Retirees’ Corner
February 2007

In November 2006, Harry Galles (Environmental Protection, Dept., 2001) and Linda Nidever–Galles (Energy & Environmental Protection Directorate, 2003) visited South Africa. The area in the south around Capetown is stunningly beautiful, low mountain ranges with vineyards tucked in the valleys and a stunning coastline. The food and wines are excellent and currently, unlike Europe, it is a bargain because the currency exchange ratio is very favorable. Capetown is a beautiful city reminiscent of San Francisco, spreading out from the base of Table Mountain - which offers wonderful views of the surrounding area including Robbin Island where Nelson Mandella was imprisoned for a quarter century.

The climate is similar to the Bay Area but the vineyards/wineries are very large-averaging about 200 acres. They stayed on lovely vineyard estates that had top notch housing and world class restaurants. After they had eaten and drank their way through the Cape, they headed north toward Kruger National Park. This park is surrounded by private game reserves and the wild life can move freely across borders, migrating or ranging for food.

Game drives are interesting and exciting and were the highlight of their trip as they got very close to the animals in their natural habitat. They stayed at Tanda Tula in the Timbivati preserve and were within 20 to 30 feet of most of the animals in open Range Rovers. They saw lions, spotted leopards, elephants, white rhinos, hippos, giraffes, cape buffalos, and numerous types of antelopes, mongoose, monkeys and many varieties of beautiful birds.

It is a long journey to South Africa. It took 24 hours to get to Johannesburg from San Francisco and it is longer returning due to winds and the need to refuel. Security is a concern there, particularly in the big cities as unemployment is very high (~40%). The economic disparity is also great between ethnic groups. People are generally very nice but you must be watchful when you are out on the street and should never travel alone. They would have stayed another week or more had they known in advance how much they would enjoy that area of the world.

The February Retirees’ Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, February 21st, at the Elks Lodge in Livermore. The speaker will be Kevin Roberts, Economic Development Director for the City of Livermore. The title of his talk is: “Are Redevelopment and Eminent Domain Really Four-letter Words?”

The Travel Group meets the 4th Tuesday of each month January through June at 2:00 p.m. in the Livermore Police Community Room. The February 27th topic is: “Red Rocks, Redwoods, and Other Scenic Wonders of the Southwest” by Bob and Juanita Berlo. The March 27th meeting topic is: “From Alexandria to Aswan” by Barbara Mallon.

Please send any news or input (please include the date and department from which you retired) to Jane or Gus Olson. E-Mail: Jane@LLNLRetirees.org or Gus@LLNLRetirees.org.