of the United States as well as its national bird. We traveled there to see bald eagles. We met many friendly and interesting people while in the Quad Cities and saw over 200 wild bald eagles. During our stay, we visited several excellent restaurants, historic sites, shopping areas and an art museum.
by Editor | Dec 20, 2010 | Europe, France, Paris, Simon and Baker Travel Review
For years we have visited this well situated restaurant in one of the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods and been rewarded with outstanding meals. On our most recent visit to Paris we returned to rediscover the well known restaurant which had a new chef and a new manager.
As in past visits we much enjoyed the beautiful Louis XV style dining room. Although the building facade was under renovation and the windows facing the famed Place de la Concorde were covered the dining room is so lovely we scarcely noticed the absence of the view even though we were seated at a window side table.
by Editor | Dec 1, 2010 | Europe, France, Paris, Simon and Baker Travel Review
This small hotel, named to honor Louis II de la Tremoille and the Tremoille Family dating to the time of the crusades, had many pluses and made fans out of us for a second time (we had stayed there several years earlier). In addition to the accommodations and pretty interior, what we liked most was its wonderful location in a quiet street in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of the city, and within walking distance from the famed Champs Elysees.
