Here is our itinerary…for our 400 days of spinning around the world.
February 2011: FRANCE (French Riviera: Cannes), (Southeast France: Aix en Provence, Carcassonne, Languedoc en Rousillon), and SPAIN (Barcelona)
March 2011: SPAIN (Barcelona, Malaga), CANARY ISLANDS, and PORTUGAL (Madeira)
April 2011: SWITZERLAND (Swiss Alps, Geneva, Zurich), AUSTRIA (Austrian Alps, Bad Gastein, Salzburg), and GERMANY (Munich, Frankfurt)
May 2011: NEW YORK (Brooklyn, Manhattan), ENGLAND (London, Bath, Warwick, Darby, York, Sunderland), WALES (Cardiff), SCOTLAND (Edinburgh, Inverness, Isle of Skye) and ISRAEL (Jerusalem, Judean Desert, Dead Sea, Tel Aviv)
June 2011: ISRAEL (Tel Aviv), FRANCE (Loire Valley, Bordeaux Region, Rhone Alps), and ITALY (Tuscany)
July 2011: ITALY (Tuscany, Umbria, Amalfi Coast, Naples, Rome, Bologna, Parma, Piedmont, Barolo, Venice)
August 2011: GREECE & TURKEY (Cruise), IRELAND (Dublin, Cork, N. Ireland), ENGLAND (London), PERU (Lima, Cuzco, Machu Piccu trek), ECUADOR (Quito, Galapagos Islands)
September 2011: ECUADOR (Galapagos Islands), CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles, Ojai, Orange County), NEVADA (Las Vegas), NEW ZEALAND (Auckland, North Island)
October 2011: NEW ZEALAND (South Island), AUSTRALIA (Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbor, Brisbane)
November 2011: FIJI, SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA (Sydney), CHINA (Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Guangzhou, Hong Kong), SINGAPORE
December 2011: THAILAND (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai), LAOS (Luang Prabang), VIETNAM (Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Halong Bay, Saigon), CAMBODIA (Siem Reap), THAILAND (Bangkok)
January 2012: THAILAND (Krabi, Yao Yai, Phuket), INDIA (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai), SOUTH AFRICA (Johannesborg, Cape Town, Kruger Park), NETHERLANDS (Amsterdam)
February 2012: ARGENTINA (Buenos Aires, Mendoza)
March 2012: ARGENTINA (Buenos Aires), OHIO, CALIFORNIA
**** WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE WILL BE AFTERWARDS ****
Spinning Around The World 
Inspiring story and trip. Wishing you both nothing but the best moving forward.
Thanks for sharing
Hi Brandey & Giff,
Happened upon your website while doing some searches for African Safaris as a surprise for my wife, Diane, and about which I know nothing. I’ve only just skimmed a bit of your website and already I can see you two are amazing to be dealing with such a difficult and challenging “curve in the road of life” in such a positive way. How ever did you plan all of this out? …or are you inventing it as you go? You are certainly doing it at the right moment.
We are senior citizens, as they say, and are about to leave on an extended bicycle trip to the Netherlands, which we’ve done before and highly recommend. We are not usually very adventurous in our travels, focusing mostly on Europe and the Caribbean, where we had run a sailing charter business for a number of years taking folks around to the British Virgin Islands.
If you have the time, any advice about African Safari companies, which countries are the safest, and things one must know before venturing forth would be very appreciated.
Diane is also from Ohio and went to Wooster college, which she loved.
I wish you all of the best in your travels, adventures and life direction. Enjoy and celebrate every day!
Kind regards,
Peter Meskin
Hi Peter!
Thanks for reading our post…we have had such an amazing time on our journey and are excited to share it with the world! First we looked at what places we wanted to go…which countries, then booked an “around the world ticket” through Delta airlines. Then, we started looking into each country to see where exactly we wanted to visit, we did this as we traveled so…when in one country would be planning where to go in the next. Although we did have some specific things set with dates like our hike through Machu Picchu or the cruise through the Galapagos. And of course as we went along also discovered places to visit and things to see.
How exciting that you are planning a surprise safari for your wife…she is going to be amazed!! It is actually pretty easy to plan your trip on your own through the lodge directly from our experience. We did work with one company which was NOT so good (Go2Africa) in fact…we felt very ripped off after going through them so I would stay clear of them. I do not know what your budget is…the safari’s are really quite expensive but they are such an experience! We really liked the two places we stayed at, Rhulani Lodge and Impodimo Lodge…both are full service, very nice accommodations and we saw so many animals with both rangers. One thing to watch out for…some of the lodges really cram as many people into the jeep as possible…so make sure the place you choose doesn’t drive more than 6-8 people at a time. If you are going to Madikwe Reserve…see if you can stay at one lodge in the north and one in the south…the hippo’s are only on one side.
As far as the safest countries in Africa…we only did South Africa which was safe (for the most part) and beautiful! What was really nice about South Africa is that you can visit Cape Town and Stellenbosch which is wine country 45 minutes from Cape Town. From Cape Town to Madikwe Reserve you will fly into Johannesburg and then we took a private chartered plane into the Reserve (the plane held about 8 people plus the pilot and landed on a dirt road in the middle of the bush). Cape Town is gorgeous, rent a car and drive along the coast…totally safe and picture-perfect (see our Cape Town post for where to stay). We started in Wine country (if you like wine…theirs is very good) then after a couple days drove to Cape Town…stayed there for a few days and then were off on our safari.
