On location - November 2007
Welcome to On Location for November. It has always been our policy to visit and thoroughly explore a particular area before we recommend it to others. On Location is a first hand account of some recent journeys made by our staff.
Don't forgot to enter our '
Where in the World' competition for your chance to win £250 of Steppes Travel vouchers.
If you ever wondered what would happen if you had the unfortunate luck of experiencing a serious medical issue whilst you are travelling with Steppes, my 'On location' should reassure you.
Cuba is all about people, music, relaxing in a bar with a mojito, beautiful colonial villages lost in time, stunning white sandy beaches and a fascinating history.
As the light and my hope of finding the festival were fading, the empty expanse of yellowy grasses and acacia thorn bushes gave way to a bustling temporary encampment of fires, tents, laughter and dancing.
4 zodiacs sped us ashore for a 2 hour hike up a low hill... our excellent and highly knowledgeable guides on hand to explain the geography, geology and wildlife.
We got chatting over dinner and I was invited to go on a helicopter safari the following morning, over the Mara, the Serengeti and the Migration! We also popped down onto a mountain for morning coffee!
Crowds, largely Moroccan, gather around flamboyant storytellers and listen intently. They 'ooh' and 'aah' at the flights of fantasy and nod their heads knowingly at the denouement.
I was saved by the setting sun. The fading light masked their faces and mine in darkness, saving me from further embarrassment at my wide-eyed incredulity.
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Across the lake is the island of Kizhi, most famous for its museum of wooden architecture and one of the main stopping points for all cruise boats that ply the route between Moscow and St Petersburg.
Flying past Angel Falls watching the water tumble a kilometre to the jungle floor below was breathtaking. I was especially fortunate to have a beautifully clear day and the canyon was free of all cloud.
