Back in Johannesburg

Well we returned home today from our mini-vacation to Cape Town. All I can say is amazing! We have so many photos that we want to share with everyone! And we did so much that it is going to take me several posts!!! Hopefully, Jayce will cooperate this week and I will be able to get it all up here!!!

*A note about Jayce: He is really getting big and so much more active and into everything! But while we were in Cape Town, we found the start of his first tooth coming up!!!

The Week of 1/16 to 1/22

Last week was really laid back. The first part of the week, we just did a normal routine of wake up, take of Michael to work, come home, play with Jayce all day, pick Michael up from work, eat dinner, and go to bed!!! But the later half of the week things were a little more interesting.

Thursday, we went and tried a some local Mexican food at a restaurant called Mexicho. Michael and I shared a starter and a meal. For the starter, we had an onion rings stuffed with guacamole. There were a total of three of these. 

Jayce enjoyed his time at the restaurant. We sat outside and the weather was really nice.

And for the meal, we shared beef fajitas for two. On the white platter there was guacamole, sour cream (tasted a little different), lettuce, and I assume their take on pico (it had fruit in it).

On Friday, we had the opportunity to visit a cottage that our rental company had available that would better suit our needs.  Well we ended up liking it and wasted no time moving to it. I will post some pictures at another time. This past weekend we booked a flight and hotel for a weekend getaway to Cape Town. We will leave Joburg on 1/26 (Thursday) and return 1/29 (Sunday). 

On Saturday, we went to Sandton City and went to the mall. While there we went to Toys R Us!!!! (Jayce needed more wipes already! P.S. When travelling please note that a regular size package of wipes weighs 1 pound!!! Real problem when packing for several months and an airport baggage weight limit!)  Once we got home from the mall, Michael grilled some steaks! We bought a package of 4 nice steaks for about $7.

Michael enjoying the new courtyard area and braai (barbecue).

Jayce hung out too!

Then the steaks were done and time to eat!!! Yummy!!! There was so much meat that we each only ate one steak and used the rest the next day for fajitas.

On Sunday, we went back to the African Market to speak to a vendor about a painting we are interested in and then I was treated like a princess! I got 2 cupcakes (carrot cake and strawberry) to take home and then a Thai foot massage (15 minutes for like $6). 

African Market at the Rosebank Mall

After the zoo, we went to the Rosebank Mall. In their parking garage on Sundays, they host the African Market. Here you can find a variety of things ranging from homemade crafts and paintings to baked goods. 

Since we were hungry from the zoo, we ventured towards the food first.  We bought two stir-fry meals. Plus an egg roll and 3 other fried snacks.  In the picture below those are pretty much eaten, but you can still see a piece of each.  The 3 other fried snacks were flat triangle shaped and stuffed with either beef, chicken, or potato. Neither of us cared for the potato one; it was mushy.

 While in the food area, we bought some goodies to take home too. We bought some cheese croissants, Polish sausage, and a carrot cake cupcake. (I just had to have it!! Oh and it was amazing!!!)

After we filled our bellies and Jayce's too, we walked around most of the booths. We did purchase some souvenirs for ourselves and a few gifts. It is always great being able to barter with the vendors to get the items we wanted at prices we liked!!!

Joburg Zoo

On Sunday January 15th, we had plans to go to the Joburg Zoo, but Jayce had to check his email first!

Once we got to the zoo, we were all ready to see the animals! The zoo itself was very large. We spent several hours there and still did not see everything!!! At first Jayce was a little groggy because he had just woke up from a cat nap.

One of the first things we saw were the tortoises.

Not exactly sure what the correct name for these are, but they were enjoying their day in their food bowls.

I don't think I have ever heard of a blue duiker. 

This is another animal that I have no clue what it is, but I do no he was not the cutest!

Toucans

Jayce getting up close and personal with the toucans.

Below are several pictures of some of the different types of monkeys we saw.  This was a very active baby monkey.

This one climbed down from where it had been sitting to gather some grass to take back to the seat and eat it.

If you look closely you can see the monkey on the left side. This was the first time we saw this one. He was scratching his butt!

Then we walked around the other side of that enclosure and he put on a real show for us.  

As you can see, Michael was videoing him. I will post the video another day. Essentially, it seemed as though this monkey was mocking Jayce.

When we first came up on these two, we thought oh isn't that sweet they are hugging each other.

But then we realized the one on the right was breastfeeding on the other one.

 

Michael then started acting silly to get their attention and the one on the right started swatting towards Michael.  

Jayce and I after seeing the monkeys.

We then saw some meerkats.

Then on to the honey badgers!!!

They were all sleeping. :( This was all you could see of them.

Porcupines

Red panda

Some big bird.

Bongo

He came up to this walkway we were on to check us out.

The walkway.

Giraffes

This was a view from the zoo looking up on a hillside. The structure is a hotel.

Jayce hanging out!

Crocodiles

Zebras

The monument in the back is part of the Military History Museum, which is next to the zoo.

Elephants

Meerkats in the elephant area.

 Lions

Camels

Rhinos

They kind of blended in with the rocks.

Hippos

Jayce 

 The picture doesn't really show the detail of this tree. It was really pretty.

This is what the paths through the zoo looked like.

I know Jayce's face doesn't look like he was having fun, but we all enjoyed ourselves at the Joburg Zoo!!!!