I spoke with Colleen at Paramount Travel in SA about tickets. She can
arrange tickets as well as accomodations in Cape Town and one-way airfare
to Jo-burg. I just called her and she will reserve 12 tickets for us for
Cape Town. I was unclear whether she could also reserve them for Jo-burg,
but will try to confirm this through an email. Her number is 27 21 2218
00. Her email address (at Paramount Travel) is paratvl@dockside.co.za.
Apparently, she will let us pick up our tickets and pay for them when we
get there. Otherwise, we would have to pay by check in Rand.
The tickets I requested are in the 'Golden Ring' right in front of the
stage. They are R260 or ~ $53 US. She recommended we queue 1-2 hours
before the show (earlier for those who don't have golden ring tix). So I'm
thinking 2.5 - 3 hours, to be safe. This would put us outside the stadium
around 3 or 3:30pm I think. I'll try to confirm when the gates open. I
believe the show starts at 7:30. I'm up for going earlier as well.
All airport transfers and shuttle service will ENTHUSIATICALLY be provided
by my friend (or a colleague in Cape Town) for $5/person each way. This
can include any day trips or tours you would like to take.
CAPE TOWN
Who is going to Cape Town? So far, Christian and I count 5 or 6:
Christian, Karen K (me), Karen I, Jan (Erato2005), Christine, and perhaps
Mary (Jennifer Dewar). If anyone else is going, please let us know. Chris
Wills, are you going to both shows? You are in SA correct?
Apparently the stadium is near the Waterfront, so I recommend having a
pre-show gathering at the Hard Rock (it is in the Waterfront complex). I
will ask either Colleen or my friend in Jo-burg to call HRC to arrange
something around lunch time. We could also do a gathering Sun night too.
Airfare to Jo-burg through Paramount is R 600 one-way, or ~ $120 US. So
not much of a savings there. Accomodations are at the President hotel near
the Waterfront and the stadium (and close to where the band is staying she
says, although she says she doesn't know exactly where they will be). The
rates are obscenely low: R125 ($25) per person for a double, or R250 ($50)
for a single. Christian has also recommended a couple of nice places: 1)
Cape Grace, $262 for a suite. 2) Villa Via Cape Town, $200 for a double.
Both with 10% discounts likely.
I will likely get in to Cape Town at 1:40pm Sun afternoon or 8:40 pm Sun
night, depending on whether I fly from NY or Miami. I'll know by tomorrow
morning when I have to book my ticket.
As far as a tour itinerary, my first priority is to go to the Cape of Good
Hope (Cape Point) because I missed that the first time due to fog in the
morning and early pm. I plan to 'beach it' a couple days, climb Table
Mountain, go to Hermanus to watch the humpback whales, and tour one of the
wine regions. I have been to the Stellenbosch region and would gladly go
there again, and I would like to try another (Paarl or the one on the way
to Cape Point that begins with a 'C') as well.
JO-BURG
My best count to date is that 12-15 people will be in Jo-burg. Here's who
I have tallied so far. If you're not included, and you are going, let me
know. And if you are on the list, but are NOT going, let me know as well:
The 5 or 6 from Cape Town: Christian, Karen K, Karen I, Jan, Christine,
Mary (Jennifer Dewar)?
Patrick Meagher
Jason Mayfield
Mat Pasquale
Reno? (c'mon! we'll miss you terribly if you don't come!)
Allison Menjivar
Aja
Dana (Daydream Believer) and friend
Chris Wills?
I will try confirm tickets for the Jo-burg show through Colleen. I'll need
to let her know how many we need. I'm thinking I'll reserve 15. I'll ask
her when we have to let her know of a final number.
Many people have elected to stay at the Hyatt in Rosebank. My friend will
arrange guest house accomodations in Rosebank as well, for much less ($35 -
$50 per person/night). So far, I have counted up to 8 people that may want
guest house accomodations. Please let me know if you have made other
bookings or if you are not on the list and want to stay at a guest house
with the group:
Patrick
Aja
Dana and friend (Daydream Believer)
Karen I
Christine?
Mary?
Reno?
I need to let my friend know soon so he can make arrangements.
Itineraries so far include a nearby, small game reserve, Krugersdorp one
afternoon and a tour of Soweto another (probably Monday am for most).
Krugersdorp is approx. 45 minutes from Rosebank and offer guided drives
through the park. You can also drive your own vehicle at your pace. The
guide will give you some great info as you go through in open air land
rovers. I believe the cost is ~$10 per vehicle to get in to the park and
another $10 or so for a guided drive if you opt for one. You may want to
call for times of the guided drives ahead of time. I know the last one
departs the lodge at 5pm and goes until almost 8pm. You can see 2 of the
big 5 game here: lions and rhinos. The other 3 you won't see are
elephants, buffalo and leopard as it is too small to accomodate the bush or
the game required to feed these. You will also see many types of antelope
here as well as zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, monkeys, perhaps hippos,
ostriches, and other fowl.
Soweto is a 3 - 4 hour tour. They will pick you up and drop you off at
your hotel. Rates can be as low as R120/person ($25). Jason is planning
to go Monday am. I would like to go Sun mid-afternoon, Sat morning, or
Friday. My friend can make arrangments for us if we know how many and
when.
My friend can also shuttle folks to some nearby villages for anyone
interested.
I think most of the group is planning to visit the Rosebank mall's rooftop
market on Sunday late morning/early afternoon. It is not to be missed for
shopping for local curios.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
If you have not already sent your departure and arrival info to Jason and
Christian, do so right away! For $5 each way, my friend will shuttle you
between airports and your hotel. So far, only 5 have their itineraries
posted (I will get mine up ASAP). We should also get a count of how many
people will be getting rental cars. Let us know!
More later.
Cheers!
Karen