Travel Blog

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Wire artists

Most Zimbabweans seem to have an inate artistic flair. It is always inspiring travelling there and being surrounded by so much creativity. Sadly, these days, due to the desperate situation in their county, over 3 million have fled to South Africa looking for opportunities to feed their families. Even as far South as Port Elizabeth, many street corners show displays of their work, wonderful wood carvings, metal work, woven grass furniture , beaded wirework etc are all available at roadside…

10 Comments
30/01/2008
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Casino Heist

Here is a view of the Casino Complex and Shark Rock Pier you won't see every day. Taken from a yacht last week, as we headed back to the harbour. The Casino was held up in heist early yesterday.... notch another one up to the criminals who seem to have free reign here these days. (I guess when the new President of the ruling party spends more time with his lawyers that he does in his office, ducking all sorts…

8 Comments
29/01/2008
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Coco de Mer

If you are looking for a great eating out experience, there is a new restaurant in town, along the beachfront in the Dolphins Leap Centre. Of course for me, it was the decor that first drew me in.... who could resist the attention to detail, the classic black and white fabrics and black chandeliers, combined with great filtered downlights to wash the white walls with warm colours at night? Combine this with an interesting menu, beautifully prepared food, great service,…

4 Comments
28/01/2008
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Places of Worship # 9

This pretty little mosque is one of the very old buildings in the inner City. These narrow streets run down from the main road (Govan Mbeki Ave) towards the sea, and Strand Street 2 blocks down, which in the old days was on the beach. Then land was reclained for the harbour and railways, and in the 70s a huge freeway built above strand street. Many of the original buildings from the 1820s and 1830s were replaced with ugly modern…

6 Comments
27/01/2008
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Yacht Club series # 4

From the sublime to the ridiculous! We were on a 34 foot yacht, which is big enough to travel round the world in (admittedly you would need to have a screw loose in the brain to do it, but still!!) Two kids were having a ball scooting around in TINY little boats which were dwarfed by the big boys toys. That is until we all sailed past the container ship, and things were suddenly brought into perspective. The harbour here…

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26/01/2008
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Yacht Club series # 2

Yesterday we started on a sunset cruise at the Algoa Bay Yacht club.... meet our skipper, Doug, aboard Take 6. He is looking at the warning light beacon at the end of the harbour breakwater.

3 Comments
25/01/2008
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Yacht Club series #1

Recently one of our readers, Alan, kindly invited us to visit the Algoa Bay Yacht Club and take photos there. Well, we took him up on his offer yesterday, and had a wonderful time, snapping a ridiculous amount of photos (yachts and water are SO photogenic!) So over the coming weeks you will no doubt see many shots from that sunset cruise. To start us off, here is the yacht club seen behind some of its residents!

5 Comments
24/01/2008
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Graven Images

A PE scene which greets one on arrival into town from the main Settlers Freeway always arouses mixed feelings in me. On the left is a lovely sweeping view of the city and harbour across a sweep of the bay, and to the right is the North End Prison, overlooking a graveyard! This view has always struck me as particularly gloomy. I have been wanting to capture the mood of this for a while now, and Sunday presented the perfect…

7 Comments
22/01/2008
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Red Cross

The International Red Cross has an office in Port Elizabeth. As with many businesses around the inner city, the premises have their share of protection against crime. I thought they made quite a statement, as they appear next to this sculpture in their front courtyard, showing the work of the Red Cross in helping the sick and injured. Sort of a graphic depiction of good versus evil and all that! P.S. bc of chicago dp has given us a "you…

10 Comments
21/01/2008