The most important advise we can give you for the safari is to bring an amazing camera. We spent a lot of money on a top of the line camera with special lenses and got so much more out of the safari because our pics were amazing. And make sure you take video everyday…it will be a memory you can watch over and over. Don’t forget really good binoculars. The nice thing about Madikwe is you don’t have to worry about malaria…which is a big issue in other reserves in Africa. Do not ever walk to your room by yourself at night from the lodge no matter what, it may seem silly but people have died from lions eating them!
We would love to hear more about your bicycling adventure…it sounds super fun! And…if you have any suggestions for which British Islands to visit, we would love to hear your advice. Is there a certain company to go with?
It is so exciting this trip you are planning for your wife…have an amazing time and enjoy every moment!!
Brandey & Giff
HI Brandey…thinking of you…You are so inspiring. Miss you!
Thanks Shannon…miss you too!!
Hello,
My name is Daniel and I met you with my wife Véronique during our holidays in Scotland at the Grasmohr B&B on the Skye island.
I don’t know if you remember us with all your travels but since we met you,we are following your trip on this blog and we like it so much.
We are from Strasbourg France.Sorry for my english,I’m not terrible in speaking and just a little better in writing.
If you decide one day to come to Strasbourg, you are welcome at our house, we have an extra room for friends.
You know, our area, l’Alsace, had really good wines ( I’ve noted that you are really fan about it ) like Riesling,Tokay or Gewuhrztraminer and in Strasbourg is one of the greatest cathedral all over Europe.
I hope to see you again one day,
Bye and enjoy your next destinations.
Of course we remember you. We enjoyed chatting with you over breakfast in Skye. Yes, wine is a true passion for us…and the area you live in sounds amazing. That is so nice of you to offer…next time we are in that part of France we will for sure contact you. Thanks for following our blog…please stay in touch.
Hey Guys…. I am loving your journal! You look like you are having an amazing adventure. I miss you guys! I am siked that you will be trekking through India! Can’t wait to compare experiences!!! Love Kris
i’m loving your posts! so fantastic! and so great that you are diligently updating your travelog. there maybe a chance that i’ll be down in brazil and argentina in february as well. my girlfriends and i are planning our big 40th year trip – and carnival is on top of the list with some wine tasting in argentina with tango lessons 🙂
p.s. giff – miss you at the west coast workshops and last time we were in vegas, we had dinner at mgm and the first thought that came to mind were those drinks that you (brandey) introduced me to – the octane freezie thing…ouch!
xo, j
Hey Jina! How are you?? I’m glad you are getting a kick out of reading our blogs…it is fun to keep a record of everything we are doing. Carnival would be so much fun for a girls trip…you ladies will have a total blast and we should totally meet up with you for dinner and drinks if possible! Keep us in the loop with your plans, if we are in the same area…we would love to catch up with you. We are only going to Turkey on a cruise as of now…so won’t have so much time there but if it’s that great, maybe we should consider giving it more time…
Those 190 Octane’s are the best aren’t they? Yummy:)
xoxo
I just sent giff a long list for rome through FB. your site is so great. i do this for my trips but through FB notes since they’re much shorter than yours and it’s a great way to not only keep a record, but a way for people to catch up with you (plus you don’t have repeat it over and over again) 🙂
i’ll definitely keep you posted of my south american plans. wouldn’t it be wild…we’ll have to replace the 190 octanes for caipirinhas in brazil!
i have to say, if you’ve got time to spare, definitely take some more time in turkey…it’s amazing…the most hospitable people i’ve met, amazing food and holy sites – beautiful, mystifying, some of the great wonders are there. i traveled through the western part of turkey solo for three weeks minus the four days for a wedding (which was the main purpose of the trip) and probably had one of the most memorable vacations. i still have my turkey photos on FB but the blogs that i wrote on that trip was on a different app and unfortunately, that app is broken 😦
i’m so happy for you guys that you are taking this adventure!!! standing ovation to you!!!
xo, j
Looks like it has been a phenomenal trip! Love watching you guys live life to it’s fullest! xo
Hi Brandy and Gifford, i hope u are going well.Here are the recommendations of my friends from Bordeaux. Enjoy! Armelle
Walks on the river sides
Go to restaurants in the street Saint Remi
Go to shop to street sainte Catherine
Seat in nice terraces on square Gambetta
Walk in the street “La cour de l’intendance” = very chic
Eat the Bordeaux special food (cakes) : “les canelets” at Baillardan (a shop in the street Porte Dijeaux)
Affront of the City-hall and the cathedrale Saint Andre, there is the tour Pey-Berland (go on the top of it, There is a crazy view)
The restaurant of the Regent-grand-hotel is very stilly
Les thermes de Caudalie” : Unique place for Spa treatment in the suburb of Bordeaux martillac). The treatments are wine made. There is a nice restaurant there.
45 minutes from Bordeaux, there is Arcachon (very nice front sea) + Dune of Pyla (huge send mountain) –my friend said it worth it.
Winery = visit of Saint Emilion where the wine is made + castles
Hi Armelle-
Thank you so much for looking into this for us!! We are so appreciative…:) We will be there next week. It was great talking with you and your husband…we are having so much fun here in Israel. Keep in touch!
Brandey/Giff
Brandey and Giff how awesome you are doing this! Brandey you are amazing and I can’t wait to hear more about your travels! I hope you and Giff have an exciting and memorable experience.
Love,
Becky
Hey Becky! Thanks for checking in on our site…we are having so much fun…and are trying to keep up with the blog! Hope everything is going well with you and the fam. Keep in touch,
xoxo
Bran