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Remembering Dolly and Domino

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/XMfyng2j4IQ&source=udsThe dolphins at the Port Elizabeth Oceanarium at Bayworld was synonymous with Port Elizabeth for a very long time until the last two, Domino and Dumisa, was moved to a Ocean Park in Hong Kong.  Although they were moved there in 2009 already there are still out of town visitors that come to the city asking if there are dolphin shows.  This post isn't about keeping dolphins in captivity, doing dolphin presentations or part of a debate whether we should have dolphins…

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16/01/2015
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Exploring the Qolora River on the Wild Coast

If there is an area I'm definitely planning to get to know better then it's the Wild Coast.  Earlier in the year while on a roadtrip to Durban, I spent a night at Trennerys Hotel at the mouth of the Qolora River, not far north of the Great Kei River Mouth.  As I pulled in fairly latish in the afternoon, it meant that I had limited time to explore before sunset and had to make a choice between heading down…

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16/01/2015
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The green green grass of St George’s Park

I took a walk around Park Drive a day or two before the cricket test between South Africa and the West Indies were due to start and decided to pop into the St George's Park Cricket Stadium quickly.  I love the fact that one can get in and right onto the field without anybody stopping and questioning you.St George's Park staged the first cricket test to be played outside England or Australia in 1888-89 with England winning by eight wickets.  In…

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15/01/2015
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The lions’ heads at Prince Alfred Guard Memorial

It's surprising how few Port Elizabethans know that the Prince Alfred Guard Memorial in St Georges Park stands on top of one of the city's oldest reservoirs.  The 2 million gallon reservoir was completed between 1906 and 1907 at a cost of  £15 525 back in the day.  This memorial actually forms the central ornamental feature of the Service Reservoir.  On each side of the memorial is a lion's head and it turns out that these were fountains with jets of…

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14/01/2015
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10 not to miss activities, restaurants and accommodation in the Tsitsikamma

Ahh, the Tsitsikamma.....  My favorite Sho't Left destination for a couple of days' breakaway.  Beautiful indigenous forests to sooth my soul, mountains on the horizon, streams running past ancient indigenous trees and forest giants to a rugged coastline where the blue ocean crashes as white waves on black rocks at the foot of sheer cliffs.  This part of the Garden Route must be one of the most beautiful places in South Africa.  Truly paradise.  The Tsitsikamma is a lot more than natural…

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13/01/2015
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St George killed the dragon

The Cenotaph outside St Georges Park was unveiled in 1929 and was erected to the memory of the men from Port Elizabeth that fell during the First World War.  After the Second World War memorial panels were added to the walls.  The memorial was the work of James Gardner of the Art School.  On two sides of the memorial are different figures - one representing a mother and child and the other St George.  The woman, or warrior's wife, symbolises the protecting of the home,…

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13/01/2015
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Langenhoven Drive from the Bridge

While the Damselfly was in hospital a couple of weeks ago, I went for a walk through Greenacres and The Bridge while waiting for visiting hours.  I don't get to go to Greenacres that often as Walmer Park is much closer and more convenient for me so its been a while since my last visit.  Standing on The Bridge I snapped a photo of Langenhoven Drive with my phone and only when, looking at it afterwards did I notice how quiet…

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12/01/2015
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Swimming at my favorite gully at Kini Bay

Tomorrow is back to work for me.  Summer may be here but my holiday is over.  It didn't quite turn out the holiday I was looking forward to last year but we did try to make the most of it.  Last week we spent a day at our favourite gully at Kini Bay near Seaview.  A safe and uncrowded spot we like to go to when the main beachfront's beaches are overflowing.  I'll be longing to this scene when I am back in…

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11/01/2015
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Exploring ruins with Chaos Boy

I've still be on leave this past week and on Thursday morning grabbed Chaos Boy and went looking for a new cache situated on the edge of Lorraine.  The container is located inside the ruins of a building which means one has to always be on the lookout for any slithering guardians around.  Finding a nice "regular" sized container was the reward though and we got to write our names second and third on the log after CrazyNinja who got the First to…

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10/01/2015
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Port Elizabeth Beachfront timelapse over New Year

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/fuTKcAdzXgY&source=udsI spotted this timelapse by Chris Wright on Facebook the other day and just had to share it with you.  The timelapse was put together from webcam footage taken between 31 December 2014 and 2 January 2015 and shows the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day activity on Hobie Beach.

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09/01/2015