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Sleeping feline

My sincerest apologies to those who follow both this blog as well as The Firefly Photo Files for the double post of this picture this week.  I've had a corrupt Windows files which meant that my hard drive crashed and its going to take a little bit of time to load all the programs again and then check to see which photos I haven't posted on the blogs.  Luckily all my original pictures are on my external hard drive. Phew.Anyhow, this big cuddle toy…

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11/08/2012
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Our first snow experience

Internationally people don't really associate South Africa with snow and is often surprised when they hear that some areas do get snow in winter.  Large sections of the Drakensberg as well as parts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and eastern Free State often get snow with the bigger cold fronts that hit the country during winter.  When a particular severe one hits most of the southern mountains in the country are covered in snow as was the case on the weekend of 16 July.  My family…

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09/08/2012
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Drama Princess and the Donkey

In celebration of National Women's Day today I have decided on posting a picture of Drama Princess at one of her favorite attractions in Port Elizabeth.  We may not hang out there often, but I try to visit the East Cape Horse Care Unit on Victoria Drive every now and then for her to spend some time with the donkeys.  The ECHCU really does an amazing job assisting the people from the nearby Walmer Township with the care of their donkeys.  Most…

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09/08/2012
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White (wijdmond) Rhino

Popular theory is that the White Rhino got its name from the fact that the English misunderstood what the Dutch meant when they referred to it as the Wijdmond Renoster.  Wijd is Dutch for wide which referred to the rhino's wide mouth.  The white rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros is a grazer and eats grass, preferring the shortest grains, hence the wide mouth comes in very handy.  Kinda like a living lawnmower.

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09/08/2012
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Shoving ships

Security at the Port Elizabeth Harbour gets very sticky when they see a camera which means that you don't often see pictures of things happening in there.  But every now and then you get an excuse to take one in which gave me the opportunity to snap one of the Port Elizabeth Harbour tugs guiding a container ship into place next to the container terminal quay.

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08/08/2012
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Stained glass windows

I don't know why but for some reason people don't really associate the old churches in Port Elizabeth with magnificent stained glass windows.  Normally one would immediately think of the Cathedral and Commem in Grahamstown.  But there are a number of places in Port Elizabeth with stunning stained glass windows notably the St Mary's Cathedral, St Augustine's Cathedral and the Public Library.  

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07/08/2012
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Drakensberg wandelpad – Die Wandellied

Vir die een of ander rede het ek vandat ek met RaakREIS begin het en bloginskrywings in Afrikaans doen, skielik baie van die ou Afrikaanse Volksliedjies begin onthou as ek na van my fotos kyk.  Dis eintlik hartseer dat ons dit nie meer so baie sing soos wat ons gedoen het jare terug nie.  Hierdie foto is geneem op die Tigerfalls wandelroete in die Koninklike Natalse Reservaat in die Drakensberge en het my dadelik laat dink aan die Wandellied. Wandellied As ek moeg word vir…

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07/08/2012
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White lion

Don't you want to just cuddle up to this big furry mane and fall asleep with him?  White Lions is quite a rare sight and the only Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape where you can see them in the wild is Pumba Game Reserve (which I hope I'll have the opportunity to visit some time soon).  The second option to see them is the Seaview Game and Lion Park just outside Port Elizabeth where the park has a breeding…

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07/08/2012
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Anglo Boer War soldier

With the fairly recent upgrade of the market square area in front of the Uitenhage town hall, the Anglo Boer War Memorial have been moved and is now positioned a bit more prominently.  The monument was unveiled in 1904 and contains the names of Uitenhage citizens who died in the Anglo Boer War fought between 1899 and 1902.  The interesting fact about the life-size soldier that forms part of the monument is that it was based on the likeness of an actual soldier…

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05/08/2012
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South End panorama

I don't think a lot of people know that the South End Museum Heritage Trail exists.  The trail starts at the South End Museum and can be done self-guided with the help of a guide book available from the museum or on a guided walk along with one of the museum's tourist guides.  The trail takes in a some of the historic sites that are linked to old South End with the St Peter's Church ruins in my mind being the…

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04/08/2012