I do windows

Up at the crack of dawn, breakfast and hit the road! With spots like God's Window, Blythe River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes, it's not called Paradise Country for nothing! The entire panoramic route is just that....one beautiful ride! It is referred to as "the place where the sun rises" and has beautiful gorges, waterfalls, forests....magnificent scenery!

God's Window is situated on the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga .... even though our day is beginning a bit overcast, with slight fog....one look and you can see why this place is so aptly named. The view is over 900 miles down into the lush forested ravine. The cliffs are plunging over the Lowveld and it seems as if you can see for miles.

The Blythe River Canyon is just another area of this beautiful red sandstone escarpment, considered one of the largest canyons on planet earth and it may be the largest green canyon due to its lush foliage. It is known as one of the great wonders of nature on the African continent. The best "window view" of the whole canyon is of the "Three Rondavels", huge round rocks resembling the houses or huts of the local people.

As we continue our trek to Johannesburg on this beautiful route, we visit Bourke's Luck Potholes, another wonder of nature, plunging pools have eroded a number of potholes which we view from the rock formations above. It was named after a local prospector, Tom Bourke, who predicted "there is gold in dem rocks"...although none was found. Pedestrian bridges connect the overlooks of the potholes and the gorge.

We arrive in Joburg (previously called Johanessburg) where we part ways with a few people from our group. Some are proceeding to Victoria Falls with us and others are heading back to the States. We are in the mood for a celebration tonight so six of us are heading to an African restaurant known as MOYO. This is where you can get a taste of African food and feel the essence of the continent. It is a fun and lively place. Someone comes to the table with a wooden bowl and asks you to put your hands into it. They pour warm water over your hands and then hand you a towel. This is a ritual there. Another woman comes and does some face painting on each patron....we have some laughs. All the while, there is great music playing with that African beat. A great memory as we end the first leg of our tour. "We'll always have MOYO!"

So, most people don't do windows; but, with " windows" like this....it affords me great views into a great world..so, yes..."I do windows!"