Out of Africa: A passel of African penguins aimlessly wandering about can mean only one thing...road trip!

For the past week and a half, I've been sightseeing in Cape Town and the surrounding areas in South Africa. When the jet lag clears, more cogent, thoughtful posts on this beautiful and fascinating city will follow. In the meantime, "Things I've Learned on My Autumn Vacation" (as well as two more posts with photos of two vastly different Cape Town neighborhoods and wildlife):

1. There is really some truth behind the "baboon gangs terrorize the South African suburbs" story that appears on www.Fark.com every few months. (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061004-baboons.html)

2. Though I scoured souvenir shops and market stalls city-wide, a Nelson Mandela bobble-head is not to be found. Sorry, Kathy.

3. Our group did, however, shine diplomatically by not throwing up upon our ferry boat's arrival at Robben Island, despite very rocky seas.

4. Upon checking into my hotel in downtown Cape Town, the first face I saw upon turning on the TV was Jerry Orbach's...supporting the theory that at any time, anywhere in the world, some network is airing "Law and Order."

5. On a wine tour, 10 a.m. is late in the morning for the day's first tasting.

6. The suitcase with the wine in it is inevitably the suitcase that the airlines lose.


7. Trying to smuggle biltong jerky back into the U.S. - not recommended.

8. It is possible to leave one's hotel at 11 a.m. on one day and arrive back home at 9 a.m. the next day - 34 hours later.

Nelson Mandela wants you to click here.