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Penguins under pressure

Last week I saw a stunning yet very sad picture by Luc Hosten on Facebook.  Two days later I was down at Cape Recife in Port Elizabeth and came across the scene photographed by Luc.  The penguin wasn't in the same position anymore and I didn't want to try and recreate the exact scene anyway, so decided on something similar yet slightly further away.  African Penguins are highly endangered and under immense pressure at the moment with some people giving them only 5 years if…

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20/09/2012
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The top of the trail

Most people hiking along the Sacramento Trail between Schoenmakerskop and Sardinia Bay follows the path along the shore line in both directions not really knowing how stunning the views are from the top trail.  I had taken the bottom path many times before and got to take the top path for the first time while doing the trail with some colleagues recently.  The views are absolutely amazing.

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20/09/2012
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Standing at attention

Soldiers of the Prince Alfred Guard standing at attention while the giant flag on the Donkin Reserve is being lowered. The reason 6 guys are needed is due to the size of the flag and the fact that it may not touch the ground when it comes down.  It was quite fun watching them grab the 12 meter x 8 meter flag and putting it back into the base of the flagpole.  The flagpole is the tallest in Africa while…

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19/09/2012
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South End Walk flowers

September is Tourism month and on the second Saturday of September a group of about 40 people went on a guided walk around the South End Museum Heritage Trail organised by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism.  I found this patch of fygies growing next to the road close to the green mosque.  I dashed down to get a picture of the group passing it in the background and with my somewhat slow camera only got one shot before they had past.  Pity…

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18/09/2012
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Houtkappershuisie

Met sy inheemse woude vasgedruk tussen 'n pragtige kuslyn en die Tsitsikammabergreeks en bruingekleurde riviere wat daardeur vloei is die Tsitsikamma een van my gunsteling plekke in Suid-Afrika.  Wanneer mens die dorpie Stormsrivier besoek vind jy hierdie ou bosbouhuisies langs Eikelaning wat van die dorpie na die ou pad deur die woud lei.

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18/09/2012
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Uitenhage War Memorial

I'm fascinated by a lot of things so I won't say that war memorials fascinate me, although I find it very interesting how the war memorial in every town - because yes, just every town has some kind of war memorial - looks different.  Ranging from cenotaphs to historic cannons and massive monuments to small simple objects.  This is the war memorial in Uitenhage containing a list of men from the town who died during the two World Wars.

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18/09/2012
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Urban Run 2012

On Sunday I tackled the 2nd annual Urban Run along with about 1000 other athletes runners competitors adventurous people. What an amazing experience!!!  Urban Run is a 10,5km urban obstacle course through the Port Elizabeth city centre, the historical part of town, St Georges Park, Settlers Park and surrounding area.  The 17 obstacles along the way included crawling through cement pipes, scaling Fort Frederick, crossing the Baakens River on poles and running trough a train.  Did I mention the steps?  No?  There were lots of steps. And…

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17/09/2012
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Tackeling the city on the Urban Run

Road running isn't for everybody. Pounding away at the road for kilometer after kilometer bores me a little bit, but I do like to participate in races with a difference. The Urban Run around Port Elizabeth's city centre area surely is one of those. Urban Run is a 10,5 kilometer urban obstacle coarse which 1. helps to get people back into the city centre, 2. get people to visit places that they may not have seen or visited in ages,…

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17/09/2012
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Stanley Street

It seems that all three weekend posts for this week have some kind of link to food.  It wasn't planned, it just worked out that way.  Stanley Street in Richmond Hill has become one of the most vibrant spots in Port Elizabeth with its wide variety of eateries and sidewalk seating.  The offering from the restaurants range from steaks and pizzas to sushi, seafood and the most delectable cakes. Njam!

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16/09/2012
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Township fast food outlet

I seem to be getting to know more and more township spots to go and grab something for lunch (see Tsisha Nyama and Beef stew and liver).  There are also a number of places I've been shown where you can stop for a snack like vetkoek or roosterkoek, amongst them the container near Red Location Museum where this lady works.  They make the most divine roosterkoek (bread rolls made on the coals) - R1.50 plain and R1.80 buttered - and mini verkoek (dough that gets deep…

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15/09/2012