Douglas Easton Travel Blog
September 28, 2008

Franschhoek, South Africa

We just began our South African tour yesterday, fortunately having allowed ourselves a few days to recuperate after traveling from Buenos Aires to New York to Cape Town within a 72-hour period.

Our guests seem to be as into good food and wine as we are, so they're in for a treat - South Africa is a gold mine of fantastic restaurants and outstanding vineyards, with prices pegged roughly at a third of what one would pay back in the States.

Today was our first full day of the tour.  Our guests this morning availed themselves of Franschhoek's splendid shopping.  The village is packed with art galleries; craftsmen, artists and artisans sell their creations in small boutiques strretching the length of Franschhoek's main street.

At noon, we all met back at our beautiful inn, the Ballon Rouge, before driving to Le Grande Provence, a vineyard that boasts one of South Africa's best restaurants.  The refined food was almost as surprising as the bill:  three inspired courses plus wine and tip came to US $50.

Afterward, we adjoined to the tasting room, where we sampled a few of the winery's shiraz, merlot, pinotage and chardonnay vintages.

At 4:00pm we completed the debauchery with a chocolate-making demonstration at Hugonaut Chocolates, the finest chocolatier in Franschhoek (and South Africa).  One of our guests put his hands out in a supplication gesture under a chocolate fountain and scarfed down at least a cup of unctuous melted chocolate.  We're now so sated I think everyone will be skipping dinner!


Past Travel Blogs:
 06/08/10
 09/24/09
 09/09/09
 09/04/09
 08/27/09
 08/09/09
 07/19/09
 05/06/09
 04/25/09
 04/08/09
 04/02/09
 03/08/09
 03/06/09
 02/22/09
 02/10/09
 02/04/09
 02/02/09
 11/18/08
 11/12/08
 11/10/08
 11/06/08
 10/30/08
 10/20/08
 09/16/08
 09/10/08
 09/03/08
 07/06/08
 05/30/08
 05/23/08
 05/11/08
 04/30/08
 04/20/08
 04/13/08
 04/08/08
 02/24/08
 02/16/08
 01/24/08
 01/08/08
 01/04/08
 01/03/08
 01/02/08
 01/01/08
 12/30/07
 12/29/07
 12/28/07
 06/01/07
 05/26/07
 05/22/07
 05/18/07
 05/04/07
 05/02/07
 04/10/07
 04/08/07
 04/03/07
 04/01/07
 03/31/07
 03/30/07
 03/26/07
 03/23/07
 03/20/07
 03/18/07
 03/13/07
 03/08/07
 02/17/07
 12/15/06
 12/13/06
 11/22/06
 11/09/06
 11/04/06
 10/30/06
 10/25/06
 10/18/06
 10/12/06
 10/06/06
 10/03/06
 09/28/06
 09/24/06
 09/17/06
 
Douglas Easton Travel (310) 657-0263 FAX (310) 657-0253 email - info@CelestielleGroup.com