Well friends and fellow travellers, here I am back in the rat race. Just back from a long weekend in that wonderful, relaxed little hamlet called Dullstroom. Correction -that wonderful, relaxed, COLD little hamlet called Dullstroom! Is it just me, or does normal winter woolies seem to be less effective when confronted with real cold?
Now here's a lesson for you - if you are going to Dullstroom in the winter, be sure to take lots of warm clothes. And lots of red wine. Trust me, you will need it. The other side of the coin is of course a lot more positive. All the good things that keeps calling me back to Dullstroom. The first, and in winter, most important one, is that the accommodation all boasts either heaters or in most cases, real fireplaces!
So, let's have a look at what makes this trip worth every single penny. Quite a couple of things to be entirely honest. The local inhabitants are for the most part, friendly and nice and strive to make you feel right at home. Having stayed in quite a couple of different accommodations in the past, I have yet to encounter one that I would not recommend. However, I dont want to waste time talking about accommodation per se, rather to give you my personal opinion of why you should make time to go to Dullstroom! You should, however, make your reservations soon! So, on to the good things.
Dullstroom is very relaxed and laid back, especially in the week. Over the past couple of years it has really exploded into a very popular destination and stop-over for local visitors and tourists alike, so on weekends, be prepared to have to go outside to change your mind. They are everywhere, exactly like the bad guys in a really bad Jean-Claude van Damme movie. Not that I can blame them, but admittedly it was better - for me in any case - BEFORE the rush started and everybody and his dog became Dullstroom Junkies.
Still, you don't go there to run around! You go there to unwind, to relax. You go there to sleep in, to eat good food, to fly fish if so inclined, and to sit quietly and read a good book. Something wise maybe, by Khalil Gibran. And to have good conversations and share a few laughs.
And of course, Dullstroom is for lovers. For romantics. You can't help it, it just brings it out in you. Imagine sharing a spot in front of the fireplace with your loved one, enjoying the soft glow of a crackling log fire, relaxing in it's soothing heat whilst enjoying each other's closeness and company, sharing a quiet giggle. Bliss!
Maybe you are a lover of good wine to boot? So you could be treating yourself to something really good, like a 2002 Pessac-Leognan from Chateau Seguin in France's Bordeaux region. Such a remarkable red wine, smooth and well built with a good fruit complex, even if it is still just a little bit closed. Given 3 or so years, it will leave a great deal of fruit as the tannins fade. Order some, you will love it. Just make sure you have some handy for your next Dullstroom trip.
See you there soon!
