自我介绍

I have always loved traveling. Exploring new places, meeting new people and speaking new languages energizes me and enriches my perspective. So not surprising that I have lived and worked on four continents. Although I grew up in the US, I have lived in Amsterdam more or less continually for more than 25 years and it’s still my favourite city. I first visited Africa, and South Africa about 15 years ago, and like many people who visit South Africa, I was fascinated by the diversity and warmth of the people and the beauty of the natural environment. So it is perhaps not surprising that after ten years of annual visits, my partner and I took the step of buying a house there last year. Whale Huys was the first house we looked at, and while we visited many more after that, we both felt that this was right for us. The fabulous views from every room were of course the most amazing thing about the house, but we also very much liked the combination of a traditional and quaint thatch roof which keeps it cool even on the hottest of days, and panoramic sliding doors on the ocean side. The fact that it is located right on the Whale Coast less than 2 hours from Cape Town was also a major attraction for us. We love the sea in all its different moods, and it still amazes us that we see so many whales, dolphins, seals and other wildlife right from the living room window. On a practical note, the other thing that attracted us to the house is that it is in a quite safe area, where people are friendly and the pace is slow. Perfect for unwinding from our stressful European jobs. Our long-term plan is to retire in Whale Huys (at least part of the year) but in the meantime, we are eager to share our lovely villa and all it has to offer with people from other parts of South Africa and all over the world.