Join the Grannies as they travel to the new South Africa and explore the cultural mosaic of this extraordinary country. Visit the major cities -- Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, and walk through historically important museums and galleries. Meet artists, designers, musicians and everyday people in their homes and visit a Zulu village of doll makers. The Grannies ride rickshaws, taste Indian curry and meet a group of singing church ladies in Soweto.
102: South Africa - On Safari!
Travel with the Grannies as they explore exceptional wildlife, including sightings of the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Join them as they witness major conservation efforts for the cheetah and other animals at Kapama Private Game Reserve. At Kagga Kamma, travel to ancient grounds where they view 6,000 year old cave drawings by the San people. At an exceptional five star safari lodge - Camp Jabulani - they ride an elephant on safari. Experience their visit to the Lesedi Cultural Center, a recreated cultural village where the six major tribal groups of South Africa are represented.
103: Discovering the Wonders of Morocco
One of North Africa’s most exotic countries is Morocco. The Grannies trek through this scenically diverse country bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Sahara Desert and Atlas Mountains. Come aboard as they ride camels in the Sahara and partake in a huge feast at the home of Berbers in their middle-Atlas mountaintop enclave. Experience the magic of its cities - the blue city (Fes), white city (Casablanca) and the pink city (Marrakech). Highlights include the nightly madness of Jamaa El Fina Square in Marrakech, goats in the trees on the road to Casablanca and the beautiful fishing village of Essaouria. Morocco is a country of modern and ancient mosques, including one of the world’s largest in Casablanca.
104: Istanbul - Ancient Crossroads
The Grannies travel to Istanbul, the confluence of the great Christian, Moslem and Byzantine cultures. Framed by its seas - the Marmara, Black Sea, Mediterranean and the mysterious Bosporus, Istanbul is considered home of one of the wonders of the world - Hagia Sofia. Straddling both Asia and Europe, the country is a repository of ancient and modern art, ruins and culture. Places like the Blue Mosque take the breath away. The Grannies view ancient Roman underground cistern ruins, travel back in time to the treasures of Topkapi Palace and have a private view of its rare artifacts. On the tour, Pat and Regina meet with three famous Turkish artists and Bedri Baykam, internationally known visual artist, filmmaker and writer..
105: Japan - The Contemporary and the Ancient
Join the Grannies as they spend colorful nights in two of Japan’s greatest cities - Tokyo and Kyoto, experiencing the sights and sounds of some of their most stimulating and exotic haunts. The itinerary includes great temples, fabulous restaurants and new 21st century structures including the Rappongi Hills District. Retreat to Kusatsu (a mountain village) at the base of a volcano, to experience the therapeutic sulphur springs - “Onsen.” Pampered like Japanese Royals in a five star elegant Royokan, they enjoy the ultimate spa experience. During their visit, The Grannies toured one of the leading Anime studios and saw previews of upcoming video programs. Of course, they had time for a little Karaoke in Tokyo before they departed.
106: Korea - Off the Beaten Path
The Grannies go off the beaten path to explore Korea. With a focus on its largest city, Seoul, this episode highlights its bustling cultural assets including world-class museums and galleries that make the country come alive. Regina and Pat visit the internationally renowned World Ceramics Center, Korean Folk Village where ancient dwellings have been created to show visitors how life was in the 15th through 18th-centuries, and have an overnight stay at a Buddhist Temple. They climb thousands of stairs to view the many ancient temples that dot the provinces of the country and a traditional Korean feast and dance performance at Korea House is the highlight of Seoul. The Grannies even dress up as Korean empresses to stroll around a park! While in Busan they visit the Jagalchi Fish Market and view fish never seen in North America.
Purchase the entire first season of the PBS television series on DVD
