We don't often get to go out to coffee shops on a Saturday morning but today was different. The Damselfly suggested that we stop for coffee at Brioche in Main Road, Walmer and we weren't sorry that we did. Arriving at the door we found the place "packed to the bleachers" but the staff was friendly and welcoming and we took a seat out on the stoep until a table became available inside. While we waited I decided to take a walk…
https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/W8fSATToZJY&source=udsLast Sunday it was time for runners to tackle the city in the annual Urban Run again. After participating the last two years I missed this one but will definitively be back next year. Check out this video by the organisers and see for yourself how much fun this event really is.
My three favorite flowers are aloes, proteas and arum lilies. All flowers you can see in gardens and parks but at their most beautiful when you see them out in the wild. Aloe flowering in the Karoo, proteas in the Fynbos on a mountain side and lilies growing wild in the forest. This lily I found next to the path on the way to Kerneels se Klip in the Tsitsikamma National Park. I was hoping to find one in the sun…
Port Elizabeth has some excellent short hiking trails that are perfect for a morning or day out in nature yet still within a stone's throw of the city. As an outdoor enthusiast and avid Geocacher I've had the opportunity to do most of the trails around the city with one of the exceptions being the Bushbuck Trail through the Island Nature Reserve. For this reason I was very excited when I got a call from Erenei Louw of Nelson Mandela Bay…
One of the art pieces installed on the Donkin Reserve as part of Route 67 is a woman standing behind a chair. It’s become quite a popular piece with visitors climbing onto the chair for a photograph with this strange looking woman. But why do I say strange? This untitled sculpture by Anton Momberg takes the form of a female figure without any distinct features and clothing. This leaves her neutral and open for conversation and interpretation rather than being…
The 24th of September is National Heritage Day in South Africa and all the different cultures like to braai in one way or another. Somebody latched onto that and National Braai Day was born on the same day. This morning I joined my fellow Geocachers on a fun day out at the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve for a Geocaching Amazing Race followed by a braai. Unfortunately the weather didn't play along and it rained the whole morning meaning that even…
The road (R72) between Port Alfred and East London runs through what used to be the former independent homeland of the Ciskei. All along the way one sees small Xhosa villages scattering the countryside. Coming from the East London side just before the Keikamma Pass there is a little village on a hillside on the left. I've always wanted to snap a photo of it and the chance finally came on my last trip to Slummies.When you look at a scene…
Most South African travelers and road trippers have probably heard of the car pontoon at Malgas in the Overberg, but I wonder how many actually know that there is one across the Kei River in the Eastern Cape as well. In years gone by the Great Kei River was the border between South Africa and the homeland of Transkei. Today crossing over means leaving behind what you know and heading to a land of country side villages, friendly people, beautiful scenery, rugged…
Last night we headed down to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Indoor Sport Centre for the last day of three days of Varsity Cup Netball. Wow, it really is a spectacle to watch. Fast and furious. Pity it was so badly promoted which lead to a bad turnout, but those who did come was treated to top notch netball. Here NMMU Madibaz in blue is playing Tuks in white.
One of my absolute favorite historic buildings is the old Public Library across the road from the City Hall and Market Square. The building was built in 1901 with the façade constructed in England and shipped to Port Elizabeth in numbered blocks to be reassembled in front of the building. The statue of Queen Victoria was added in 1903 and completed the picture very nicely.