Tromsø, Norway

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:07:00 -0400

I’ve always wanted to go to Scandinavia, but warmer destinations have always lured me away. I’m from Vancouver, Canada, and whenever it dips below 0 degrees celcius I complain (Okay, I complain when it’s under 10C). However, Tromsø just looks so incredible that I think I could brave the cold to see it. Oh wait, what’s that? It’s not actually that cold? Despite being 2000 km from the North Pole, this place has the mildest cimate in the world for its latitude. Thanks, Gulf Stream!

FAST FACTS:
- Population: 65,000
- Climate: Summer is usually 5 to 28C, while Winter is around -4 to -18C
- Things to see: 1877 Mack Brewery, Reindeer races, Botanisk Hage (world’s northernmost Botanical Garden), Polaria (Arctic Musem where you can see Bearded Seals), Panoramic views from the Storsteinen Fjellheis (goes 420m up Mt. Storsteinen)
- Mindblowing naturalness: Aurora Borealis (September - April), Midnight Sun (May 21 - July 21), Polar Night (November 21 - January 21)
- Arctic Safaris: dogsledding, snowmobiling, reindeer sledging

Lonely Planet says “Simply put, Tromsø parties. The main town of Troms county – by far the largest in northern Norway – is lively with cultural bashes, buskers, an animated street scene, a midnight-sun marathon, a respected university, the hallowed Mack Brewery – and more pubs per capita than any other Norwegian town. Its corona of snow-topped peaks provides arresting scenery, excellent hiking in summer and great skiing and dog-sledding in winter.”

Seeing the Aurora Borealis is definitely on my bucket list. I can think of nothing more spectacular to see, and no better place to see it!

Giraffe Manor, Nairobi.

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:17:00 -0400

I feel it only fitting that I start this blog with Giraffe Manor, since it is what inspired us to start it in the first place. We were going to call the blog “Places We Will Never Afford To Go” but I decided to be a little more optimistic :)

I almost cannot think of a more magical, romantic place than this. A 1930’s manor turned hotel where Rothschild giraffes can steal your freshly baked muffins? Oh, and there’s an elephant and rhino orphanage nearby as well. SIGN ME UP.

“Giraffe Manor is set in 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest and is only 20 kilometres from Nairobi city centre. Built in the 1930s, this luxury boutique hotel has maintained all the charm of the era and is now famous for its resident herd of Rothschild Giraffe. Giraffe Manor offers you an unparalleled experience of the giraffes, with them vying for your attention at the breakfast table, the front door and even your bedroom window.

Giraffe Manor is also home to many characters including warthogs, bushbuck, dik dik and more than 180 species of birds and has a striking view of the Ngong hills.”

FAST FACTS:
Open: throughout the year except in April and May.
Accomodation: six elegant en suite rooms
Price: $595 (single), $880 (double), $1070 (triple). US prices, per room per night. Includes the room, airport pick up, meals, wine, entrance to the Giraffe Centre and excursions including the Daphne Sheldricks elephant orphanage (entrance fee excluded, but it is by donation).

So, if you are ever in Nairobi, Kenya make sure to check this place out!

Travelers' Wish List

Tromsø, Norway

Giraffe Manor, Nairobi.