{"id":195106,"date":"2022-02-01T10:02:17","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T08:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/the-barefoot-africa-child-visits-from-letland-2\/"},"modified":"2024-10-28T14:40:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T12:40:15","slug":"the-barefoot-africa-child-visits-from-letland-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/en\/the-barefoot-africa-child-visits-from-letland-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The barefoot Africa child visits from Latvia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Marelize Vermeulen<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tickets were booked, the snow suits bought and the Vermeulen family was brimming with excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vermeulens were planning to go skiing in Switzerland, celebrating a fairy-tale white Christmas in the snow and then visiting the family member residing in Latvia (that is me) for a week.
Well \u2026 then the green bug threw a spanner in the wheel once again, when the so-called \u201cOmicron\u201d reared its head, and the South Africans\u2019 first snow excursion had to be put on ice (literally).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most logical solution was for me to fly to South Africa. So I traded my white Christmas for Santa Clause in flip-flops to spend the festive season in Stilbaai with family and friends, as I have done countless times before in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although my family was sad, I have to admit that for me it was not all too difficult to make the trade for a bright summer Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I returned to South Africa in December, it also afforded me the chance to celebrate my sister\u2019s graduation with her and to spend a few days with family in Stellenbosch. Visits to wine farms in between coffee breaks made up the majority of our routine for the few days. We also had the opportunity to celebrate with food, in true South African style. The meal at La Colombe Restaurant in Constantia Neck in the Cape, characterised by a pleasant atmosphere, ensured a memorable evening.<\/p>\n\n\n