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Retro-Pickers

On Saturday morning I bundled the family into the car and headed down to Retro-Pickers in Walmer.  Around every second corner there is a coffee shop these days, but Retro-Pickers is something refreshingly different.  Imagine an antique shop selling mostly retro items and clothing combined with a small personal coffee shop and you will have Retro-Pickers.  The coffee shop isn't very big with only three tables inside and another four outside making it a nice quiet spot to go for a chat and browse.  I…

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22/05/2012
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Cape Town War Memorial

As you would know I am always on the lookout for something interesting to photograph, doesn't matter if its natural or historical.  As far as historical attractions go you tend to find some kind of war memorial in just about every town and city around South Africa and Cape Town was no different.  In actual fact I found two right next to each other.  At the top of the Company Gardens just below the South African Museum is the Cape Town…

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22/05/2012
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Feeding squirrels in the Company Gardens

You may not find it on all the tourism guides being printed about Cape Town, but one of the popular things to do for visitors to the Mother City is to go and feed the squirrels living the the Company Gardens.  Most of the vendors around the area sell bags of peanuts and you can easily spot the difference between visitors and locals by those carrying a bag of nuts.  The squirrels have become so accustomed to people that even though…

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21/05/2012
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Night in the (No7 Castle Hill) Museum

On Saturday evening No7 Castle Hill celebrated Museum Week by having a "Night in the Museum" evening.  Visitors could visit No7 after dark between 6pm and 9pm and with some of the lights turned off to gave it a very special atmosphere.  Each child received a treasure hunt page with items found throughout the museum on it as well as a little battery operated "candle".  Although I have been to No7 Castle Hill so many times before it was a great…

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21/05/2012
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Winding down to the city centre

Standing on top of the Donkin Lighthouse and looking east towards Algoa Bay the new winding walkway leading up from the city centre is visible.    The walkway is part of the Route 67 development and lately the skateboarders have discovered it and the fact that its a perfect downhill run.  There has even been a submission to council to hold a skateboard competition there.

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20/05/2012
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Birds in tuxes

I hope people don't mind me posting  a pic about the little tuxedo wearing marine birds at SAMREC every now and then.  SAMREC is truly one of the attractions in Port Elizabeth that has a special place in my heart and they really do an amazing job.  By posting about them I do my bit to create awareness for the protection of the African Penguins as well as the centre itself.

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19/05/2012
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Groot Constantia

The very first wine estate in the Cape I got to visit years ago was appropriately also the oldest wine estate in the Cape.  Groot Constantia was established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel who was the then Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.  The farm was used to grow fruit and vegetables, farm cattle and produce wine.  The original farm was broken up into three parts (Groot Constantia; Klein Constantia and Bergvliet) in 1712 after Van der Stel's death.  Today…

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18/05/2012
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Tsitsikamma Kuslyn

Die Tsitsikamma, plek van baie water, is sonder twyfel een van Suid-Afrika se asemrowendste streke. Digte groen inheemse woude waar woudreuse van oor die 800 jaar oud staan word van die blou see geskei deur loodregte kranse.  'n Ongerepte kuslyn met wit skuimende branders wat hulleself te pletter slaan op swart rotse.  Dolfyne en walvisse, otters in 'n sloep, luiperds teen die berg en die skugter Knysnaloerie wat tussen die boomtoppe rondbeweeg.  Stories van houtkappers uit die ou dae, olifantvoetpaaie en wie weet, miskien 'n bosgees of twee.  Duidelik een van die mooiste en…

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17/05/2012
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MSC stained glass window

The other day a couple of us talked our way into the old Grey Institute building across the road from the Donkin Reserve.  The building was bought by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) a few years ago and since then they have embarked on an extensive restoration project, turning it into their regional office here in Port Elizabeth.  One of the new show case features in the building is a (guesstimating) four meter high stained glass window featuring ships from over the…

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17/05/2012