Wonderful trip to the Majestic Palace Hotel in Sun City & A Safari at Pilanesberg

Hi Everyone,

 

My husband and I just got back from a fabulous trip to Sun City.  (North Western province here in South Africa about 2.5 hours away from our home).  We stayed at the beautiful opulent African Hotel, The Palace Hotel of the Lost City.  There are also several other hotels in the area, as well as a casino, valley of the waves water park, entertainment centre, and also family bungalows, etc.   Pilanesberg game reserve is about 10 minutes away so we also did an early evening safari which was amazing. 

 

It was just a marvelous trip. I took so many great photos that I thought I would share some with you.  The hotel is such a splendor in design, décor and architecture that I had to take so many pictures to capture the opulent African décor!  It took my breath away.  Everywhere they had beautiful chairs, light fixtures carpets and tapestries all depicting the African wild life.  The grand court room was just spectacular to see with the beautiful elephant water fountain.  I loved the art deco style and African design.  The high ceilings and their painted mosaics and the beautiful windows really was something majestic to see.  The hotel is so well maintained and just spectacular in beauty along with the stunning grounds.  A designers dream.   This wonderful trip has certainly given me so much inspiration for new paintings.  We really loved our getaway.

 

The Amazing Entrance to the Palace Hotel, such a grandiose hotel

 

 Beautiful grand entrance and cheetah and Gazelle fountain

 

The stunning lobby

 Just loved the painted come!  Gorgeous design and colours

Close up of the beautiful motif

 Everywhere you looked, there was such beautiful décor. Loved the tapestries and the ornate Zebra chairs. 

The Stunning Court Room Hall Restaurant. I just loved this art deco opulent African room, with the majestic windows, elephant fountain and all the work on the cielings.  The stair case and the gorgeous carpet. Such a gorgeous room, it took my breath away

The Gorgeous Elephant Water Fountain is just amazing

 They were serving high tea when we arrived.  They have a beautiful breakfast buffet, high tea in the afternoon and an amazing dinner buffet as well. You just felt like Royalty being in this room.

The beautiful grounds of the hotel..such grandeur. I loved the lily pond

 The beautiful Tusk bar.  Such beautiful décor and all our the colour schemes fit so well.

Beautiful Life Size elephant statue in the court yard

 A view to the front side of the Grand Court Room Patio.  Such opulence

The Beautiful Swimming pool and cabanas.  Love the painted design on the canvas

Amazing views of the area and Sun city from the Tower at the hotel

The pathway from the hotel heading to the rest of the resort

Valley of wave pool in sun city

The beautiful entertainment centre and the lost city bridge that would shake and smoke every hour.  Loved all the elephant statues and the carvings in the rock

 

A beautiful farewell dinner at the Plume Restaurant in the hotel. Such a beautiful restaurant and

wonderful ambiance and lighting

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Finally some Updates to My Studio Blog

Hi Everyone,

Well I realize its been some time since I updated my studio blog.  It was a very busy time this past summer moving into our new home in South Africa.  The big container from Canada arrived in early July and I think spent over 2 months unpacking and settling in.  Was a really big move and I think one of the hardest moves for me.  Must  be the age...lol.  My husband was travelling quite a bit and I was pretty much alone to do it all.  Anyways, the house is done and I finally got my studio furniture and its done.  Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to really do any painting. 

In September, I was travelling with my husband to Durban and we stayed in Zimbali.  We had a wonderful vacation.  I just loved the drive from Johannesbug to Durban. 

In October I was back in Canada visiting family for about 1.5 months and sadly my beautiful Aunt Lorraine passed away.  Was a very hard time for all of us. She will always be in my heart.   On a happier note, I really enjoyed spending time with my little God Daughters Morgan and Margaux who are really growing up so fast!  They are just so wonderful.

December was a busy month and then there was Christmas and New Years.  Was so nice to have our first Christmas in South Africa with no snow.  I have to say I am not missing those long hard Canadian Winters one bit.   It is summer here in South Africa and the weather is amazing.

In early January we had our good friends from Denmark come for a visit. They really enjoyed their time here in South Africa and also went on a safari which they loved. 

After our guests left, we took a long weekend and went to Sun City and stayed at the Very Opulent African Hotel, The Palace of the Lost City. It was just gorgeous. A designers dream.  As Pilanesberg Game Reserve is right nearby, we went on a lovely early evening Safari. It was truly an amazing experience.  I will post some pics of our trip.

So now back home, I am feeling so inspired from that wonderful getaway and pretty ready to start some paintings.  Wishing you all a wonderful week. 

I have went back and added pics and posts to my blog for the past few months.

My Trip to Canada, with my wonderful little Nieces at Halloween!

Halloween, Margaux as Belle and little Morgan as Tinker Belle!

Lunch out with my girly, always giggling and having fun

Morgans 2nd Birthday party

With my Boo at Dinner, she loves to colour and draw

Look at me Sasa!  Such a happy girl with a great big loving character, she makes us laugh so much

A very Proud Margaux with all her art work from school. I think she will be an artist

Painting with my Boo, she loves it so much and I have to say for only 4 and half she is really great

A beautiful early Christmas Brunch with my mom and dad

My friends from Denmark visiting us in Johannesburg, Having an arrival lunch at our home.
It was so great to see them again since 5 years

 

Durban and Zimbali Visit

In late September my husband and I took a beautiful drive from Johannesburg to Durban.  We stayed in Zimbali along the coast at the Fairmont Zimbali Resort and it was just amazing.  I really loved our drive along the South African Country side down to Durban and also seeing the beautiful mountains of the Drankensberg area. Durban was such a beautiful city and we also drove along the golden mile coast to Umhlanga and visited the famous Oyster box Hotel. It was just so delightful and I loved the red lighthouse and their beautiful art décor hotel.  

Attached some pics from our trip:

The Beautiful Drive and Landscape Down to Durban

Arriving along the Durban Coast and the Fairmont Zimbali Resort

Our Beautiful Room at the Fairmont

Stunning Views to the Resort and Coast

Wonderful Breakfasts and Views

The Beautiful Lobby at the Zimbali Fairmont

I was in Love with all The Beautiful African Baskets

 

Beautiful pools

 The Sea and beach, the waves are too rough you cant swim here, but stunning to take a walk

 The Zimbali resort and grounds

 Beautiful Big Main Pool Area

 Little Cheeky Monkeys everywhere, they would come and take sugar packets from the table and food at the different restaurants.

 Had to make sure you kept your windows shut, once we saw them, we saw them almost every day  

Such Friendly Staff

 

A Visit to Durban City Centre, Beautiful City Square and Town Hall

 
And View to the Harbour

Walking along the harbour, so many nice stalls selling wonderful African arts and crafts

 A Visit to Umhlanga, The Oyster Box Hotel

Just loved the art deco style all over the hotel

Beautifully Decorated Bar area

The beautiful light house and view to the pool. Love the red and white





My Studio Finally Completed

Hi Everyone,
My Office furniture was finally delivered.  Here are some pictures of my studio space in our new home. Lots of nice lighting as well.  Hoping to start some new work soon.